CommonSpirit Health Names Karin Huelsbeck Region Vice President for Philanthropy, Northwest Region
Longtime Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Foundation fundraiser brings nearly two decades of healthcare philanthropy experience to regional leadership role
SEATTLE, Wash. — August 24, 2026 — CommonSpirit Health announced the appointment of Karin K. Huelsbeck, MPA, as Region Vice President for Philanthropy for the Northwest Region and VMFH Chief Philanthropy Officer, elevating a longtime philanthropy leader with a demonstrated record of fundraising growth, team leadership and commitment to advancing the health and well-being of the communities CommonSpirit serves.
In her new role, Huelsbeck will provide strategic leadership for philanthropy across CommonSpirit Health’s Northwest Region, working alongside foundation, market and health system leaders to strengthen philanthropic performance, expand donor engagement and advance the role of philanthropy in supporting the region’s most important healthcare priorities.
Huelsbeck brings nearly two decades of experience within Virginia Mason philanthropy to the position and most recently served as Interim Chief Philanthropy Officer for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Foundation, part of CommonSpirit Health and the largest philanthropy market in the Northwest Region.
“Karin is an exceptional leader who understands that philanthropy is ultimately about connecting people who want to make a difference with opportunities to improve health and transform lives,” says Nancy Bussani, Chief Philanthropy Officer for CommonSpirit. “She brings a rare combination of deep market knowledge, fundraising expertise, operational discipline and an unwavering commitment to our mission. Karin knows how to build strong teams and partnerships. We are thrilled to have her bring that leadership to foundations and communities across the Northwest Region.”
Huelsbeck joined Virginia Mason Foundation in 2007 and has held progressively expanding leadership roles spanning corporate partnerships, major and planned giving, grants, prospect development, donor relations, events and philanthropic strategy. Since 2021, she has led major giving, prospect research, grants, corporate giving and event fundraising programs supporting eight hospitals, Franciscan Hospice, Benaroya Research Institute and Bailey-Boushay House, with more than $84 million raised across those programs.
Her leadership has extended well beyond fundraising results. Huelsbeck has helped guide philanthropy teams through significant organizational transformation, including the integration of Virginia Mason and Franciscan Health and the continued evolution of philanthropy within CommonSpirit Health. Throughout that work, she has focused on building high-performing, values-driven teams; strengthening fundraising pipelines; developing philanthropic talent; and creating greater alignment between donor interests and the strategic priorities of the health system.
Most recently, as Interim Chief Philanthropy Officer, Huelsbeck has led fundraising strategy and performance for Virginia Mason Franciscan Health Foundation, with responsibility for expanding the donor pipeline and regional reach, strengthening collaboration across philanthropy functions, partnering with executive and clinical leadership, overseeing philanthropic resources and advancing a culture of philanthropy throughout the health system.
“This opportunity is especially meaningful to me because I have seen firsthand what becomes possible when philanthropy, healthcare leaders and our communities come together around a shared purpose.”
“I am deeply proud of what our teams have accomplished at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, and I am excited to build on that experience across the Northwest Region. We have an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen philanthropy as a strategic partner in the future of healthcare — connecting the generosity of our communities with the ideas, people and programs that can have the greatest impact.”
Huelsbeck has also been an active contributor to philanthropy across CommonSpirit Health, including service on systemwide Major Gifts and Community Impact committees and collaboration with national philanthropy leaders on operational integration, technology transformation and other strategic initiatives.
Prior to joining Virginia Mason Foundation, Huelsbeck served as Director of Programs for Leadership Tomorrow in Seattle and Assistant to the President at Pacific Lutheran University. Her experience includes civic leadership, governance, strategic planning, organizational development and fundraising, providing a broad foundation for leading philanthropy in a complex healthcare environment.
Huelsbeck holds a Master of Public Administration from the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs at the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts from Pacific Lutheran University, where she studied communication, Scandinavian studies and marketing. She has completed leadership and professional development programs through CommonSpirit Health, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, the Institute for the Future and the Virginia Mason Production System.
She also has a longstanding commitment to the greater Seattle community, including more than a decade of board leadership with CityClub Seattle, where she served as president of the Board of Governors, as well as service with Sports in Schools and extensive involvement with the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
As Region Vice President, Huelsbeck will work with philanthropy leaders throughout the Northwest to accelerate fundraising growth, develop and support high-performing teams, strengthen collaboration across markets and expand philanthropic investment in the programs, people and innovations advancing CommonSpirit Health’s mission.
About CommonSpirit Health
CommonSpirit Health is a nonprofit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. Created in 2019 through the alignment of Catholic Health Initiatives and Dignity Health, CommonSpirit provides care across a broad national network of hospitals, clinics and other care sites while working to improve health outcomes, address social determinants of health and build healthier communities.
Media Contact
Paul Richardson
System Senior Vice President, Philanthropy
Individual Giving, Campaigns, and Engagement
paul.richardson@commonspirit.org
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