Marika V. Jones, MBA, has been named Chief Philanthropy Officer (CPO) at 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀÖ±²¥. The appointment was announced by Michael L. Good, Senior Vice President for Health Sciences and CEO of U of U Health. Jones has been serving as Interim CPO since July 2019.
"What Marika has accomplished during her service over the last year as our Interim CPO has been truly extraordinary," Good says. "I am excited about the possibility of building on the current momentum and accelerating it even further as she becomes our Chief Philanthropy Officer going forward. Marika and her team of 50 are responsible for raising more than $300 million per year in support of our five schools and colleges and our hospitals and clinics."
Continuing to build a world-class advancement operation is one of Jones' top priorities. "We have accomplished a great deal in the last three to five years in terms of building our data and systems capability, instilling best practices into our fundraising methodologies, and growing our staff," Jones says. "I'm determined to continue on that trajectory. One of the things we're looking at now is how we better connect with and support our donors as they help us move forward."
Jones is a seasoned advancement professional with more than 25 years of experience in building development organizations to advance the goals of hospital systems, universities, and nonprofit organizations. Prior to her position at U of U Health, Jones served as President of UnityPoint Health – Trinity Health Foundation in Moline, Illinois. She has also served in development leadership positions at Iowa State University and the University of Michigan, where she participated in several $1 billion-plus campaigns. Jones received an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan.
"Marika was the clear choice for this position in the interim, and I am thrilled she has accepted on a permanent basis," says Heidi Woodbury, Vice President for University Advancement. "The role of Chief Philanthropy Officer is vital to achieving the campus-wide One U goal of the university's senior leadership team. Marika is a talented fundraiser who has built an exceptional team. With her leading our advancement efforts for 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀÖ±²¥ alongside Sarah George, in the CPO role for the remainder of campus, I am confident we will reach and exceed our community engagement and university advancement goals."
Jones remembers arriving in in Utah and being "incredibly impressed" by the spirit of giving here. "From monetary contributions and volunteering for clinical trials to donating food and other items, I think this is a community that comes together and works together for the greater good. Giving and helping the community is in the fabric of the culture here. I haven't seen support like this in other places I have lived, at least not to this degree."
Jones considers the U to be a university on the rise. "We would not be where we are today without a number of donors who have been by our side for years. They have been instrumental in helping 91Â鶹ÌìÃÀÖ±²¥ become one of the best academic institutions and hospital and health care systems in the nation. We could not have done that without our donors."