Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation, Chief Donor Relations and Stewardship Officer

Houston Methodist Hospital Foundation (HMHF) is pleased to appoint Avaleen Morris as the inaugural chief donor relations and stewardship officer, effective April 7, 2025. In this newly created and elevated role, Morris will serve as a member of the foundation’s senior leadership team and design, implement, and enhance the foundation’s donor recognition and stewardship programs to even greater success. Morris joins HMHF at an exciting moment as the foundation prepares for a groundbreaking comprehensive campaign for which excellence in donor recognition and stewardship will be essential to realize the foundation’s ambitious goals and advance Houston Methodist Hospital’s mission and impact. 

Morris brings two decades of wide-ranging development experience across annual giving, donor relations, and stewardship. In her most recent role as senior director of donor relations at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Morris created and implemented the first comprehensive stewardship strategy across all giving levels, including bespoke stewardship strategies for VUMC’s most generous donors. Before transitioning to the medical center, Morris implemented a cohesive, university-wide annual giving program across Vanderbilt University, which sustainably raised $25 million annually; established the prestigious Oak Leaf Society to honor consecutive giving; and spearheaded the university’s inaugural giving day. Morris’s first foray in development was at Emory University where she held roles with progressive responsibilities amid the university’s $1.6 billion comprehensive campaign. 

Morris holds an associate of arts degree in mass communications and media studies, as well as a bachelor of science degree in psychology, both from Northern Caribbean University. 

Rachel Ellenport led this search with Nicole Poe, Maureen Perry, and Lisa Clayton.