Vitalant Foundation, the philanthropic arm of nonprofit Vitalant, is pleased to welcome Katie Cobb as its new president.
Vitalant is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies organizations, serving about 900 hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. Vitalant Foundation secures and stewards charitable gifts, supporting Vitalant’s mission to unite blood and biologics donors, talent, and innovation to save and improve lives. Formerly named the Blood Science Foundation, it rebranded as Vitalant Foundation last year and officially joined the mission-driven organization.
“Charitable gifts enable ongoing investment in research and innovation, supporting the resiliency of the blood supply, cutting-edge research, and the development of new therapies that can help save and sustain more lives,” said Vitalant President and CEO David R. Green. “Katie’s extensive fundraising and business development experience will help lead our foundation into the future and ultimately positively impact people’s lives.”
“The Vitalant Foundation is creating exciting new opportunities in philanthropy to support the safety and sufficiency of the nation’s blood supply, and Vitalant’s specialized laboratory services, biotherapies and renowned research through its Research Institute and Innovation Center,” said Vitalant Foundation Board Chair Roger Oxendale. “Katie is the right leader and catalyst for this new level of strategic fundraising.”
Before joining Vitalant Foundation, Cobb most recently served as president of the Barrow Neurological Foundation, CommonSpirit Health in Phoenix, Arizona, where she led a comprehensive transformation of the Foundation, resulting in over $260 million raised during her eight-year tenure. Her other recent experiences include working for Great Hearts Academies as senior vice president for advancement and chief operating officer of the Phoenix Symphony.
“I’m thrilled to bring my passion for philanthropy to an organization dedicated to transforming lives,” said Cobb. “Our nation’s blood supply is foundational to our healthcare system. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Vitalant’s mission of supporting the blood supply and leading innovative research to help develop new lifesaving therapies is a noble cause I look forward to sharing.”
Cobb is a Virginia G. Piper Trust Fellow, one of the Arizona Republic’s 50 Highest Ranking Women in Business and was named a member of 48 Intriguing Women of Arizona by the Arizona Historical Society. She was also past board chair of Xavier College Preparatory and currently serves on the Catholic Charities Community Services Arizona board. Cobb received her bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University and graduated from the Women’s Leadership Forum at Harvard Business School and Executive Education Program for Nonprofit Leaders at Stanford University.