Paul Richardson, CFRE, FAHP

System Senior Vice President, Philanthropy Engagement, Major Gifts, and Campaigns 
CommonSpirit Health

Photo of Paul Richardson.

Paul Richardson is the Senior Vice President of Engagement, Major Gifts, and Campaigns for CommonSpirit Health's philanthropy team. He has over two and half decades of experience working with donors, families, communities, and students to connect their passion with strategic organizational purpose.

Previously, Paul served as the President for Sequoia Hospital Foundation in Silicon Valley and in an interim capacity as the Vice President for the national Dignity Health Foundation in San Francisco. During his tenure with the Dignity Health Foundation, Paul oversaw a 400 percent year over year increase in production revenue in support of vulnerable communities and social determinants to health.

Prior to health care, Paul spent 12 years in higher education with University Advancement at San José State University (SJSU) in Silicon Valley. During his tenure, Paul held positions across student affairs, university advancement, and eventually assumed the position of Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations and Development, where he served on the campus’ first comprehensive campaign, raising over $250 million in support of vital programs, research, and scholarships. 

Paul also has a strong emphasis on service. During his career, he spent five years as the treasurer for the Silicon Valley Leadership Group (SVLG)’s foundation, providing millions in support for at-risk families across Silicon Valley. Paul served on the board for two years with ALRP, helping ensure medically fragile, long-term survivors of the AIDS crisis had access to affordable housing, food, services, etc. Paul’s board service also extended to his alma mater, where he created the first Bay Area Chapter for the Kent State University Alumni Association in 2011 and has assisted in its success ever since.

Paul has also volunteered his talents and treasure as a fundraiser for many runs, walks from Relay for Life, to Breast Cancer, to HIV/AIDS across Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and  Northwest Ohio. In every run/walk, Paul would appear in the top five of individual and team fundraisers.

A native of Ohio, Paul holds bachelor of arts degrees in music, K-12 education from Bluffton University, as well as course study in conflict resolution and peace studies from University of Ulster, McGee Campus, in Northern Ireland. Paul also holds a masters degree from Kent State University in higher education administration, focused on emerging minority identity development.