Rachael Poer named as Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Queen

Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center is pleased to announce that Rachael Poer has been appointed chief philanthropy officer (CPO) for the hospital and chief executive officer (CEO) of Queen of the Valley Foundation.  

Rachael has a wealth of fundraising experience and extensive knowledge of the Queen’s Foundation. She joined the team in 2018 as foundation director. In collaboration with the foundation team, she strategically planned and managed fundraising initiatives, including direct mail, marketing and major gift acquisitions, to raise $5M+ annually for the hospital. In addition to overseeing the production of Queen’s fundraising events, she created and implemented the Distinguished Corporate Partners (DCP) program which has engaged many local businesses. 

“Rachael has demonstrated an exceptional ability to connect our donors’ philanthropic passions with improvements in technology and infrastructure at Queen of the Valley,” said Terry Wooten, Queen’s chief executive. “In this new role, she will continue to serve our community, ensuring they have access to the most advanced medical care in Napa County.”
 
Before officially becoming a caregiver, Rachael provided guidance and support to the foundation as a consultant to build the Generous Heart gala. The owner of a nonprofit management and consulting agency, her clients included: Queen of the Valley Foundation; Jameson Humane; Valley Care Charitable Foundation – Stanford Health; and The Bay Area Animal Resource Center (BAARC). An entrepreneur, Rachael co-founded Gather Napa Valley Medical Education Services, a start-up company which developed medical training from 2016-2018. She has served in a leadership role at both hospitals in the Napa Valley and, over the course of her career, has helped to raise over $35M to support patients seeking care in our county.  

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to build upon the relationships our amazing philanthropy team has developed with our donors over the years at the Queen,” said Poer. “I have been blessed to see the impact that philanthropy has on the health and well-being of our community and I’m truly excited to embark on this next chapter of fund development with our donors!”

She began her career in hospitality management, as hospitality director and consultant for the Napa Valley wine industry. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Davis, in Textiles and Marketing, and earned multiple certifications from Napa Valley College—including from the cooking school. She was a private chef and caterer in the Napa Valley for nearly a decade.