Hospital gets $5M - and priceless advice - for its expansion

Bruce and Lynn Schonbraun are giving $5 million towards the expansion of Saint Barnabas Medical Center, and will also have fundraise for it as well.

Saint Barnabas Medical Center has announced a double-barreled gift from Livingston donors Bruce and Lynn Schonbraun: $5 million toward a 241,000- square-foot addition - plus real-world advice on its construction.

Schonbruan is an expert in real-estate merger and acquisition strategy for FTI Consulting, and has served as an instructor at business schools as well as a mentor for the Wharton School's real estate MBA program.

"Overseeing this large and meaningful expansion project fits into my sweet spot," said Schonbraun. "It's something I enjoy and will feel good about."

The hospital plans to build a five-story addition, to be called the Cooperman Family Pavilion, that will have a new operating suite, the availability of new cyberknife technology, along with a parking deck. The pavilion is already under construction and is expected to open in 2017.

An artist rendering shows what the new wing of Saint Barnabas Medical Center will look like. (Barnabas Health)

Schonbraun, already a hospital trustee, will help shepherd the expansion in his role as chair of the hospital's real estate expansion oversight committee.

The Schonbrauns have lived in Livingston, home of the hospital as well, for 40 years. Their children were born there, as were some of their grandchildren.

"All of us at one time or another have received health care at St. Barnabas, so there was that connection," he said. "We understand how important it is to have an excellent hospital for the community."

Those who donate to non-profits - particularly younger donors - are increasingly interested in having some kind of hands-on role, said Linda Czipo, executive director of the Center for Non-Profits in Mercerville.

"Sometimes the donor will just cut the check and say, 'I trust you to put this to good use,'" she said. "But increasingly donors are looking for more fulfillment in others ways to contribute to an organization's success."

As for the Schonbraun gift of expertise in addition to money, Czipo said it has hallmarks of a successful collaboration. "This is a substantial investiment, and since he's got the expertise to make sure the organization gets the results that they want, it's really win-win in this case," she said. "What better way to leverage a gift?

Sometimes donors seek a level of involvement that isn't really helpful or appropriate, which needs to be headed off by discussions that happen very early in fund-raising, Czipo said.

"The first thing you say is, 'Thank you very much,'" said Czipo. "But because different donors have different reasons to donate, you want to make sure you as an organization understand what kind of expectations the donors have."

As long as there is that clear understanding, having donors participate in some kind of hands-on way can only enhance the gift - in part because it continues to keep donors involved with the organization.

"A donor who's more engaged on a personal level is more inclined to give again," she said.

As part of the Schonbrauns' commitment to the construct of the addition, the couple will also lead the fundraising effort for the project, according to Barnabas.

"We are extremely fortunate that Bruce and Lynn Schonbraun are our friends and advocates, " said Barry Ostrowsky, president and CEO of the hospital's parent company, Barnabas Health.