W. Jody Policar
Summary
Innovative philanthropy leader with 25 years of experience in the areas of executive management, major and principal gift strategy, solicitation and stewardship, campaign planning, corporate and foundation relations, planned giving, leadership and annual giving, and effective board and committee development.
Mission and goal oriented, thoughtful and passionate executive with success in leading high performing and dynamic philanthropy teams in extremely complex environments. Ability to effectively galvanize, inspire and engage constituents, and articulate the organization's vision to a wide range of key stakeholders.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Philanthropy
John Muir Health Foundation
Walnut Creek, CA
10.2023 - Current
- Personally secured over $3M in 2024 while leading a team that raised more than $25M in support of the Campaign to Conquer Cancer and other key system priorities.
- Manage a portfolio of 90-100 major, principal and planned giving donors and prospects.
- Cultivate meaningful relationships with key stakeholders, including grateful patients, supporters, Board members, physicians and community members to promote collaboration and long-term success.
- Lead cross-functional teams for the successful launch of the Grateful Patient Program and Patient Benefactor Program to increase annual, major and principal gift support for fundraising priorities.
- Manage and mentor a high-performing team of four major gift officers and three development associates, promoting teamwork and driving fundraising success.
- Develop annual fundraising metrics designed to drive behaviors that result in increased productivity and efficiency.
- Oversee the execution of 5-year strategic plan to improve operational excellence.
- Partner with Prospect Development and Operations to manage efficient moves management processes, ensuring strategic donor engagement and seamless pipeline progression.
Executive Director, Principal Gifts and Strategy
Sutter Health
Palo Alto, California
03.2023 - 10.2023
- Vital member of the philanthropy team responsible to lead and raise principal level gifts for affiliate campaigns, and system initiatives to meet overall annual goal of $70M.
- Developed and launched $40M Sutter-wide cardiovascular campaign to benefit affiliates in the Bay Area, Sacramento and the Valley.
- Secured verbal commitment of $5M to establish Endowed Physician Chair for Research and Analytics to benefit Sutter wide cardiovascular priority.
- Collaborate with local affiliate leaders and philanthropy executives to identify physician partners, grateful patients and donors to cultivate and solicit for gifts of $1M+.
- Drive strategy and engagement opportunities for principal gift prospects, donors and grateful patients.
- Partner and train key physicians to participate in cultivation meetings, proposal development, solicitation and stewardship.
Executive Director, Individual Giving
Sutter Health
Palo Alto, California
02.2022 - 03.2023
- Led Bay Area principal gift program and member of the Senior Philanthropy Leadership Team to discuss strategy toward $65M goal.
- Facilitated prospect strategy conversations, sight setting and action plans, driving movement and accountability for major gift officers.
- Experienced navigating through significant leadership changes and transition within a highly complex organization to help build a successful philanthropy vision.
- Managed a portfolio of top philanthropic relationships with capacity rating of $5M+.
- Served as a key collaborator with chief philanthropy officer, executive directors, prospect
development and donor relations in all principal gift activity. - Oversaw physician engagement, annual giving, philanthropy communications, corporations and foundation relations (CFR) and philanthropy events.
- Collaborated with colleagues to raise more than $25M+ in FY 2022 through 17 transformational gifts; personally raised $5M to support programs, capital equipment and community resources.
- Led strategy and solicitation with family foundation resulting in $2M commitment to upgrade equipment for the breast health cancer center and develop programs for uninsured and underinsured patients.
Director of Philanthropy
Sutter Health
Oakland, CA
01.2018 - 02.2022
- Hired to build a “culture of philanthropy”, re-establish credibility and launched an ambitious capital campaign for Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.
- As primary strategist, led all fundraising activities (annual and leadership giving, major and principal gifts, campaigns and donor engagement) for Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Sutter Delta Medical Center and Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation.
- Managed a high performing team with a comprehensive goal of $5M annually.
- Relationship Manager for 125+ donors and prospects for cultivation, solicitation and stewardship with wealth capacity of $250K+.
- Provided expertise to fundraising staff in the areas of moves management, donor pipeline and strategy, solicitation and engagement.
- Collaborated with hospital CEO’s, organization leadership, administrators, physicians and program managers for effective donor introduction and visits, gift solicitation, stewardship and recognition.
- Managed the fundraising activities of CEO’s, board members and physicians for targeted outreach, solicitation and stewardship.
- Recruited, managed, engaged and solicited members of the philanthropy board.
- Re-energized the East Bay community of donors, patients and friends with purposeful engagement, shared vision and affiliate impact.
- Partnered with colleagues in event planning, marketing and communications to create engagement and cultivation opportunities through events, interviews and publications.
- Presented to Medical Executive Committee, physicians, program managers and board members on the importance and process of identifying grateful patients and engaging prospects and donors.
- Responsible for department strategic plan, fundraising metrics, department budget and cost of funds.
- Launched the first-ever Grants and Disbursements Program with an overall award budget of $500K to help strengthen philanthropy’s relationship with staff and physicians, while highlighting the impact of donor support.
Director of Philanthropy
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
06.2014 - 12.2017
- Relationship Manager for 100+ donors, prospects and alumni for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for Student Affairs fundraising initiatives with capacity of $250K+.
