At AcademyHealth, our mission has always been to ensure that evidence improves health and health care for all. That work has never been more important or more urgent. As the landscape for health services research shifts and funding pressures intensify, independent support from our community becomes essential to sustain and accelerate impact.
This Giving Tuesday, we’re inviting our members, partners, and supporters to power a stronger future for evidence by making a tax-deductible donation to AcademyHealth. Philanthropic gifts provide AcademyHealth the flexibility to respond quickly to emerging threats, elevate trusted voices in the media and policy arenas, and invest in the infrastructure that keeps evidence at the center of decision-making. We must build the agility, independence, and bold vision that traditional funding alone cannot provide.
That is why we are thrilled to welcome Colleen Marfione as AcademyHealth’s first Development Director. Colleen will lead this new chapter in philanthropic growth, starting with our Giving Tuesday campaign, and help build the diversified, sustainable support our field needs.
About Colleen & Her Role
Colleen brings nearly 20 years of experience in nonprofit development, with deep expertise in major gifts, annual giving, corporate engagement, and event fundraising. She most recently served as Associate Director of Philanthropy at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center and holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy from Bay Path University. Colleen has built her career helping mission-driven organizations secure the resources they need to thrive in complex, challenging environments.
As Colleen begins her work, you may start to see new opportunities to support AcademyHealth. These will include:
- Messages in our communications that highlight how independent giving fuels our ability to advocate for science and strengthen the visibility of health services research.
- Opportunities at key events to contribute toward initiatives that extend the impact of our field beyond what membership and registration fees support.
- Special campaigns at pivotal moments, starting with Giving Tuesday, that bring our community together in support of evidence.
Giving Tuesday: The Impact of Your Gift
Independent donations directly support:
- A stronger, faster public voice for evidence through proactive media engagement and rapid response capacity.
- Trusted resources and insights that make data and research more accessible to decision makers.
- A mobilized community of researchers and advocates equipped to defend science and advance evidence-based solutions.
We’re kicking things off with a fun, community-driven way to participate. To kick off this new chapter, our CEO Aaron Carroll and Board Chair Rasu Shrestha are leading a friendly fundraising challenge to see who can rally more champions for science. Join a team, invite your colleagues, and show your support for the future of evidence.
- Join Team Aaron: https://www.academyhealth.org/AaronCarroll2025
- Join Team Rasu: http://www.academyhealth.org/RasuShrestha2025
You can also participate individually by:
- Making a tax-deductible gift: academyhealth.org/GivingTuesday
- Starting a monthly gift to sustain this work year-round
- Sharing our campaign with your networks and encourage others to give using our toolkit
- Connect with Colleen to discuss ways you’d like to support: Colleen.Marfione@academyhealth.org
Looking Ahead
Colleen’s arrival represents an important investment in AcademyHealth’s future. With her leadership, we will build a sustainable, diversified base of support that matches the urgency of our mission, is grounded in transparency, and is laser-focused on advancing health services research.
This Giving Tuesday, join us in building the agility, independence, and bold vision our field needs. Together, we can ensure that evidence continues to lead the way toward better health and health care for all. Visit AcademyHealth.org/GivingTuesday to make a donation today.