Heather S. Culp, JD

Heather Culp is the Chief Philanthropy Officer for the University of Maryland Medical Center, and the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).

Heather provides overarching strategic guidance and vision for the fundraising efforts of the UMMC Downtown and Midtown Campuses, UMSOM, and the University of Maryland Rehabilitation & Orthopaedic Institute. She is responsible for building on our shared commitment to accelerate the pace of discovery and improve the delivery of patient-centered care for communities across Baltimore, the state and the region. Heather also oversees advancement teams at UMMC and UMSOM, enabling them to tailor opportunities for transformative giving and ensure full impact to education, patient care, research and healthcare facilities.

Prior to joining UMMC and UMSOM, Heather served as Executive Director of Development for The Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine. From 2015-2023, she managed all aspects of fundraising including annual, major and principal gifts, stewardship, communications, event planning and alumni relations for the Department of Neurology and Brain Sciences. Heather and her team raised more than $375 million for education, research and patient care.

Before Johns Hopkins Medicine, Heather assumed fundraising roles at Washington College and the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. At both institutions, she worked closely with senior leadership and alumni supporters to raise philanthropic support, resulting in successful comprehensive campaigns. Heather’s experience partnering with alumni of both undergraduate and graduate institutions, along with her current work with grateful patients, gives her a unique perspective about the importance of listening to, understanding and articulating donor motivations.

During her years in private law practice, Heather was an attorney focused on commercial litigation and estate planning and administration. She has a BA in English from Washington College and a JD from the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. She currently serves on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Metropolitan Baltimore and is a committee member for the Institute for Well-Being in Law. She is a past president of the Chesapeake Planned Giving Council and past chair of the Alumni Board at Washington College.