Judy Davis
CEO
Hospitals of Regina Foundation
Member, TRT 647
“A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.” – John C. Maxwell
As the CEO of the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, Judy Davis has a sense of drive and commitment that is unmistakable.
“I am completely passionate about what I do,” she says of her work with the foundation, a charity that builds and sustains philanthropic and community support for essential health services such as advanced equipment and other urgently needed enhancements for southern Saskatchewan’s specialized care hospitals.
Since joining as a volunteer back in the eighties, Judy – a Prince Albert native – has played a key role in drastically increasing the foundation’s funding support.
“Over the last six years we have more than doubled our revenue,” she says, attributing her success and fortitude to the belief that ‘everything can always be better.’
With a diversified fundraising program in place, the foundation relies on six main revenue streams: annual giving, major gifts and corporate giving, individual large gifts, special events and two annual home lotteries.
“Just a year ago we celebrated our benchmark goal of $100 million,” Judy says proudly, adding that 2010 was the largest year to date for fundraising revenue, with over $11 million raised.
Judy is pleased with those figures. But her goals are lofty and when it comes to the foundation, she’s looking forward – and up. Working from a serious business model – setting targets and controlling expenses – she has placed significant emphasis on cultivating and maintaining relationships within the community, recognizing those ties as paramount to the foundation’s continued success.
“Our donors are our customers. The experience we create for donors is paralleled with the experience you want your customers to have. They continue to participate and give, provided they feel fulfilled with what they’ve done.”
Thoughtfully, Judy believes that leveraging others’ generosity is about being able to relate on a personal level.
“Making a gift for philanthropists is a really big deal. For them, it’s all about being able to act on what’s in your heart and match it with your financial generosity to something that makes a difference.”
Her approach is simple yet brilliant. And it is paying off. But it wasn’t always this way.
Eight years ago when she was appointed CEO, Judy explains it was ‘a lonely existence.’ As she worked to develop confidence in herself and her role, she found TEC Canada and joined in 2006.
“TEC was really important to me. It was a place to come together with a group of like-minded people; a forum where I could share, ask questions and know that it was held in confidence.”
As time went on, Judy’s grasp on running the operation tightened and her membership with TEC evolved. She saw TEC not only as a place to seek guidance and advice, but also an opportunity to ‘tap in,’ and learn more about leveraging support for her organization.
“I’ve been able to use TEC to help raise the awareness of what the Hospitals of Regina Foundation is all about. My group members have become my ambassadors in the community and some of my greatest supporters.”
And then there’s her group Chair, Paul Martin – perhaps her biggest advocate.
“Paul is great,” she says. “He has his finger on the pulse of everything…he has the ability to bring out the best in all of us!”
Beyond her involvement in the health care sector and TEC Canada, Judy is active in her community as a long time member of the Regina Rotary Club. She is also Chair on the South Saskatchewan Roundtable and member of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners.
Judy was recently named a Woman of Influence on Saskatchewan Business Magazine’s 10th annual list of the leading women making a difference in Saskatchewan. She was just nominated for a Toastmasters award and is very proud to be on the planning committee for the Wascana Golf Club’s 100 centennial anniversary celebration, noting, “We’re a big golf family!”
