Innovation the Cleveland Clinic Way: Powering Transformation by Putting Ideas to Work

Chapter9

Philanthropy

Donate Like Your Life Depends on It

The idea of giving back is appropriately named; traditional donors often are motivated retrospectively by loyalty or by a desire to repay a gratefully received benefit. There are multiple other philanthropic motivations, like supporting an organization’s perpetuation for future service or enjoyment. Such motivations can be reactive, in recognition of an experience, but can also be proactive for the purpose of ensuring the institution endures to benefit the individual or wider community.

In many ways, healthcare or academic philanthropy can take either of these faces. Benefactors may give to a hospital to recognize a lifesaving service or to enable the purchase of the newest piece of ...