Working to defy cancer: Meet Allie Pasquale

This post is part of a series highlighting staff members within Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & The Jimmy Fund’s Division of Philanthropy, to give supporters an inside peek at life at New England’s favorite charity. Today, we’re talking to Allie Pasquale, member of the Annual, Planned, and Institutional Giving team.

What brought you to Dana-Farber? What made you want to work here?

In my early teenage years, my 80-year-old grandfather was treated for prostate cancer at Dana-Farber. His doctor told us that usually at his age, they would try to contain the cancer rather than put him through rigorous treatment to cure it, but the care team saw how my grandfather was in such good health and had so much life ahead of him, so they chose to pursue treatment. Because of the care he received, he went on to live until he was 93 and got to witness some of my biggest life moments to date. When I realized in college that I wanted to pursue fundraising as my career path, I knew I wanted to work at Dana-Farber so I could be a small part of giving other families the same experience and additional years with their beloved family members that I had.

Can you describe your role here on the Annual, Planned, and Institutional Giving team?

I support the Annual, Planned, and Institutional Giving Vice President with her daily work, coordinate opportunities for social connections and learning for our team members, and manage key processes to keep our work moving. I also work on special projects within different teams, such as leading internal fundraising for the Division of Philanthropy for our Holiday Patient Assistance program and co-managing a special grant nomination process.  

Can you share more about the work of the Annual, Planned, and Institutional Giving team? What role does the team contribute to the Division and Dana-Farber?

The Annual, Planned, and Institutional Giving team is the umbrella team that oversees the Annual Giving, Planned Giving, Corporate Partnerships, and Foundation Relations teams in the Division. We support these teams in their work through strategy, advice, and assistance to raise crucial funds for Dana-Farber from all types of donors through all types of gifts, ranging from small dollar gifts to corporate portion of proceeds programs to planned gifts to grants.

Is there anything you would like to share about working at Dana-Farber and the Division of Philanthropy with prospective candidates?

I feel truly lucky to work at Dana-Farber. My Division of Philanthropy colleagues are some of the best people I have ever known, and I have been lucky enough to meet some of my best friends through my role here. Every day, my colleagues teach me something new and show me what it means to love your job.

What does it mean to work here and support Dana-Farber’s lifesaving mission to defy cancer?

I am always proud to tell people I work at Dana-Farber because our community is so inspiring. Whether it’s hearing from donors about why they give or reading about the newest treatment developments from our faculty, I am always moved and reminded of the incredible progress we continue to make towards a world without cancer.

Is there anything else you would like to share? Are there any memories of working here that stand out to you?

My favorite memory so far of working at the Division is walking in my first Boston Marathon® Jimmy Fund Walk in 2022 because it was the first event I was able to participate in after joining the Division. The energy that day was electric, and I felt the impact of the work of our Division and Dana-Farber overall more than I ever had before. I now look forward to signing up for the Walk every year and joining my Philanthropy colleagues in strutting down the streets of Boston to defy cancer!

If you are interested in exploring a career in Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund’s Division of Philanthropy, we invite you to check out our careers page to learn about our culture, view open roles, or register for an upcoming virtual Information Session. 

We also encourage you to support Dana-Farber & The Jimmy Fund through The Dana-Farber Campaign, our ambitious, multi-year fundraising effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer. The Dana-Farber Campaign will accelerate the Institute’s strategic priorities by supporting revolutionary science, extraordinary care, and exceptional expertise. As a community, we have the power to create a more hopeful, cancer-free future—in Boston and around the world. Together, we can defy cancer at every turn. Learn more about The Dana-Farber Campaign at DefyCancer.org.