Philanthropy Forum - 2026 Healthcare Philanthropy Conference
April 13-15, 2026
Scottsdale, AZ
Engage Directly with Health System Leaders
Health system philanthropy leaders face mounting pressure to align foundation strategy with enterprise goals amid shifting federal funding, evolving donor expectations, and rising competition for top talent. Staying ahead demands peer collaboration, innovation, and strategic foresight.
The Health Management Academy’s Philanthropy Forum unites Chief Development Officers, Foundation Presidents, and Chief Philanthropy Officers from Leading Health Systems for intimate, retreat-style discussions on the future of healthcare philanthropy. With a curated 1:1 health system-to-industry ratio and no vendor halls, this exclusive event fosters authentic dialogue, actionable insight, and lasting partnerships.
Upcoming Event Dates and Locations
For over 25 years, The Health Management Academy has convened health system C-suite leaders and select industry executives, curating two-way conversations, collaborative problem solving and thought leadership sharing.
Health System Forum Members
What Sets Philanthropy Forum Apart
Member-Driven Content, Curated for Philanthropy Executives: All our meetings are built around the priorities that matter most to today’s healthcare philanthropy executives. Members shape forum content to reflect their top priorities, such as ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and crafting compelling non-capital campaigns.
The Right People, in the Right Room: Attendees include health system philanthropy executives from organizations like Mayo Clinic, Yale New Haven Health, and Intermountain, alongside key industry leaders - typically CEOs, Chief Growth Officers, and product and strategy executives. All participants are hand-selected based on their ability to contribute meaningfully to the conversation.
A Forum Built for Relationships: Reception-style dinners and informal social gatherings welcome friends and family and facilitate long-term relationship building.
True Partnership: This is a peer-to-peer forum. The industry executives who attend want to listen, contribute insights, and build lasting connections with healthcare philanthropy executives facing similar challenges.
The THMA Difference Lies in Access, Intentional Design, and a Strict Focus on Community
The Philanthropy Forum creates a purpose-built space for executive-level engagement. Every session, social setting, and touchpoint is curated to foster meaningful, candid dialogue between fellow health system philanthropy executives and select industry innovators, most commonly CEOs, Chief Growth Officers, and strategic product leaders.
Industry Forum Members
Topics include:
Attracting and Retaining Top Philanthropy Talent: Foundation executives and CHRO colleagues explored strategies for recruiting, developing, and retaining best-in-class philanthropy professionals. Discussions centered on creative approaches to recognition, incentive design, and investing in foundation staff as strategic assets to the broader health system.
Integrating Innovation and Technology: Members examined how emerging technologies—including AI and automation—are reshaping philanthropy operations. Sessions highlighted practical applications for improving workflows, enhancing donor engagement, and empowering teams to work more efficiently in a digital-first environment.
Navigating Shifts in Grant Funding: Leaders discussed the evolving landscape of federal and private grant funding, exploring recent changes and forecasting trends expected to shape 2026 and beyond. Conversations focused on how health system foundations can adapt their strategies to secure sustainable, mission-aligned funding streams.
Strengthening Board Collaboration: Participants shared best practices for developing effective foundation boards and fostering strategic collaboration. Discussions emphasized how clear alignment around mission, vision, and accountability can amplify impact and ensure the long-term financial health of the organization.
The Philanthropy Forum Experience
Each Philanthropy Forum is a 2.5-day immersive experience with member-led sessions focusing on real-time challenges and forward-looking strategies. The Health Management Academy’s Fall 2025 Philanthropy Forum provides original insights and analysis of today’s challenges.
Our Convening Experiences
Extending Value Beyond the Philanthropy Conference
Members gain access to a year-round ecosystem of insights and engagement through THMA’s Executive Insights Hub. This digital platform discusses trends and challenges unique to strategic planning, as well as trending CXO priorities, from large health systems across the country. Our other year-round resources include:
Quarterly Trend Reports: Digestible insights and follow-ups from live briefings and proprietary research.
Executive Edge: A Sunday evening digest with quick-read summaries of industry-impacting events.
Post-Forum Debriefs: Key takeaways and insights from our Forums - useful even for teammates who did not attend.
Healthcare Bootcamp: A library of short videos and modules to onboard new team members or sharpen your team’s healthcare knowledge.
About The Health Management Academy
Since 1998, The Health Management Academy has cultivated the premier membership-based community of healthcare’s most influential CXOs from top U.S. health systems, as well as decision makers from innovative industry companies.
We cultivate exceptional peer groups, providing original market insights, world-class leadership development programs, and novel member alliances to more than 2,000 health system senior executives and 200 industry organizations.
2,000+
Health System Executives
600+
Health System C-Suite Members
200+
Exec Industry Members
75%
Of U.S. Physicians
