SMHF Hires Three Senior Staff Members

May 15, 2024 | Sarasota

Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of three new staff members, John Soucy, Vice President of Strategic Philanthropy; Jeney Slusser, Director of Development; and James Evans, Director of Advancement Services.

“After an historic year of fundraising for Sarasota Memorial, we continue to expand our team to meet the needs of the health system and our growing family of donors,” says Healthcare Foundation President, Stacey Corley. “John, Jeney and Jim are the latest additions to our staff, bringing a wealth of philanthropic experience that will help propel our organization and our mission forward.”

John Soucy has joined the organization as Vice President of Strategic Philanthropy. Stepping into this newly created role, Soucy brings more than 20 years of strategic fundraising experience and will lead the Healthcare Foundation’s development and major gifts team.

Prior to joining the Healthcare Foundation, Soucy was the Assistant Vice President of Principal Giving for Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Mo. He spent the last nine years overseeing the university’s Principal Giving, Corporations, Foundation and Planned Giving programs. At the start of Soucy’s second tenure with the university in 2011, he was named Executive Director of Special Gifts. He also served as the Executive Director of Development at The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Fla., and the Director of the Friends of Medicine Program for Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Md. Soucy began his fundraising career at Saint Louis University School of Medicine as an Associate Director of Development in 2001. While there, Soucy became a Senior Director of Development overseeing Medical School Development Operations.

Soucy earned his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Saint Louis University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Westminster College, Fulton, Mo. He is a member of the Counsel for the Advancement and Support of Education, and The Missouri Bar Association.

Jeney Slusser has joined the Healthcare Foundation as a Director of Development. Slusser brings over 10 years of fundraising experience with capital, research and comprehensive campaigns. Previously, Slusser was the Senior Director for Constituent Engagement at Ringling College of Art and Design. Prior to working in higher education, she served as the Director of Advancement at Centerstone Behavioral Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. and later in Bradenton, Fla.

Slusser earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism & Communication from Middle Tennessee State University, in Murfreesboro, Tenn. She is also a member of the Junior League of Sarasota and the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

James Evans has joined the organization as Director of Advancement Services. Evans has more than 25 years of nonprofit database management, fundraising and technology solutions experience, and will be responsible for researching prospects, overseeing data management, reporting and integrity.

Before joining the Healthcare Foundation, Evans most recently was a Product Ambassador for MissionBI, Inc., Jackson, Wyo., and a consultant to a broad range of not-for-profit organizations. He also served as Senior Solutions Consultant for NPact, Dallas, Tex.; and a Raiser’s Edge Product Specialist for Blackbaud, Charleston, S.C.

Evans earned his Master of Arts in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona, Minnesota. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of South Carolina and is a certified Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge Professional.