President and Chief Executive Officer

About Vitalyst Health Foundation

Vitalyst Health Foundation is a catalyst for healthier communities across Arizona. With a mission to connect, support, and inform efforts that improve individual and community well-being, Vitalyst serves as a powerful force in shaping systems-level change. Since its inception, the organization has invested over $130 million to strengthen the health landscape — from statewide policy to neighborhood gardens — and has earned recognition as a trusted convener, thought leader, and advocate for health equity.

Founded in 1996 after the sale of St. Luke’s Health System, the foundation has evolved from its early identity as St. Luke’s Charitable Health Trust into the Vitalyst Health Foundation known today. A defining innovation emerged in 1997 with the launch of the Technical Assistance Partnership (TAPAZ), which has grown into a cornerstone of Vitalyst’s work. TAPAZ provides vital support to coalitions and nonprofits through capacity-building tools, fiscal sponsorship, and tailored technical assistance — all guided by a streamlined TAP Discovery process to meet partners where they are.

Vitalyst’s impact spans key program areas including civic health, health care integration, and housing — all viewed through a health equity lens. Its strategic goals focus on building collaborative networks, strengthening community partnerships, and empowering informed decision-making. Rooted in community, Vitalyst continues to uplift grassroots leaders, foster cross-sector partnerships, and spark innovation that improves the quality of life for Arizonans statewide.

Learn more about Vitalyst Health Foundation at https://vitalysthealth.org/.

Vitalyst Today: Advancing Health Equity Through Community and Systems Change

Vitalyst Health Foundation is a trusted and influential leader in Arizona’s philanthropic landscape, recognized for its deep commitment to health equity and its strategic focus on the social determinants of health. With a 30-year legacy of responsive grantmaking, research, and cross-sector convening, Vitalyst catalyzes solutions to complex public health challenges through upstream interventions in housing, civic health, land use, and economic opportunity.

Operating through its dual structure—Vitalyst and TAPAZ—the foundation blends grantmaking, fiscal sponsorship, and capacity building to elevate community-driven initiatives and support systems-level change. Widely respected for its nonpartisan approach and ability to build bridges across the nonprofit, government, and business sectors, Vitalyst serves as both a convener and catalyst for innovation across Arizona.

Internally, Vitalyst is marked by a collaborative, mission-driven culture grounded in flexibility, mutual trust, and a shared commitment to equity. Its small but experienced team is deeply aligned around a strategic roadmap shaped by community input. In the post-pandemic landscape, Vitalyst’s efforts to advance racial justice and public health are more vital than ever. As it approaches its 30th anniversary, the foundation is poised to deepen its impact by continuing to invest in systems-change work and lead with boldness, empathy, and integrity in service of Arizona’s diverse communities.

The Opportunity

Vitalyst Health Foundation is seeking a visionary, action-oriented, and values-driven President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead the organization and its affiliate, TAPAZ, into its next chapter of impact. This is a rare opportunity to champion systemic change in Arizona’s health landscape while advancing equity, dignity, and well-being across communities.

The President and CEO will lead high-impact initiatives such as Systems Change Grants, Housing Innovation, Health Care Integration, Civic Health, and Capacity Building — all rooted in equity-centered leadership and deep community partnership.

Vitalyst’s strong reputation as a convener and collaborator across Arizona’s philanthropic and nonprofit sectors is matched by its targeted funding and robust technical assistance. The organization fosters a welcoming, inclusive environment where all voices are heard and valued, and where staff are empowered with autonomy while working collectively toward shared goals. Guided by a refreshed strategic roadmap, the new President and CEO will inherit a respected platform and a committed team and will be charged with driving Vitalyst’s next era of innovation and statewide influence.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Board of Trustees through the Chair of the Board, the President and Chief Executive Officer provides the overall leadership, direction, strategy, and vision for the foundation, its programs, projects, and outreach. Responsibilities include to:

• Thoroughly understand Vitalyst’s history and culture; its Board, governance structure, and staff; finances and funding; programs, services, and advocacy; outreach, community network, and constituencies in order to effectively act as Vitalyst's Chief Executive; represent the organization as a spokesperson and thought leader;

• Work with the Chair, Executive Committee, and Board to keep them informed of finances and activities; provide timely and concise "state of the organization" assessments; work with the Chair and Board to evolve a strategic roadmap for the organization's continued evolution;

• Establish collaborative working relationships with the organization's leaders, staff, community partners, and constituencies, including those working in and outside of Arizona on community health issues; lead and positively motivate a strong and committed professional staff, ensuring a collegial and team-oriented working environment with open lines of communication;

• Review and periodically refresh Vitalyst's programs; evaluate the individual effectiveness of each program and investment with reference to Vitalyst's community health mission; where possible, incorporate qualitative and quantitative metrics in evaluation processes that link programs, investments, and staff activities to improvements in community health;

• Collaborate with the Board and staff leaders, develop strategies to set the course for Vitalyst's development; thoughtfully consider the special potential of Vitalyst's capabilities in policy work, community development, and organizational capacity building efforts (including the fiscal sponsorship program operated under the Technical Assistance Partnership of Arizona), and communications, and recommend measures to improve, expand, contract, spin off or eliminate programs; consider funding alliances and other external funding approaches to increase investment in the community health work supported by Vitalyst;

• Become knowledgeable of internal and external communications, systems, controls, operations, and processes; ensure that Vitalyst maintains a solid operational foundation; provide continuing assessment of staff to ensure individual nonpartisan collaborations that meet the immediate and ongoing community health needs of all Arizonans;

• Continue to strengthen the Technical Assistance Partnership (TAP) work to build nonprofit organizational capacity, alliances, and sector partnerships in Arizona by assisting nonprofits as they assess their most important issues, forming teams around common interests across different organizations, and providing Vitalyst­ funded consultants to coach and mentor these nonprofits;

• Maintain a working knowledge of significant trends and developments in the philanthropy field.

Candidate Profile

The next President and Chief Executive Officer of the Vitalyst Health Foundation will be a bold and strategic leader who leads with heart, humility, and courage. They will bring a strong capacity for high-level strategy development, balanced with a hands-on approach to implementation alongside the team. This leader will possess a deep understanding of the intersections between policy and philanthropy and the ability to navigate across sectors and political lines. Rooted in a belief in collective leadership, they will lead from behind, amplifying the voices and work of community partners rather than seeking the spotlight. With a combination of kindness and conviction, the President and CEO will steward Vitalyst’s mission with agility, ensuring its grantmaking and programming remain both responsive and community-informed. This is a role for a leader who blends vision with action and believes that lasting impact is achieved through collaboration, not in isolation.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $270,000 - $320,000 with a generous benefits package.

Contact

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Express interest in this role by https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/22191 or emailing the search team directly at Vitalyst_CEO@koyapartners.com. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Vitalyst Health Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.

Learn more about DSG | Koya via the https://www.dsgco.com/industry/nonprofit-and-social-impact/.