WASHINGTON, D.C., (September 25, 2009) – The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) recognized Emily Benham of Bayfront Health Foundation, for achieving the AHP Fellow designation (FAHP) at the AHP International Conference in San Francisco. Benham is in the 34th class of Fellows to be honored.
Elevation to the status of Fellow in AHP is the highest level of achievement in the field of health care philanthropy. Conferring of the Fellow designation is not so much an award, as it is recognition of individual professional distinction, well earned through dedication and continual self-advancement.
Emily Benham, FAHP, is a certified fundraising professional with 20 years of experience. Employed at the Bayfront Health Foundation in St. Petersburg, Fla. since 1995, currently she is the vice president of development and is responsible for all of the philanthropic initiatives for Bayfront Medical Center, a major trauma and teaching hospital. Previous posts include director of development for the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, The Florida Orchestra and American Stage Theatre Company in the Tampa Bay area. Benham has been involved with AHP since entering the health care philanthropy field in 1995 and has served on the regional cabinet for eight years. Currently, she serves in the role of vice chair, regional affairs on the AHP Board of Directors. She is past regional director for the AHP Southeast region and past secretary/treasurer on the Board.
The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy is dedicated to the advancement of health care institutions and organizations through the enhancement of its members' performance and professionalism. To this end, AHP sets professional standards for health care development officers, offers comprehensive educational programs to help them achieve those standards, and examines them to determine who meets those standards. Professionals who successfully complete the Fellow examination earn the designation "Fellow of the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy," or FAHP.
Successful applicants must have earned the Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) designation, have at least eight years of experience in raising and managing philanthropic funds for a health care organization, and pledge in writing to adhere to the AHP Statement of Professional Standards and Conduct and to uphold the AHP-endorsed Donor Bill of Rights. To achieve the status of Fellow, applicants must pass a written and oral exam.
AHP, established in 1967, is a not-for-profit organization whose 4,800+ members manage philanthropic programs in 2,000 of the nation's 3,400 not-for-profit health care providers.