Shon Cowan Baker, PhD, CFRE has been appointed Chief Development Officer for the Foundation for Woman’s, the philanthropic arm of Woman’s Hospital. Shon leads the Woman’s Development team in connecting donors to the hospital through philanthropic outreach. With more than 12 years of experience leading development strategy and comprehensive fundraising activities for nonprofit organizations, she will assist efforts to further the hospital's mission to improve the health of women and infants. Shon will oversee the Foundation’s campaigns, including major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, and corporate giving. She will also oversee endowment development, donor relations and special events, such as the Woman’s Victory Open golf tournament, Woman’s Impact Luncheon, and BUST Breast Cancer bra art fashion show.
Shon previously served as Xavier University of Louisiana’s Associate Vice President of Development, where she provided strategic leadership and management for the university’s fundraising programs to include major gifts and corporate and foundation fundraising. Shon earned a B.S. from Campbell University, an M.A. from the University of Holy Cross, and a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. Her research interests include examining the impact of transformational donations on the mission of nonprofit organizations, female philanthropic leadership, and feminist philanthropy. She has served on the Boards of Dress for Success New Orleans, the Friends of City Park of New Orleans, and Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre. She has also served as a Committee Chairwoman of the Junior League of New Orleans. Shon was named 2017 Top New Orleans Female Achiever by New Orleans Magazine, and was named a 2015 New Orleans City Business Healthcare Hero.