Heather Oestrike serves as Chief Development Officer and Vice President, Philanthropy & Partnerships for The Children’s Heart Foundation. In this newly created role, Heather leads CHF’s comprehensive fundraising strategy, donor engagement efforts, and national partnerships, positioning the organization for expanded and sustainable growth as it advances its mission to fund the most promising congenital heart defect research.

With more than twenty years of experience across healthcare, philanthropy, and the pharmaceutical industry, Heather brings a unique blend of strategic insight, relationship-building, and operational leadership. Most recently, she served in senior leadership roles at the Bronson Health Foundation, where she helped build a modern, high-performing philanthropic enterprise that generated more than $70 million in fundraising revenue.

Earlier in her career, Heather held leadership roles within the pharmaceutical industry, where she developed deep experience in corporate engagement, partnership development, and navigating complex, regulated environments. This background informs her approach to building meaningful, mission-aligned partnerships that connect research, innovation, and philanthropy.

As CHF’s Senior Development Executive, Heather leads all fundraising and donor engagement efforts, aligning major gifts, corporate and foundation partnerships, peer-to-peer programs, and events to expand impact and strengthen CHF’s national presence.

Heather is a graduate of The George Washington University, where she earned her degree Magna Cum Laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She is widely recognized for her authentic leadership style, strategic focus, energetic nature, and commitment to advancing mission-driven work that improves lives.