To respond to the growth of Cooper University Health Care and to meet the needs of the community it serves, the Cooper Foundation is expanding its team. Lois Gabin-Legato, an experienced philanthropic professional in the Philadelphia region, recently joined the Cooper Foundation as vice president of advancement for major gifts and planned giving.
Gabin-Legato comes to Cooper from the Philadelphia Foundation, where she served as vice president of institutional advancement and chief advancement officer since 2016. She is one of several executive team member additions to the Cooper Foundation over the coming weeks to support Cooper’s current growth and 10-year strategic plan.
“The Cooper Foundation plays an important role in furthering Cooper’s mission to serve, heal and educate the residents of our region,” Philip Norcross, chairman of the Cooper Foundation board of trustees, stated. “As we expand Camden’s Health Sciences campus to serve more residents, we are happy to add a professional fundraiser of Lois’ caliber to our team.”
Gabin-Legato has nearly 20 years of leadership experience in major gift fundraising, grants and asset development with leading public charities and institutions of higher education. Prior to her work at the Philadelphia Foundation, she served in a number of executive leadership roles at Drexel University’s Office of Institutional Advancement. Previously, she was senior director of development at Temple University’s Office of Institutional Advancement.
“We are excited to welcome Lois to the Cooper Foundation. Her track record as a consummate fundraising professional and her experience in cultivating major gifts will help the Cooper Foundation as we support the health system’s growth now and into the future,” Robert Ortiz Jr., senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer of the Cooper Foundation, said.
Gabin-Legato is a member of the Barnes Foundation Professional Advisors Council, the Sunday Breakfast Club, Impact100 South Jersey, a region women’s collective on philanthropic giving, and a volunteer with the Alice Paul Institute and other community involvement.