- Managed the fundraising activities of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students and Executive Director to build meaningful relationships.
- Designed and implemented the Vice Chancellor’s Circle to recognize the Division’s most generous donors and to cultivate highly rated prospects.
- Provided leadership and expertise to major gift team in the areas of moves management, metrics, strategy, execution and evaluation to expand the base of prospect pool.
- Created strategic and long-range fundraising plans to advance the fundraising priorities of the Division and the campus.
- Partnered with colleagues to create case statements, campaign materials alumni publications, website content and naming opportunities.
- Collaborated with Director of Advancement Services to plan comprehensive donor engagement and stewardship activities.
- Worked with Program Directors to develop strategic vision for immediate fundraising initiatives, and for planning phase of capital campaign.
Senior Philanthropy Officer
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
10.2009 - 06.2014
- Relationship Manager for 125+ donors, prospects and alumni for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for Student Affairs fundraising initiatives with capacity rating of $50K+.
- Raised $1M annually for student scholarships and programmatic areas.
- Led and managed grant proposals to corporate and foundation partners.
- Part of a team that raised over $300M for student scholarships during the Campaign for Berkeley. The campus-wide Campaign generated over $3 Billion for scholarships, fellowships and faculty chairs.
- Provided leadership and advice to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dean of Students and other Division leadership throughout the gift cycle process.
- Collaborated with the Gift Planning Office, Leadership Gifts, Class Campaigns and Colleges to move fundraising priorities forward.
- Advised and staffed the Dean of Students Advisory Board.
Director of Development
Sacramento State
Sacramento, CA
02.2007 - 10.2009
- Designed and implemented a comprehensive major gifts program to secure gifts of $25K+. Managed a portfolio of 100+ prospects and executed 12+ visits per month.
- Raised $1M+ annually to benefit the Deans' fundraising priorities in the Colle of Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies, the College of Arts and Letters and the University Library.
- Developed prospect cultivation, stewardship and solicitation strategies.
- Integrated plan to build and expand donor pipeline through proper identification and qualification of prospects
- Staffed the President, Vice Presidents and other campus leadership during community and campus events.
- Advised Deans, Department Chairs and faculty on utilizing advisory boards and volunteers.
- Collaborated with campus leadership, Deans Department Chairs and key faculty on solicitation, stewardship, and cultivation efforts.
- Coordinated and assisted with volunteer boards in identifying potential prospects.
Director of Annual Giving Programs
Sacramento State
Sacramento, CA
03.2005 - 02.2007
- Directed solicitation, marketing and stewardship of the President's Circle program with gifts of up to $25K+.
- Drafted appeal and acknowledgment letters to alumni, friends, and corporate partners that focused on gift renewal and upgrade.
- Managed a portfolio of 75+ prospects and conducted 8+ face-to-face visits each month.
- Planned and executed direct mail and telemarketing strategies to secure gifts in support of the College Annual Funds, University Fund and special projects.
- Authored solicitation letter for Deans and key faculty members to increase alumni participation and gift commitments, Created effective segmentation plan and tracked response vehicles. Identified and recruited volunteers.
- Supervised Phone Coordinators, student supervisors and oversaw 35+ student-callers.
Director of Annual Fund and Parent Giving
Saint Mary's College High School
Berkeley, CA
09.2000 - 03.2005
- Planned and directed comprehensive Annual Fund campaign. Raised $400K+ annually.
Development Manager
Youth Homes, Inc.
Walnut Creek, CA
01.1998 - 05.1999
- Administered direct mail program. Raised $25K+ annually.
Sales Representative
Young's Market Company
Hayward, CA
12.1995 - 01.1998
- Enhanced client satisfaction by addressing concerns promptly and providing exceptional service.
- Generated additional sales opportunities with upselling and cross-selling techniques.
- Expanded customer base through cold calling, networking, and relationship building.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Government
Saint Mary's College of California
Moraga, CAMaster of Arts - Organizational Leadership
Sacramento State
Sacramento, CASkills
Transformational Leadership
High Impact Relationships
Fundraising Analytics & Strategy
Executive Coaching and Mentorship
Timeline
Vice President, Philanthropy
John Muir Health Foundation
10.2023 - Current
Executive Director, Principal Gifts and Strategy
Sutter Health
03.2023 - 10.2023
Executive Director, Individual Giving
Sutter Health
02.2022 - 03.2023
Director of Philanthropy
Sutter Health
01.2018 - 02.2022
Director of Philanthropy
University of California, Berkeley
06.2014 - 12.2017
Senior Philanthropy Officer
University of California, Berkeley
10.2009 - 06.2014
Director of Development
Sacramento State
02.2007 - 10.2009
Director of Annual Giving Programs
Sacramento State
03.2005 - 02.2007
Director of Annual Fund and Parent Giving
Saint Mary's College High School
09.2000 - 03.2005
Development Manager
Youth Homes, Inc.
01.1998 - 05.1999
Sales Representative
Young's Market Company
12.1995 - 01.1998
Bachelor of Arts - Government
Saint Mary's College of California
Master of Arts - Organizational Leadership
Sacramento State