homeMenu
Become A Member Login
Member Tools

2018 40 Under 40 Winners

FortyUnderForty Logo for sitefinity 1

Shannon Kisselbaugh

Heuser Hearing Institute
Louisville, KY

Why is a 40 under 40 winner

  1. She implemented a new, strategic annual fund and donor stewardship strategy, resulting in a 10% increase in donor retention and a 36% increase in number of gifts from the previous fiscal year.
  2. She was Heuser Hearing Institute’s first dedicated fundraising staff person in the last four years when hired in 2017. In just 10 months, she has professionalized the fundraising operation and begun to instill a culture of philanthropy across the organization.
  3. Shannon serves as Treasurer of the Charitable Gift Planners of Kentuckiana, chapter of the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners.
  4. She has been named both “Young Professional of the Year” and “Most Valuable Young Professional” by the Young Professionals Association of Louisville.

Q & A

  1. How did you get into health care philanthropy?

    I spent the beginning of my career in the arts and community foundations, which gave me solid fundraising and stewardship experience. I was approached with the opportunity at Heuser Hearing Institute and the idea of improving the quality of life for children and adults with hearing challenges was a cause that I had a personal connection to and felt very strongly about.

  2. Why did you choose to make health care philanthropy your career?

    When the opportunity at Heuser Hearing Institute was presented to me, the thought of raising funds to give children and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing the gift of sound and language seemed like a perfect fit for me and a logical next step in my career. Growing up, my best friend had profound hearing loss and wore hearing aids. I have been playing music for as long as I can remember and it is a crucial part of my life. I simply can’t imagine not being able to enjoy listening to music or playing my instrument or hearing my loved one’s voices. My work helps make that possible and more for over 5,000 patients in our community each year.

  3. What has been the #1 factor in your career success so far?

    The #1 factor in my career success so far is that I always strive to be authentic and passionate in my relationships with donors, volunteers and my colleagues.

  4. What is your greatest passion and why?

    My greatest passion is connecting people who care in the community who have the means to make a difference with the causes that matter most to them.

  5. What are your future aspirations?

    6. Going forward, I aspire to continue improving the quality of life in my community through both my work and volunteering.

Shannon Kisselbaugh

Fun Fact:

I am a classically trained percussionist and specialize in playing four-mallet marimba, xylophone and vibraphone.