The Organization

Allegheny Health Network (AHN) is a $5.1 billion system that is comprised of more than 2,500 physicians on its medical staff, more than 300 clinical locations including 13 hospitals, three sports performance and medicine campuses, six health + wellness pavilions, ambulatory surgery centers, an employed physician organization, home and community-based health services, a comprehensive research institute and a group purchasing organization. AHN recorded nearly 4 million physician visits in 2024 — its highest number since the network was created in 2013.

AHN serves patients from across a five-state region that includes western Pennsylvania and the adjacent regions of Ohio, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. AHN employs approximately 23,700 people and is affiliated with two nursing regional schools and serves as a clinical campus for Drexel University College of Medicine and the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. All of AHN’s care sites are committed to improving health and promoting wellness in their communities, one person at a time.

The Opportunity

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) serves as the enterprise’s senior fundraising executive for Highmark Health and the Allegheny Health Network (AHN), with overall responsibility for advancing a comprehensive, market‑responsive development strategy that strengthens and grows the donor base while expanding the organization’s philanthropic capacity.

This leader will shape and execute an integrated fundraising strategy aligned to enterprise priorities, elevating AHN’s brand, reputation, and community standing through thoughtful engagement, strategic partnerships, and collaborative leadership. The CDO will build, lead, and mentor a high‑performing team of development professionals capable of supporting enterprise‑wide fundraising needs across a complex, multi‑entity organization.

The role is pivotal in articulating and amplifying compelling narratives around AHN’s exceptional patient care, quality outcomes, access initiatives, and the Living Health Clinical Model, fostering strong relationships with clinicians, staff, executive leadership, and external stakeholders to reinforce trust, mission alignment, and an unparalleled patient and community experience. The CDO will have executive oversight of the major gifts portfolio, including stewardship of the organization’s most significant donors and prospects.

This is a highly visible, externally facing role and the CDO will represent the organization in cultivating donors with the greatest capacity while partnering with leadership volunteers. This individual will also have executive oversight for overseeing operations of AHN’s existing foundations and trusts. The CDO will partner with Highmark Health’s Corporate Affairs executive leadership on the identification, cultivation, and allocation of resources to maximize efficiency while obtaining desired results.

Ideal Experience and Qualifications

• Minimum of fifteen years of fund-raising experience, including fund raising role within major capital campaigns, within an academic/research related hospital or higher education.
• Minimum of fifteen years’ experience in the development and implementation of a broad-based fundraising program including personally opening doors, cultivation, and successfully closing major gifts
• Progressive experience in developing and implementing successful development programs and knowledge of “best practices” in development.
• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
• Established track record of developing and implementing a strategy to increase philanthropic revenue from diverse constituencies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Team player committed to developing and working within a collaborative environment and to ensuring the highest customer service orientation.
• Ability to relate well and work effectively with multiple constituencies and audiences.
• Ability to work in a matrixed environment.

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Korn Ferry shall provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified candidates, and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected basis. Artificial Intelligence tools may be used in connection with the recruitment process for this position.