Kootenai Health announces new foundation president

Kootenai Health announced Julie Holt will join Kootenai Health Foundation as its president.

As a seasoned development executive, Holt brings more than 20 years of experience leading fundraising strategies for nonprofit organizations, including hospitals and a 10-hospital health system. Her expertise includes capital campaigns, donor relations, board development, employee giving programs, and planned giving. Her expected start date is Jan. 9.

Holt replaces Shawn Bassham, who served from 2012 until March of this year.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with the staff, leaders and volunteers at Kootenai Health to ensure the Coeur d’Alene area continues to have the best possible health care,” Holt said. “My husband, Ted, and I are thrilled to move to this community. We look forward to building lasting relationships.”

Holt is relocating to the area from Fountain Valley, Calif., where she currently owns her own consulting firm, Julie Holt Consulting. Her company works with nonprofit organizations, such as hospitals, colleges and community organizations in the Orange County area. Prior to starting her own business, Holt served at the vice president of philanthropy for St. Joseph Health in Orange, Calif. While in her position with St. Joseph, Holt provided leadership in philanthropy for 10 hospital foundations and the system executives.

She also served as vice president of St. Joseph Hospital Foundation where she directed operations for a foundation affiliated with a 500-bed major medical center. In her role, Holt led the foundation board, volunteers and staff through five capital campaigns, raising more than $60 million for major projects, including a four-story hospital replacement project and a cancer center pavilion.

“During our nationwide search, it quickly became evident that Julie possessed a high degree of knowledge and experience in health care philanthropy,” said Mike Chapman, foundation chair. “Kootenai Health is undergoing tremendous growth and the foundation also needs to grow in order to be responsive to the needs of the hospital. We believe Julie has the necessary tools to set a course for continued success at the foundation and we are excited to have her join us.”

In addition to her career in philanthropy, Holt spends time working with other community organizations. For six years, she taught classes for nonprofit organizations to educate staff members in board development and leadership at One OC, an Orange County nonprofit resource center. She is also active in professional and civic groups including the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, Association for Fundraising Professionals, PEO (a national organization for the promotion of women’s education), and served as the first female president of the Rotary Club of Orange. Holt received a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis and is a certified fundraising executive.

To learn more about the Kootenai Health Foundation, visit kh.org/foundation.