Jon Gossett Chosen to Lead Fundraising at St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System
David J. Fine, President and CEO of St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System (SLEHS), announced today that seasoned Houston fundraiser, Jon K. Gossett, will be leading development and fundraising for the healthcare organization. Gossett will begin work as vice president and chief development officer of SLEHS on October 1st. “Jon’s track record in building development teams, working with trustees and volunteers, and establishing and enhancing external relationships were the precise mix of experiences we were looking for,” said Fine.
“After an extensive nation-wide search, Jon’s experience in leading development efforts for nonprofit organizations made him the ideal candidate for this position,” said John Scott Arnoldy, chair of the SLEHS Board Development Committee. “His knowledge of Houston will be invaluable as SLEHS renews its focus on building philanthropic support.”
Gossett responded, “St. Luke’s has an incredible tradition of clinical excellence and service to Houston and the region. The opportunity to be part of this innovative, ambitious and high-quality health organization will be a privilege and honor.” From 1994 through 2002, Gossett was executive director of development for Houston Grand Opera (HGO) and executive vice president for HGO Endowment, Inc. He then left Houston to serve as the senior vice president for development at American Public Media Group, which includes Minnesota Public Radio, Southern California Public Radio, Classical South Florida, and 20 national radio programs including A Prairie Home Companion and Marketplace Report.
He has also led development for The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, Planned Parenthood Federation of America in New York, and he was the president and CEO for Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne. Beyond building new fundraising programs and dramatically increasing results, Gossett has helped lead the largest capital campaigns in each of these organizations' respective sectors.
In 2005, Gossett became the 77th person to earn the ACFRE designation (Advanced Certified Fundraising Executive) from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. Gossett has been a consultant to a variety of organizations including the Farm and Wilderness Foundation in Vermont, Boston Ballet, Tulsa Opera, Charlotte Community School of the Arts, South Carolina Arts Commission and KUT Austin Public Radio.
