Corporate Giving & Philanthropy in a Pandemic

Podcast Transcript

Will Morris, MD:  Welcome back to a fantastic episode on Health Amplified. This is Dr. William Morris joined with me is my cohost, Akhil Saklecha. Akhil, tell us about today’s episode.

Akhil Saklecha, MD:  Well, today we’re got a great plan. We’re joined today by Lara Kalafatis. She is Cleveland clinic’s Philanthropy Institute chair.  I could go into a long list of her bio, but let’s hear it from her straight. Alright. Tell us about yourself.

Lara Kalafatis:  Thanks, Akhil. Thanks, Will. It’s a pleasure to join you today. Hope you’re all, first of all, doing well and you and your families are healthy. It’s a pleasure to be here. Thank you for having me.

Akhil:  It would be great if we could learn about you before you came to the Clinic and then what made you actually come here?

Lara:  Well, I’m not that interesting. What’s more interesting is the Cleveland Clinic. I was at Case Western Reserve University for 16 years prior to coming to the Clinic and Dr. Cosgrove recruited me, and it’s been a joy ever since. I love the Cleveland Clinic. I love the innovation and that’s truly why we’re here to talk a little bit more about innovations and the space of innovations in the Cleveland Clinic and how Philanthropy can really Excel and be a catalyst for the type of environment that’s unique, I think, at the Cleveland Clinic.

Will:  Well, it’s also important to kind of point out that Philanthropy has a critical role coming up in 2021 – that’s our Centennial. Tell us a little bit about, you know, what’s your vision for how donors and philanthropists can align with this important milestone for the organization?

Lara:  Great question. Well 2021 is our Centennial and we are in a Centennial campaign. It’s $2 billion raise which we hope to conclude at the end of 2021. And we have the good fortune to be ahead of the curve here in our campaign. So we’ve reached that milestone of $2 billion and we’re not stopping! We’re gonna keep going and exceed our goal and have a wonderful celebration during 2021, as we mark the milestone of a hundred years of the Cleveland Clinic.

Akhil:  So when you look at how you approach donors, right, I imagine there’s a lot of different ways to do it. In your opinion, what’s what you do and what does your team do to reach out?

Lara:  So we are really facilitators. And that’s how I look at my role. We are stewards of people’s investments and philanthropic dollars here at the Cleveland Clinic. And our job is to help facilitate their interest and their Willingness to support the Cleveland Clinic and find and align with their goals, the right projects and the right research or the right opportunities in which their Philanthropy can have the greatest impact that really makes them feel good. And I think we are a benevolent society and I think if you think about, and I’m sure, you know you’re both physicians, do the research on when you do good, when you give money, when you have an act of kindness, how does that make you feel? And it certainly makes people feel good. And our job is also then stewarding that goodwill and making them feel that time and time again, that their generosity has had an impact. And to tell those stories of the impact of Philanthropy here at the Cleveland Clinic.

Akhil:  Alright, are they mainly patients, former patients, families, or are you actually going out to a broader network of community leaders, state leaders?

Lara:  Good question. So we do a fair amount, as most other hospitals have grateful patient fundraising. Many people are grateful for their care here and their care and they really recognize the team-based approach to their care at the Cleveland Clinic. So they often, it’s really interesting, Akhil, that they often comment about the team: a nurse, the person who cleans my room, the facility, the art. They truly are passionate about the Cleveland Clinic experience and what that means, not just the great care and they’re grateful for their physician, but they’re really grateful for the experience. And they want a connection to make sure that their Philanthropy certainly helps others have a great experience, helps foster research and education for our physicians and helps inspire and provides, I think, the gratitude to the team involved in their care,

Will:  Lara, you had mentioned kind of the motivation is very benevolent. And in certainly right now, I think our nation and the globe is faced with two pandemics. Both obviously the COVID, but we’re dealing with obviously disparities, health disparities, racial injustice. Has that actually played a role in both opening the aperture of how people can give in support?

Lara:  Great question. So we are faced with two pandemics, you’re right. COVID and racial injustice. I think we started out earlier this year in a COVID response campaign. I think we saw organically a community and people respond to the COVID crisis in ways that was just not only generous with their money, but generous in terms of their spirit and goodwill. We saw people, mask makers, corporations who wanted to donate supplies. So we saw a tremendous amount of goodwill in our COVID response campaign, and we pivoted in Philanthropy to not just ask for money, but to team up with Supply Chain and Innovations to really think about how we could make manufacturing, donate supplies. So there is a tremendous synergy in the COVID response. I think with racism and social injustice, I think we take the lens and the purview through health and health disparities, and that’s where the Cleveland Clinic, especially where we are in all of our hospitals in the community, how do we really embed, how do we care for a community as we care for our patients? And I think that’s a unique opportunity that Cleveland Clinic has right now to really think about our work in that space.

