Podcast Summary: Communities That Care: The Power of Giving with Sanford Health

Podcast: Advancing Health (American Hospital Association)
Date: November 3, 2025
Host: Sue Ellen Wagner (Vice President of Trustee Engagement and Strategy, AHA)
Guests:

• Bill Gassen (President and CEO, Sanford Health)
• Deb Koski (Chief Philanthropy Officer, Sanford Health)

Episode Overview

This episode of Advancing Health explores the essential role of philanthropy in supporting hospitals and health systems, focusing on building and sustaining a culture of giving. Drawing from Sanford Health’s leadership and experience, the conversation centers on the strategies to foster a philanthropic spirit among staff, board members, and the broader community—and why genuine engagement at every organizational level drives both patient care and employee fulfillment.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Impact and Importance of Philanthropy in Healthcare

[01:06–03:29]

• Bill Gassen emphasizes philanthropy as a critical lever for fulfilling Sanford Health’s mission: “Philanthropy is a really critical leverage that gives us a distinct advantage in living out our mission at Sanford Health. Our mission is to care, comfort, and cure.” ([01:16])
• Philanthropy fuels capabilities beyond finances, galvanizing communities and inviting everyone (not just clinical staff) to participate in the mission.
• The hospital’s operational reality: “The needs are infinite, but the resources are finite.” ([02:18]) Philanthropy helps stretch limited resources and offers support to caregivers who feel validated by community backing.
• Importance of inclusivity in giving: “Whether it’s $1 or whether it’s many, many more dollars, you’re making a difference with those dollars and you’re helping us meet our patients where they are at.” ([02:00])

2. Community Engagement and the Spectrum of Giving

[03:29–04:42]

• Deb Koski highlights how Sanford Health rallies entire communities—patients, leaders, businesses—around its mission, through everything from “guardian angel” gratitude programs to social media events.
• 20,000 active donors give annually, from “a dollar per pay period to seven-figure gifts.” ([03:55])
• Rural access spotlight: Despite geographic isolation, communities take pride in high-quality care and are motivated to support it.
• Bill adds that philanthropy is a powerful storytelling tool: “Philanthropy allows us to really tell the story…[and] get the message out to people in our communities.” ([04:42])

3. Creating a Culture of Giving: Leadership's Role

[05:13–09:05]

• Leadership example is vital for embedding philanthropy into organizational culture:
  • “It’s vital that our leadership, that our board members... set that example, which I am so grateful that they do.... It helps us all come together to drive that common culture.” —Bill Gassen ([05:42])
  • Giving at the top does not discourage others; “Giving begets giving… We really see it as a mobilizing force where more individuals start to give.” ([06:25])
• Deb Koski expands with concrete evidence of cultural change:
  • CEO’s personal giving set a powerful precedent (“One of his first acts when he became our CEO five years ago was to make a gift himself, he and his family.” [07:49])
  • 100% of the C-suite, 90% of VPs and above, nearly 50% of physicians, and over 30% of all employees contribute financially. Even remote facilities participate.
  • “Our ENPS [employee engagement] scores have risen. I really believe that’s because they feel like they’re part of something.” ([08:48])

4. Operational Integration of Philanthropy

[09:05–10:26]

• Deb’s philanthropy team is “embedded in our operational teams”—ensuring donor initiatives align with real, organization-wide priorities.
• “There’s no daylight between the priorities for what we’re doing at the Sanford Health foundation and what’s happening in each one of our medical centers, each one of our clinics, our long-term care facilities.” —Bill Gassen ([09:47])

5. Advice for Developing or Enhancing Philanthropy Strategies

[10:26–13:24]

• Deb emphasizes the need for executive embrace: “It really has to start from the top, in my opinion. So you have to embrace philanthropy. You have to talk about it.” ([10:44])
• Sanford Health’s CFO considers philanthropy “one of the three legs of the stool” for organizational revenue, validating its importance and motivating the philanthropy team.
• Bill highlights health care’s “unassailable cause”—serving everyone regardless of ability to pay, in both urban and remote areas.
• Tribute to Denny Sanford: “Mr. Sanford has already given $1.5 billion... [which] has been a catalyst allowing us to advance care in communities that we could have never done that in.” ([12:04])
• “Giving begets other giving”—large gifts inspire others, and donors often express gratitude for being part of Sanford’s mission.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Our mission is to care, comfort, and cure… A major way in which we fuel those characteristics… is really by bringing alongside philanthropy.”
  —Bill Gassen ([01:16])

• “We have about 20,000 active donors who are giving every year, from, you know, a dollar per pay period to seven-figure gifts. So we just really have the spectrum of people who support us.”
  —Deb Koski ([03:55])

• “It’s vital that our leadership, that our board members... set that example.”
  —Bill Gassen ([05:42])

• “Currently today, the C suite... 100% of them are giving. That has cascaded now to where we have 90% of our VPs and above giving, also influenced our physicians... Over 30% of our employees are giving.”
  —Deb Koski ([08:12])

• “We have an unassailable cause: to be there for every individual, regardless of their ability to pay, no matter whether they are living in some of our most densely populated urban communities or... rural or frontier communities.”
  —Bill Gassen ([11:33])

• “Time and time and time again, we have our donors come back to us and say, thank you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the mission at Sanford Health.”
  —Bill Gassen ([13:09])

Key Timestamps

• 00:23–01:06: Host introduction to guests, the theme of philanthropy in healthcare.
• 01:06–03:29: Bill Gassen on the role of philanthropy and its broader impact.
• 03:29–04:42: Deb Koski on community engagement and donor spectrum.
• 05:13–06:55: Culture of giving; leadership and board buy-in.
• 07:44–08:55: Concrete evidence of Sanford’s pervasive giving culture and outcomes.
• 09:05–10:26: Philanthropy team’s integration with operations.
• 10:44–11:31: Strategic advice; top-down engagement’s necessity.
• 11:31–13:24: Universal access mission, Denny Sanford’s impact, and donors’ gratitude.

Conclusion

Sanford Health’s experience showcases the transformative potential of philanthropy, rooted in inclusive culture, strong leadership example, operational integration, and authentic community engagement. Their approach demonstrates that a hospital’s mission comes alive when every stakeholder—board, leaders, physicians, staff, patients, and donors—feels empowered and proud to contribute, no matter the size or nature of their gift.