board
forum
Driving Philanthropy
with Passion & Purpose
South Division Philanthropy
Chief Philanthropy and Health Equity Officer
Providence South Division
a letter from...
Our treasurers play a pivotal role on our foundation boards. As the guardians of our fiscal integrity, they ensure we steward every dollar with care and precision. They bring a wealth of experience from their own careers, generously applying their expertise to our financial landscape. Their specialized knowledge adds depth and insight in a setting where we are entrusted with fiduciary responsibilities on behalf of our donors.
When individuals make gifts to our foundations, they do so with money earned through their labors and investments. Every gift is a vote of confidence and a prayer for the future. Our treasurers play a sacred role in helping ensure those prayers are brought to life.
We entrust our finance committees with the critical task of monitoring and managing our investments, a testament to our belief in their capabilities. Many of our treasurers go on to assume additional leadership roles, bringing their financial expertise to bear as chairs and vice chairs. Their partnership with our fundraising teams is invaluable, creating a synergy that propels our mission forward.
I want to thank and celebrate our treasurers and everyone on our foundation boards for heeding the call to serve.
With gratitude,
Kenya Beckmann
Chief Philanthropy and Health Equity Officer
Board Chair
Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation
guest editor
The things that are important to me — my family, my friends and my community — are not unique to me. Most everyone cares about those things, irrespective of our backgrounds or circumstances. Another common thread that binds us is the need for a quality hospital nearby. The more we support our hospital, the better it can care for the ones we love and the broader community.
That’s why, when I was asked to take on the role of board chair, I was all in. It’s a privilege to contribute to the vital work of our ministry alongside a dedicated team of individuals. What strikes me most about our board members is that they’re here not because they are obliged to be but because they genuinely want to make a difference. That’s another thing we all share.
Our hospitals are the pillars of our communities, and we show up for them because this is our watch. By sharing our challenges and successes, we elevate the impact of our collective efforts. I’m grateful for this platform for exchanging ideas that drive positive change in our communities and beyond.
With gratitude and warm regards,
Mary Ann Walker
Board Chair, Providence Little Company of Mary Foundation
Let us know if you would like to share a “Board Greeting” in the upcoming issue or if you have any content suggestions by emailing providenceboardforuminfo@providence.org
Alice Galstian
Chief Financial Officer, Philanthropy,
Community Health and Health Equity,
Providence South Division
In March, we welcomed our newest South Division team member, chief financial officer, philanthropy, community health and health equity, Alice Galstian. Alice is a finance expert with a heart for service. Approachable and kind, Alice is thoughtful about her integration into the Providence culture.
Recently, Kenya sat down with Alice to check in and get her first impressions.
a conversation with
alice galstian
Welcome to Perspectives, where we share insights and learn from each other. In this issue, we chatted with seven of our foundation treasurers to get a closer look at this vital board role. While their responses varied, they were unified in their commitment to providing their boards with accurate and actionable financial reporting.
perspectives
10 Essential Roles of Foundation Board Members
As board members, you have critical skills and knowledge to contribute. Read about the 10 essential roles that every foundation board member should play to bring your best to the table and bring out the best in our foundations.
featured article
Click to watch our latest webinar!
This session was co-hosted by Kenya Beckmann, South Division chief philanthropy and health equity officer, Matt Bader, South Division chief strategy officer, and Rob Linn, founder of InsideOut Solutions. Together, they provided valuable insights and tools for board members to increase their overall effectiveness as they navigate and better understand the organization’s strategic direction. We tackled some critically important and intriguing questions together. Through best practice learnings, we are establishing a common framework for you to use as you conduct your important and valuable work as a board member.
June 4, 2024, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Upcoming webinars:
Strategic Board Recruitment and Succession Planning: Building Impactful and Diverse Fundraising Boards
September 23, 2024, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
In this session, we will explore essential strategies for identifying, recruiting and retaining top talent for fundraising boards. You’ll learn how to develop robust succession plans to ensure continuity and effectiveness in board leadership. You’ll gain insights into the value of recruiting diverse candidates who can tap into new communities of philanthropic-minded individuals from varied backgrounds eager to contribute to your hospital’s cause. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your board recruitment and succession planning efforts for maximum impact in health care philanthropy.
Implicit Bias Workshop
November 14, 2024, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Join Providence’s co-hosts Leonard Gilliard, facilitation consultant, and Janet Backes, senior facilitation consultant, as they share their insight into understanding different biases. We will be using Zoom for this event, and attendees can expect interactive components throughout the session. To protect the privacy of the conversation, we will not be recording this session. Presentation materials and talking points will also be provided to all invited to participate.
View our 2024 webinars to date:
Special Board Enrichment Presentation: A Conversation With Providence COO, Erik G. Wexler and Board Treasurer Ed Romano
February 29, 2024
Mastering the Meeting: Highly Effective Boardroom Practices That Lead to High-Performing Boards
April 25, 2024
View our complete library of past webinars
Save the Date for the South Division Philanthropy Foundations Board Retreat
Friday, February 27 – Sunday, March 1, 2026
More information will be provided soon.
Across the organization, our Providence ministries are nationally recognized for clinical excellence.
Take a look at the the awards and accolades by ministry.
pride of providence
foundation magazines
Want a deeper dive into the happenings at our sister ministries? Take a peek at their biannual foundation magazines here.