Akhil:  Has there been, you know, we talk about social determinants of health, right? And whether we elevate education, whether we bring in, you know, better nutrition and access to food has there been some things tangibly done through Cleveland Clinic and through your Institute to support that?

Lara:  Sure. So again, we facilitate the work of our executives. So Dr. Bharmal, Dr. Myers, who are in Community Health have really been the leaders in this space, going and embedding into the community to really say what our existing assets that are there: whether it’s community groups, whether it’s churches, could it be the YMCA, could be a library, really looking at, what each community is so unique and what’s unique in that population. And then how can we partner, and how can we embed our services, whether it is health screenings, which we do. So we have a van that goes around and does health screenings. We are working with Langston Hughes, which is local here in Northeast, Ohio, a way in which we can really help teaching classes, good nutrition provide supplies. So when we also through COVID had supplies, we also brought them to the community to help support the community with masks or Clorox or other wipes, things like that, hand sanitizer. But we lead with our leaders to help facilitate both supplies and donations and help facilitate great care.

Akhil:  Do you find, and I know that when we were in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, I actually got emails from friends in California, friends in China and other places, they had masks and they had all these other things to give. We’re fortunate because we’re at the Clinic, right, and people hear about us, know about us, and they want to help. And we have a lot of brand representation, you know, I guess I’m curious, not everyone has a Lara in their health system.

Lara:  They probably have someone better.

Akhil:  What does that, how does that leave other hospitals? You know, I’m just very curious about that dynamic between a system like ours and others.

Lara:  I think there are great people, really, out there and other healthcare organizations who lean in and want to support their organization. Again, I feel very fortunate to be at the Cleveland Clinic. You know, it’s our nature, I think, as fundraisers to kind of lean in and say, how can we help? Right. And, and so I think as the Cleveland Clinic was responding to COVID, and we’re not only fortunate to be the Cleveland Clinic, but we have locations around the world. We were really helping people in communities around the globe because of the Cleveland Clinic. And so those connections that you’re talking about, we’re not only helping people here in Northeast, Ohio, but we’re helping people all over the world. And that is I think a hallmark of our organization

Will:  In that three years that you’ve been here, certainly the numbers speak for themselves, the success of you and your team. I mean, it’s tremendous. But I wonder if you could reflect on what has surprised you, when you look back, what are you most unexpectedly proud of?

Lara:  These are tough questions.

Will:  Don’t worry. The next question I’m going to ask is how much has Akhil donated over the past 10 years?

Akhil:  But thankfully I’ve only been here less than that.

Will:  So that’s still an excuse. Yeah.

Lara:  Well, the donation comes after the podcast. Yeah. You write your check after

Will:  We’ll be handing around an envelope. Thank you.

Lara:  Okay. So the question, I think was one of my most proud of over the past three years

Will:  That you, you know, was an unexpected “aha” when you transitioned from a Case to here.

Lara:  So the “aha” moment actually is, and I know this sounds corny. But how accessible are physicians are, how accessible are our people are here at the Cleveland Clinic. It doesn’t matter any time of day or who the individual is, and our physicians and our caregivers are so accessible to help people. There is something I think very unique and distinctive about the Cleveland Clinic model of care, that until you’re here, you don’t really understand it. You can’t feel it. You know, when we see the north star of “Patients First,” when we see and hear about how important it is, and we call each other caregivers until you’re really here as a caregiver and understand what that means, it’s a powerful feeling and our patients, our donors, our community, they feel it too by those acts of kindness.

Akhil:  So I’d like to throw out, you know, we talk about innovation, right? But I, I actually think you will need to be innovative going forward because the way I understand it, based on what you were saying is the way that Philanthropy operated before coronavirus and after coronavirus, it fundamentally, probably, has changed, right? In the sense of your ability to meet physically with potential donors, which, you know, like you said, until you’re here, until you really feel it. Sometimes it’s hard to make that connection. How do you become innovative going forward?

