Executive Director Linda Ford Leaving Denver Health April 1
March 18, 2022
Ford has led the Denver Health Foundation since May 2019
After nearly three years of service to the Denver Health Foundation, Executive Director Linda Ford is stepping down from the organization on April 1, 2022, to enter semi-retirement and pursue new endeavors. Ford took over as the Foundation’s leader in May 2019.
During her tenure, Ford has advanced the organization’s ambitious fundraising goals, yielding a dramatic increase in fundraising revenue—including $2.3 million raised for the Urgent Covid Relief Fund; $750,000 for Denver Health’s Center for Addiction Medicine Academy; a $1.3 million grant for a new Mobile Health Center; and the largest gifts from individuals in the history of the Foundation.
The Foundation also received national recognition for its virtual cultivation events and innovative fund disbursement processes under her leadership. Additional highlights of Ford’s accomplishments include strengthening the Foundation’s operational infrastructure through expansion of the major gifts team; developing clear organizational policies and procedures; deepening donor engagement through expanded communications; and strengthening the Foundation’s Board of Directors by recruiting new members.
Denver Health Foundation will announce Linda’s successor in the coming weeks.
“Linda has been an incredible leader of the Foundation during an especially difficult time,” said Josh Hanfling, Chair of the Denver Health Foundation Board of Directors. “She pushed us all to go further than we have before and it has resulted in record fundraising. The Foundation board and I will miss her determination and commitment.”
Ford came to the Denver Health Foundation from her previous role as CEO of the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation, and earlier as president and CEO of Natividad Medical Foundation. Her career includes more than 30 years’ experience in fundraising and leadership at health care organizations in Colorado and nationwide, including safety-net hospitals and academic medical centers.
“It’s been a real honor to work at the Denver Health Foundation,” Ford said, “and an honor to work with Josh and [Denver Health CEO] Robin [Wittenstein] in service to Denver Health, our patients, and our donors.”