Fairview launches Fairview Foundation to transform care delivery for patients, families, and communities across Minnesota

Fairview Health Services today announced the public launch of Fairview Foundation, creating a new way for donors to help advance patient care, expand access to treatment, and improve health outcomes across Minnesota. As the philanthropic home for Fairview's hospitals, programs, services, and community health initiatives, the new foundation will connect donor generosity to opportunities that make a meaningful difference for patients and families. 

"Fairview cares for Minnesotans through every stage of life, and Fairview Foundation gives everyone the opportunity to be a meaningful part of that work," said James Hereford, chief executive officer, Fairview. "Everything we do at Fairview is centered on improving health, supporting families, and helping communities thrive. Philanthropy allows us to go further by advancing innovation, expanding access, and creating new opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of the people and communities we serve." 

The impact of philanthropy can be seen across Fairview today, from innovative models such as EmPATH, which provides a calmer, more therapeutic environment for people experiencing a mental health crisis, to highly specialized cardiac and respiratory care like ECMO, which Fairview is extending to more patients, including those in rural Minnesota. Philanthropy also helps create healing spaces and experiences for patients and families beyond clinical treatment, along with addressing the social factors that influence health outside our walls. 

Advancing care through giving

For the first time in its history, Fairview will lead fundraising, philanthropic partnerships and donor stewardship for Fairview Masonic Children's University Hospital and Fairview Minneapolis University Hospital, strengthening the connection between philanthropy and the patients, families, and communities these hospitals serve. 

"When you have a child with a chronic illness who spends a lot of time in the hospital, you want it to be a place where they feel comfortable and your family feels cared for," said Natalie Bushaw, co-founder of Logan Loves, a nonprofit inspired by the care her son Logan has received at Fairview from before his birth, alongside his twin brother, through his transition to adult care. "Logan and our family have received incredible care, empathy, and love over the years. Donor generosity has helped create that environment, and I've seen firsthand the difference it makes for patients and families." 

Serving as Fairview Foundation's principal development executive, Kristi Flanagan Villar, vice president and chief philanthropy officer, will connect philanthropic investment with opportunities that transform healthcare and expand access to world-class care. A respected healthcare philanthropy leader with more than two decades of leadership, Flanagan Villar has built and advanced transformational giving across children's health, cancer care, neurosciences, rural health, research, education, and academic medicine.  

"Giving to Fairview Foundation is an opportunity to strengthen the health system that is there for our families, neighbors and communities," said Flanagan Villar. "Donors can help bring advanced treatments, innovative technology, better experiences, and new models of care within everyone's reach. Every gift is an opportunity to help do more for the people we serve, and we have created many ways for people to give and become involved." 

The launch of Fairview Foundation comes as Fairview enters a renewed 10-year clinical partnership with M Physicians. The partnership preserves important continuity for patients and supports continued collaboration in clinical care, research, innovation, and education. Fairview Foundation will focus philanthropy on Fairview's patient care, hospitals, programs, services, and community health priorities. 

"Philanthropy has the power to accelerate what's possible in medicine and health," said Mark Dienhart, president and chief executive officer, Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. "It allows organizations like Fairview to invest in innovation, expand access to care, and respond to community needs in ways that would not otherwise be possible. We are proud of our past support of Fairview and are supportive of this initiative which will help improve lives today while building a healthier future for generations to come."

To learn more, explore ways to give and become involved with Fairview Foundation, visit fairview.org/giving.