Lisa Morina

“The business of philanthropy is all about relationship building. It’s about working with members of the community, with companies, individuals and philanthropically minded foundations. It’s making sure they understand what the needs are and matching those needs with a donor’s desire.”

Providing vision and direction

One of the most pivotal moments in Lisa Morina’s career felt like “a reality check I didn’t know I needed,” she says. 

“A team member once looked at me and said, ‘Lisa, people aspire to be you,’” she says. “I was like, ‘What? Why?’”

In time, she came to understand that when you lead with generosity, authenticity and a genuine desire to help others succeed, people notice. And they connect with you in a very deep, authentic way. 

Morina is the senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer at The Cooper Foundation. The foundation’s mission is to raise funds for the programs, services, research and equipment needed to provide high-quality healthcare at Cooper. To do that, Morina relies on her ability to cultivate and strengthen relationships. 

“The business of philanthropy is all about relationship building,” says Morina. “It’s about working with members of the community, with companies, individuals and philanthropically minded foundations. It’s making sure they understand what the needs are and matching those needs with a donor’s desire.” 

Ultimately, she says, it comes down to building a trusted relationship and ensuring that whatever commitment a donor makes to Cooper, the money is held and stewarded appropriately. 

With a career spanning education, government and healthcare, Morina brings a unique, well-rounded perspective to her work at The Cooper Foundation. 

“At Cooper, our mission is to serve, to heal and to educate. Every single one of us has that as our job,” she says. For Morina, that starts with a servant leadership approach.

“I feel if you approach your relationships with, ‘How can I help you?’ as opposed to, ‘What can I take from you?’ it makes for a much more fulfilling and collaborative environment.”

And while she isn’t a clinician, she believes philanthropy can also be part of the patient journey. 

“There are a lot of studies that show when a patient is given the opportunity to thank their caregivers – even if the outcome wasn’t what they hoped for, but they received care with dignity and respect – they want to express their gratitude,” says Morina. “When someone says, ‘Doc, how can I thank you?’ they actually mean it, and we provide the pathways to do that.”

Morina sees her role in connecting with the community as key to advancing Cooper’s mission.

“I’m often out in the community talking to people about screenings – ‘Have you had them? Do you know where to go?’– and helping them get connected,” she says. “I’m not involved in the education of the next generation of physicians directly, but what we do through the foundation helps set Cooper up for the future.”

That long-term thinking extends to how she leads her team. Whether it’s community engagement, fundraising or internal operations, Morina sees her role as keeping the mission front and center, while also creating an environment where her team feels empowered and invested in the work.

“My role as a leader is really to remove as many barriers as possible, to break them down and create a culture where it feels good for everyone to come to work,” says Morina. “People should feel like they have something to offer and that their skills are being used. That’s what leadership is really about – providing vision and direction.” 

The Cooper Foundation
101 Haddon Avenue, Suite 302, Camden
856-342-2222
foundation.cooperhealth.org