Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, a national organization headquartered in Grand Rapids, hires Debra Minton after successful $6 million capital campaign

Deb Minton, incoming Senior Director of Philanthropy and Strategic Initiatives, Phoenix Society, Grand Rapids, MI, spoke with Jeffrey Mosher about her new role. 

She will officially start January 3, 2019, Minton has served as a philanthropic consultant to Phoenix Society through her firm, Philanthropia Partners, since 2015, most notably leading the "Never Alone Campaign," which raised over $6 million to support a variety of organization initiatives. This is a large transition for Minton, as she will be closing Philanthropia Partners, which she founded in 2000.

In her new role, Minton will oversee philanthropy, strategic initiatives, and the expansion of Phoenix Society's growing list of US and Global Corporate Partners in the healthcare, surgical, fire protection, insurance and tissue bank sectors.

Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, the leading national non-profit dedicated to empowering burn survivors and their families at all points of recovery, announced today that is has hired Debra Minton in the newly-created position of Senior Director of Philanthropy and Strategic Initiatives. She will begin her new role on January 3, 2019.  

Minton has served as a philanthropic consultant to Phoenix Society through her firm, Philanthropia Partners, since 2015, most notably leading the “Never Alone Campaign.” The campaign marked the first, and largest, fundraising effort for the organization solely focused on building capacity. The transformational campaign raised over $6 million to support expanded reach and scope of programming, increased access to critical resources, and the development of infrastructure.  

To hear Deb and Jeffrey's conversation please click on the embedded SoundCloud PodCast share below.

“We are thrilled to welcome Deb to our staff,” stated Amy Acton, Executive Director of Phoenix Society. “Through Philanthropia Partners, Deb was instrumental with not only equipping our organization with the strategies and tools needed to meet our capacity campaign goals, but she also dug into the work right alongside us. As a member of our team, we know that Deb will immediately contribute to our continued growth and success in serving our mission to empower our constituents.” 

In the U.S., 40,000 people are hospitalized with burn injuries each year.  Burn survivors and their loved ones face a lifelong journey of physical, emotional, and social recovery.  Connecting with others who have walked a similar path is essential to optimal recovery and social reintegration.

“The passion and dedication of Phoenix Society’s board, staff, volunteers, and the community they serve, is simply amazing,” shares Minton. “I am so honored to join as a full-time member of their team.”

In her new role, Minton will oversee philanthropy, strategic initiatives and the expansion of Phoenix Society’s growing list of US and Global Corporate Partners in the healthcare, surgical, fire protection, insurance and tissue bank sectors.   

Prior to founding Philanthropia Partners, Minton served as the YMCA’s Vice President of Development, where she built a comprehensive fund development department from the ground up. Her work there laid the foundation for an unprecedented eight-year, $30 million expansion effort that brought three new YMCA’s to the region.  

Minton also previously served as the Vice President of Development for Heart of West Michigan United Way, leading the annual campaign, major gifts and planned giving programs while directing the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, corporate leaders, executives and staff. 

In addition to her robust professional experience, Minton currently serves as the Chair of Inforum’s West Michigan Regional Council and is a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. She is also an active member of Association of Fundraising Professionals West Michigan Chapter, and frequent speaker.  

Minton will close Philanthropia Partners, which she founded in 2000, effective December 30, 2018. “I have loved every minute of building relationships, and results, for many incredible non-profit organizations through my firm. It has been challenging and rewarding, and I will miss interfacing with clients, but I am extremely excited to apply my 30 years of experience to forge meaningful relationships with others who share the same commitment to Phoenix Society’s critical mission,” Minton explains.  

This announcement comes on the heels of the 2018 World Burn Congress, held in Grand Rapids this past September. The conference welcomed hundreds of burn survivors, their families, medical professionals, and first responders from across the nation to share stories, provide support, and increase knowledge.    

In addition to the Phoenix World Burn Congress, Phoenix Society has a variety of different programs throughout the country that assist burn survivors in every stage of recovery. The Phoenix SOAR (Survivors Offering Assistance in Recovery) program provides peer support for burn survivors, ensuring no one recovers alone. The program is currently in over 64 hospitals across North America, giving 12,800 patients access to local support. 

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About Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors is the leading national non-profit dedicated to empowering burn survivors and their families at all points of recovery.  Since 1977, Phoenix Society has worked with survivors, families, healthcare professionals, and first responders to support burn recovery, improve the quality of burn care, and prevent burn injuries. For more information, visit www.phoenix-society.org

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