February 6 2026 Quarterly Meeting

Location: Zoom

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Speaker: Dr. Z. Allen Abbott, CFRE

Allen Abbott is the Vice President of Philanthropy for the Baptist Homes Foundation in Pittsburgh. Previously he held a similar position with Cypress Cove in Fort Myers, Florida.

He is Vice President of the Pittsburgh Planned Giving Council and served two terms as Chapter President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He is a member of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh and is on the advisory council for Harvard Business Review. He earned the Certified Fund Raising Executive credential, recognizing the highest standards in ethics and effectiveness.

He earned the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from Indiana University, the Certificate in Financial Planning from Emory University, and the Certificate in Fund Raising Management from Indiana University. He holds the Master of .Divinity and Ph.D. degrees from Southern Seminary in Louisville. His post-doctoral work includes studies at Dartmouth College and Harvard Divinity School.

Allen started his career in philanthropy at age 2½ as a “handicapped” child performing on telethons.

http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/ZAllenAbbott

Topic: 

Philanthropy, Lifespan and Healthspan: What are tomorrow's opportunities today?

Science has extended human lifespan so that people can realistically live beyond 100 years. But human "healthspan" is not progressing. People still experience chronic conditions at the same point in life as they have for generations. What good is it to live an extra 25 years in poor health? How can we shift the narrative of aging from "caring" to "living longer, better"? What does extended healthspan and longevity mean for philanthropy? What are the financial needs of organizations seeking to expand healthspan? With NIH and other government funding in question, will philanthropy fill the void? What about those who are living well for longer lives? Philanthropy has been a source of meaning for older adults; how will this expand with quality of life lasting longer? Are there any philanthropic strategies we should be presenting to donors to align with their longevity?

In recent years, Baptist Senior Family in Pittsburgh began asking these questions. Our Wellness team was recognized as one of the top five in North America. We established a partnership with Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute to help design assistive robotics for those who need help feeding, dressing, remembering and cleaning. This partnership led to receiving the Innovation of the Year Award from LeadingAge PA. Then a partnership with Amazon was struck and Providence Point became the first retirement community in the world (and one of four in North America) to beta-test Alexa Plus for Senior Living, which goes to market this summer. Future research partnerships are being established. New avenues in philanthropy are opening up as donors wish to participate in ground-breaking research that can potentially benefit all humanity. 

A Zoom link will be made available closer to the event date.