Working to Defy Cancer: Meet Robby West

This post is part of a series highlighting staff members within Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and 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 Director of Analytics on the Prospect Research team, Robby West.

What brought you to Dana-Farber?

Dana-Farber had been on my personal and professional radar for well over a decade before I got the opportunity to apply for my position here. Having been in higher education for the first 10 years of my fundraising career, I always wondered what it would be like to venture into healthcare. When the opportunity arose to not only explore this new space, but also to do it with an organization so important to me, I was overjoyed. Dana-Farber's reputation as a leader in cancer research is well known, but that leadership extends to our fundraising operation as well. Countless members of the Division of Philanthropy are leaders in their respective fields and have made incredible contributions to our fundraising success in support of cancer research and to their professional networks. I was eager to learn and to become a part of that amazing community. 

Can you describe your role here?

I lead the analytics function within the prospect research team. We work to provide data-driven recommendations to stakeholders across the division. This takes many forms, from development and delivery of predictive models for various fundraising teams to descriptive analyses of historical donor acquisition rates, to dashboard development for frontline fundraising teams. We also work to create efficiencies in data-oriented business processes for the rest of our prospect research team. The variety of projects and challenges posed by our collaborators is inspiring.   

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

The culture of learning and support is fundamental to our success. Being a part of such a large organization can be daunting at first, but I find that our colleagues are happy to recall stories of their early years here to normalize the learning process. We all realize that no one person can know everything, but our willingness to collaborate makes lofty goals feel attainable. 

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

My mother-in-law received care for multiple myeloma at Dana-Farber for over 10 years until her death in 2009. She lived as long as she did after her diagnosis because of the care she received here. To play even a small part in supporting the work of Dana-Farber physicians and researchers on the cutting edge of cancer care means the world to me. They give hope to everyone whose lives have been affected by cancer.  

Are there any memories of working here that stand out to you?

My favorite memory of my time at Dana-Farber to date is when I had the opportunity to present with Nancy Downer at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Fundraising Day in Boston last spring. Nancy is one of the assistant vice presidents on the Major Giving team and had a vision for a presentation that I was very excited to support. The process of collaborative development on the presentation and its delivery taught me so much about our division, its historical practices, and the ways that we have grown and will continue to grow. It was also amazing to see other colleagues from the division in the audience supporting us and participating in the Q&A.  

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.