Lara:  So another great question. I think we’ve all through COVID learned to be agile and flexible and go where we need to go in the space and challenge ourselves to work and think differently. So our job fundamentally first was to stand up our response campaign. But second was to put our arms around our donors, our prospects, our patients, our community, and help with information. So somewhat like what you’re doing right now, we did donor calls. We did podcasts. Our job first and foremost was to make sure these are community members were getting the right information. Putting our experts out, making sure if people had questions about testing or one of the latest information about research, you know, we, that was our job to connect with them wherever they were, however they were. And they met us there. They were interested. They got on the phone, they dialed us in, they Zoomed with us and they continued to do so because, I think what we provide is, is rich important information about COVID-19.

So you asked about, you know, where, how do we go from there? And I think we’ve learned, again, to be agile in making those connections and supporting our donors. Hearing people through all of this, you can’t assume anything about anyone and where they’re at and their ability to give. So our job has been to say, this is what’s going on, we’d love for you to support us, and if you can this is what we’d love for you to do. And that’s part of our job is to make that ask whether it’s now a phone call, a Zoom, because we’re certainly keeping social distance practices ourselves as, as fundraisers. And people are meeting us, whether they’re in London or, or down the street. They’ve been able to connect with us.

Akhil:  I would think that, you know, in this era, healthcare, Philanthropy is probably more crucial than ever, right? Given the economic situation of the country, the health system is losing money. You know, it, it springboards into another topic which is around Venture Philanthropy. Now, as head of Ventures here at Cleveland Clinic, I’m particularly interested in that area. But how do you look at that? Because I don’t think we’ve really done that here yet.

Lara:  I’m excited to partner with you in this space. I think, again, just as we’re talking about agility and flexibility, we have to go also where the need is and where the opportunity is, both from the donor and from the organization. And Venture Philanthropy is that nexus of, of that space. So I think that’s a great opportunity for us to partner. Venture Philanthropy is an opportunity where as you know, a philanthropist investors are really looking for  a way to not only make a difference, but have a return on their investment, through a unique whether it’s research or product development or new discovery, spin out company. There’s an opportunity not only to provide that seed funding, but again, long-term investment of seeing that return back to their foundation. Not a straight out investment – this is not an individual making a, an investment it’s really through a foundation that allows them to make this type of venture philanthropy investment. So it’d be great to partner with you.

Akhil:  Great. Looking forward to that.

Will:  That is such an exciting chapter. Cause you speak about that aha moment about the accessibility of our clinicians and our nurses, always willing to help. I would actually reflect back that your office is that too. When we have an idea or a product and we need to de-risk it, right, these are high risk, but high reward. They benefit perhaps a small patient population that normal funds wouldn’t actually suffice. You are there. And that symbiotic relationship that you guys foster is bringing critical solutions to patient care. So I would just implore to you and to your team that you are as instrumental as any clinician, any nurse, and any caregiver on the front line. I hope you have that perspective that it’s not just an appreciation of the culture, but it is true, a profound appreciation to what you do and what you guys support.

Lara:  Wow, thank you, Will, that’s really nice. But I think the model the Cleveland Clinic is a team of teams, and it’s not one person and it’s really just --

Will:  Well, it’s certainly not Akhil. We know that.

Lara:  It’s certainly wonderful to be part of the team. So thank you.

Akhil:  No, I, I want to, you kind of diverted my follow up question on Venture Philanthropy. So I want to go back to that topic for a second, just selfishly. What does, what does someone do? Are they going to approach you and say, you know, I have a family office and I want to set up a fund - I’m interested in Alzheimer’s or is it something where the Institute and Cleveland clinic has to go out and say, we’re interested in doing this and outreach, or is it both of that? How does someone, because we haven’t done it yet. Right. So how, how do you go about creating this and then reaching out?

Lara:  Great question. So we do it on the side of just pure Philanthropy, right? We, that’s the space we work in where sometimes people are saying to us, “This is my cause. And I want to find a space in which I can benefit,” whether it’s Alzheimer’s research or particular education or some other activity. And there’s sometimes where we have a need, and we try to align and go find the foundation or an individual, which we think aligns to that. So the same principle, it doesn’t really change because it’s Venture Philanthropy or just pure Philanthropy. The process is really the same. It’s the tool that you’re using, which is different. And that tool is Venture Philanthropy in a space where we say and look for partners. And we know that we have some who are interested in, and again, to kind of work with you as you identify projects, and it could be project-based, product-based, or initiatives that we try to align funders and let them know about this space.

Akhil:  Yea I’m going to interrupt. Actually, you’re filling me with ideas. And I think actually that we do have to meet, because what I want to do is actually expose you to everything we’re doing from the early innovations, actually, all the way through some of our portfolio companies. Because I think as more and more people understand what we’re doing there may be a way to connect and actually make a bigger impact rather than just going out through traditional financial investors. Because there we can get actually somebody who is very motivated to support a specific company that’s in a way that is in a space that would make a lot of sense for them. So I do want to park that as a separate meeting and I’ll have Will come along with his checkbook at that meeting. Fantastic.

