Advancing Health Podcast Summary

Episode Title:

From Dollars to Difference: How CommonSpirit Health's Donor Support Drives Community Health

Date:

November 5, 2025

Guests:

• Daniel Morissette – Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, CommonSpirit Health
• Nancy Busani – Executive Vice President & CFO, President of the CommonSpirit Health Foundation
• Host: Sue Ellen Wagner, Vice President of Trustee Services, American Hospital Association

Main Theme

This episode explores how CommonSpirit Health strategically leverages philanthropic donations to drive not only its mission, but also innovative community health investments. With insights from top financial and philanthropic leadership, listeners gain an inside look at how philanthropy serves as both a financial engine and a transformative community force—far exceeding its “dollars raised” metric.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Role of Philanthropy in Modern Health Care

• Philanthropy fills strategic capital and operational needs that patient revenue alone cannot support, especially amid a challenging health care environment.
• Donations support essential programs, innovation, and even day-to-day cash flow when operations are under strain.
• Quote:

  “The money from our philanthropic sources makes a dramatic impact. In today’s healthcare environment, I can’t recall a time where it’s been more challenging—just from a pure operations standpoint.”
  – Daniel Morissette (01:17)

2. Financial Impact & Return on Investment

• Despite a volatile donor landscape, CommonSpirit raised a striking $316 million in the previous year.
• Every dollar donated creates approximately $5.25 in impact for the system—far more efficient and profitable than patient care revenue alone.
• Quote:

  “We had a return on investment about $5.25, so that every dollar that came in really provided $5.25 back to CommonSpirit.”
  – Nancy Busani (02:29)

• Net margins are dramatically enhanced:
  • Patient care: ~$4 net per $100 revenue (after expenses)
  • Philanthropy: ~$81 net per $100 donated (03:03)

3. Philanthropy as a Strategic Investment

• Philanthropy is more than charitable giving; it’s a lever for large-scale, strategic projects that align with organizational priorities.
• Involvement of philanthropy at the right moments ensures maximum donor impact and avoids misaligned or inopportune fundraising efforts.
• Early, but not too early, inclusion of donors in new projects yields better results and manages donor expectations.
• Quote:

  "If you engage the donors too early... it can create negative feelings in our donor community... If you wait too long... most donors feel like their support might not really be needed."
  – Daniel Morissette (07:49)

4. Integration with Board and Leadership

• Philanthropy’s effectiveness is amplified when fully integrated into leadership conversations.
• Board members are crucial as ambassadors: they increase community awareness and trust, accelerating the reach and power of every fundraising initiative.
• CommonSpirit’s CEO also leads its national foundation, signaling top-down commitment to philanthropy.
• Quote:

  "Our goal isn’t just to open the doors and have access. It’s to make sure everyone has the best care. And that’s where our donors come in—they make the difference between covering costs and creating great investments..."
  – Nancy Busani (11:02)

5. Operational Partnership—Finance & Philanthropy

• Strong partnership between finance (CFOs) and philanthropy leaders is essential to move donated dollars quickly and show measurable community impact.
• Regular communications between CFOs and philanthropic teams ensure funds are put into action, not just held.
• Without strong financial-philanthropy partnership, donor trust and organizational transparency suffer.
• Quote:

  "I consistently discuss philanthropy in our regular meetings... to share how critical it is for [CFOs] to work with their philanthropic leaders to get the funds transferred..."
  – Daniel Morissette (12:06)

• Quote:

  "If you don’t have a CFO that partners with you that way, sometimes our dollars don’t get put into action as quickly as we need. We cannot go back to donors and to boards and show the impact... if that doesn’t happen."
  – Nancy Busani (12:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Donor Impact:

  “Donors... want to make the biggest impact for their community. It’s not just about the volume. It’s about the purpose.”
  – Nancy Busani (06:45)

• On Philanthropy as a Signal:

  “Philanthropic funds have become a pretty significant data point when we meet with outside investors… it does help to know donors have confidence in us and the value we’re bringing to our community.”
  – Daniel Morissette (04:20)

• On Board Involvement:

  “You maximize two or three executives and philanthropy leaders by 20 or 30 people on your boards—typically very influential—[and] that’s where we start seeing true visibility, awareness, and belief in the work.”
  – Nancy Busani (11:26)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:15 – The current role and impact of philanthropy in CommonSpirit’s mission
• 02:29 – ROI: How $1 in donations becomes $5.25 of value
• 03:03 – Donor dollars vs. patient revenue margin breakdown
• 04:20 – Philanthropy’s effect on bond ratings and investor confidence
• 05:43 – Philanthropy as a strategic vs. tactical investment
• 07:49 – The importance of timing donor engagement
• 09:53 – The board’s role in championing philanthropy and innovation
• 12:06 – CFO and philanthropy partnership in practice
• 12:51 – The critical financial operations-philanthropy bridge

Summary Takeaways

• Philanthropy is mission-critical: It enables innovation, supports operations, and boosts financial sustainability far more efficiently than patient-generated revenue.
• Donor partnerships, when strategically managed, unlock both immediate needs and long-term community investments.
• Finance, leadership, and philanthropy must form a strong, transparent alliance—board advocacy and executive engagement amplify donor effectiveness, visibility, and trust.
• Purposeful philanthropy, not just more dollars, sets the foundation for exceptional care, especially in vulnerable communities.