Meet-A-FLiP: David L. Cohen

David L. Cohen, AICP, the  Director of Development of the North Philadelphia Health System  obtained his executive MBA degree from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia in 2003. He is the first Director of Development at North Philadelphia Health System in Philadelphia, PA, a community healthcare provider. I spoke with David about his career and experiences in fundraising so far.

Future Leaders in Philanthropy: David, tell us a little about yourself and how you ended up working for the North Philadelphia Health System.

David L. Cohen: I graduated from Emerson College in Boston with a degree in political communications in 1987, followed by a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the University of Illinois in 1991, and an executive MBA degree from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia in 2003.  I started work as the first Director of Development at North Philadelphia Health System during June 2006.

Ever since attending a Quaker high school in Philadelphia, where I had a meaningful class on urban development and politics, I have had an interest in working to improve urban environments and working for the common good.

While at Emerson College, during 1986, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to go to California to work on the second gubernatorial campaign of Los Angles Mayor Tom Bradley for six months.  This provided me with valuable real life experience on politics and working with diverse groups of people.  Emerson also provided me with great training on rhetorical theory and on the foundations of critical thinking.

After graduating from Emerson College, I worked one year in Washington DC for the American Foreign Service Association, the federal union for members of the foreign service. After that experience, I went on to receive my master’s degree from the University of Illinois.  Upon returning to the Philadelphia area from Illinois, I started to volunteer for a non-profit community development corporation in downtown Philadelphia that was working to create a business improvement district.

This led to a job at the community development corporation where I worked on a number of urban planning and economic development initiatives.  I subsequently started and ran a number of other non-profit organizations and programs focused on economic development. My executive MBA from St. Joseph’s University provided me with a new skill set and a better understanding of the business environment and how it differs from the non-profit environment.

I view economic development in urban environments as important for three key reasons: it makes a difference in improving the economic and social well being of people who tend to be toward the lower end of the socio-economic scale; it reuses existing resources and infrastructure; and it helps to limit suburban sprawl and the development of farm land.  I became involved in fundraising development as a result of my work in economic development.

FLiP: So tell us more about the North Philadelphia Health System. What is it, what’s the mission, and what is your role?

DC: The North Philadelphia Health System (NPHS) is comprised of two hospitals: St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Girard Medical Center, both of which have a long history of service to one of the oldest neighborhoods in Philadelphia.  Founded in 1848, St. Joseph’s Hospital is one of the oldest hospitals in Philadelphia.  Girard Medical Center traces its roots to 1927, when it opened as St. Luke’s and Children’s Homeopathic Medical Center.  The two hospitals are located eight city blocks apart in the lower north central section of Philadelphia, an area close to the Philadelphia’s downtown, but very distant in terms of health care access, economic status and social and cultural makeup.  NPHS was incorporated in 1990, as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation, to acquire the assets of and to operate St. Joseph’s Hospital and the Girard Medical Center. 

The mission of the NPHS is to provide cost effective quality patient care services to the North Philadelphia community at St. Joseph’s Hospital and specialty care services at Girard Medical Center that reaches a broader regional community for the unique nature of the service offered.

As the first Director of Development for the NPHS, my job is to identify and secure foundation, corporate and governmental grants, with an initial focus on raising funds for construction of the G. Fred DiBona Jr. Medial Services Pavilion, our proposed renovated and expanded emergency department at St. Joseph’s Hospital.  I am also working on creating an annual campaign, and I help work on identifying real estate opportunities and community partnerships for NPHS.  I largely work by myself on identifying and writing grant proposals, creating monitoring systems, and on networking with a wide-range of people, but I also have the support of the NPHS leadership.  NPHS has extremely limited financial resources and is looking to stabilize and expand its services.  The dramatic changes in healthcare, including the closing of many hospitals in Philadelphia over the past 10 years, serves as a great challenge and a great opportunity for fundraising for NPHS.

FLiP: What do you enjoy most about working in philanthropy?

DC: I enjoy the challenge of identifying and pursuing funding opportunities and working with our organization’s leadership.  As a start-up development department of one, there is satisfaction in creating a structure and a system where one did not exist, and in helping out a valuable and important organization that provides key healthcare services to the community. 

FLiP: Do you have any advice you would give to future FLiPs looking at a career in philanthropy?

DC: The abilities to think critically, to pay attention to details, to be self sufficient, and to multi-task are key.  Make sure that you have a good foundation in writing skills and are able to make persuasive and salient arguments.  I would also encourage future FLiPs to obtain real world experience in an organization as an intern.  Being able to network and identify opportunities for career advancement, potential funding, and collaboration are also important.

Become well read and up-to-date on what is happening in your community.  Try to connect the dots between different issues and people to identify creative and unforeseen opportunities.  Be active in your community outside of your classes and your job.  This serves three main goals: being able to give back to your community; providing you with opportunities to grow as a person; and allowing you to meet and work with other people in an expanded social circle. 

FLiP: Where do you see yourself in ten years?

DC: In 10 years I would like to be working on systematically improving public policy and communication between local government and its citizenry.  In my professional work and volunteer efforts, I find that local governments often do not have the resources or skills to effectively communicate their goals, programming, policies, or opportunities to the people they serve.

If you are interested in being our next “Meet-a-FLiP” e-mail us at flip@onphilanthropy.com!