Will:  Well, you heard it here live, sausage-making in the works as Akhil’s wheels are turning and, and you know, kicks off yet another podcast of Venture Philanthropy unplugged.

Lara:  I think this is the birth of Venture Philanthropy right here.

Will:  I think we just saw it - hopefully not the death. And so we will come back tune in perhaps in a later episode and we’ll hear the follow up. Venture philanthropy and Akhil’s donation.

Lara:  Let’s do a project. And let’s talk about how people could --

Akhil:  I’m sorry. I do that one more question, please. And this is a question, I don’t know if Lara wanted me to ask, but how does Will get his name on a building? What does he have to do?

Lara:  We used to write a big check, but yeah, we’d love to have your name on a building Dr. Morris, would you like with Dr. William Morris? Is that what you mean?

Will:  Certainly wouldn’t be my brother Philip Morris, because that one’s taken. We’ll check – you take cashier’s check or Pepsi Gotta Have It card? Yeah, that is not my, you know, my goal is not a name on a building. It is, you know, deliver care.

Lara:  Joking aside, I’m glad you asked that question because for some donors, their legacy is important for them to see and for their families to see. So I do want to say that names on buildings, names and spaces are important because not only for us to have the ability to have those donations, that really not only help support the brick and mortar, but help support the activity that’s occurring in that building, whether it’s research or clinical care. But it is a way, again, it’s that way with still take the need for the Cleveland Clinic, but the opportunity for a family or individual to leave a legacy in the community or with an organization that they feel so passionate about. So leaving your name on a building is  an incredible legacy, endowing a chair or program, fosters greater opportunity for our clinical leaders and supporting programs and research.

So there’s several ways to leave a legacy. And it’s an important way as families are thinking about, you know, their care. And I, we started this conversation around, and you ask the question that now more than ever is healthcare important. And I do think donors and the community is seeing not only the great clinical care from the Cleveland Clinic, but the leadership that we’ve taken and the innovation we’ve taken in during COVID. It’s really been a hallmark. I think, of the Cleveland Clinic. Sorry, is that too commercially? But I do really feel so passionate about it.

Will:  No, I think that’s actually, it resonates because I don’t think there’s a clinician amongst us who doesn’t know Sam Miller and remembers how he would speak to us and, and articulated his vision. And so when you’re present in that building, and you see the name, you do feel like there’s a legacy, not only for the family, but there’s also an important legacy around the human, the person and why. And so again, I think that’s part of the tremendous gift is, is these symbiotic relationships that one can build whether it be a large donation or a small donation, or even just time and resources and materials particularly for, you know, innovation discovery.

Lara:  No, I’m so glad you mentioned that because I think, you know, Sam would be so proud for you to say his name because he really - these are people who give us our money really feel so passionate about not only their donation, but the Cleveland Clinic and the care or the program that they’re associating with. So Sam loved emergency medicine. He loved our nurses. He loved our docs and he would do anything he could. And so having his name was important, not for the bricks and mortar, but for people to understand how much he cared and how important we were in this community. But we have other incredible donors –  the Miller family associated with our HVTI program, our heart and vascular program. You know, Mrs. Miller calls and talks to me about how people feel that her name is associated with this program and how that makes her feel so good about the work that we’re doing.

The most recent gift we got was our Morton Mendel, who recently passed away, and his gift to our Mandel global leadership and learning program. Mort Mandel was so passionate about leaders. And I, I get goosebumps thinking about how much he cared about Cleveland Clinic leaders, and that’s why he gave us this donation, put his name associated, and he said, “this program speaks to me. You are treating leaders and growing leaders from within an organization.” So wherever the Cleveland Clinic goes, they’re bringing a Cleveland Clinic leader through the Mandel program. So these people really feel these donors really feel passionate about our programs, our research, our clinical care. And so when so it is a point of pride back to the, you know, how do you get your name on a building and as a point of pride to be associated with great programs with excellence and create a legacy.

Will:  Well, thank you so much for your time. And more importantly, thank you so much for what you and your team do every day. And certainly, juxtaposed to what’s going on with you know, the national dialogue. And then certainly with, with the Centennial. It’s remarkable. And so just on behalf of myself and Akhil, we say, thank you. So this is concluding Health Amplified. This is Will and Akil signing off. Until next episode, thank you very much.