Jan Wood, Outstanding Professional Fundraiser Award

The Outstanding Professional Fundraiser Award is presented to a fundraising professional who demonstrates exceptional skill and enthusiasm for their work, who pursues big ideas and successfully engages others in achieving them, and who inspires new levels of giving among donors.

“Jan Wood leads by example as a professional fundraiser through her generosity in supporting local causes, volunteering her time and expertise to support other non-profits, and encouraging charitable commitments that make a difference throughout Anne Arundel County.”
— Cindy O'Neill, Community Volunteer

Faced with a pandemic that no one could have anticipated, Jan Wood didn’t blink an eye. As a matter of fact, the president of Anne Arundel Medical Center Foundation (AAMCF) and chief development officer for Anne Arundel Medical Center and Luminis Health did what she’s always done – pulled together resources and people. When it became clear in March that many of non-clinical personnel needed to telework, Jan quickly set up new office protocols with routine check-ins to ensure her team's mental and physical health, said Victoria W. Bayless, Chief Executive Officer, Luminis Health. She also teamed with others to work around postponements of a major fundraising event as well as donor-society gatherings. 

“We understand how difficult it is to raise money at any time, but take away the ability for face-to-face meetings, and it becomes even more difficult,” said Bayless. “Nevertheless, under Jan's tutelage the Foundation established a special fund just to help us procure the equipment and protective gear required to serve COVID-19 patients, raising more than $1 million.

Apart from her guidance during the pandemic, Jan, through the years, has guided the health system's philanthropy, strategic planning, and programming across its various medical centers and entities. Under her leadership, AAMCF focused on major, corporate, and six figure giving by developing new programs and services; doubling charitable gifts to support AAMC from $7 million to $15 million annually during non-campaign years; raising more than $10 million through AAMCF's Lighting the way to Healthy Minds campaign, supporting the J. Kent McNew Family Medical Center opening; and engaging the next generation of philanthropists by launching and sustaining AAMCF’s Building Traditions Society.

“Jan leads by example as a professional fundraiser through her generosity in supporting local causes, volunteering her time and expertise to support other non-profits, and encouraging charitable commitments that make a difference throughout Anne Arundel County,” said nominator, Cindy O’Neill.

Given her dedication to AAMC and Luminis Health, it is no surprise that Jan also donates a considerable portion of time and resources to causes she cares about deeply. She served as a board director for YWCA of Anne Arundel County, Anne Arundel Health System, Annapolis Walk-for the-Cure, Annapolis Wellness House, Leadership Anne Arundel, Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce, and other nonprofits. 

“From some deep well of boundless energy, Jan is never afraid to tackle the big challenges,” said former AAMCF President Lisa Hillman. “Her innate creativity and positive approach drive the Foundation's extraordinary success. Results prove it. She exhibits the kind of humility that is rare among such high-performing, fundraising professionals. She would far rather give credit to her staff, her board, her donors —or anyone—but herself.”

Hillman added that Jan has an unflagging commitment to the AAMC mission no matter what project and empowers her staff to learn more. “For her it is the patient who matters, and often that patient's family as well,” said Hillman.

Watch the full video below.