Justin Leighty named executive director of Baptist Health Foundation Greater Louisville
Leighty has served in the role of philanthropy officer for the foundation since March 2019.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 23, 2021) – Baptist Health Foundation Greater Louisville is pleased to announce that Justin Leighty has been named its executive director, effective March 1, 2021.
Leighty has served in the role of philanthropy officer for the foundation since March 2019. In his time at Baptist Health, he has worked to further advance the mission of Baptist Health Louisville and Baptist Health La Grange by securing major gifts to improve and expand the hospitals’ services and presence in local healthcare and in the community at large.
In his new position, Leighty will be working closely with the foundation board, the hospitals’ executive teams and the Baptist Health System Foundation executive leadership on strategic and operational development of all philanthropic activities including capital campaigns, major gifts, grants, annual giving, and fundraising events. Among his primary responsibilities are building and fostering relationships in the community.
Leighty joined the foundation with a strong background in leadership and development, especially in procuring major gifts and establishing relationships with donors. He has also helped donors achieve their philanthropic goals through more complex estate gifts and naming opportunities.
Most recently Leighty worked as the senior director of development for the Brandeis School of Law and the director of development for the School of Music at the University of Louisville, where he simultaneously assisted both schools in exceeding their fundraising goals and secured multiple scholarship endowments for students in need.
Prior to his relocating to Louisville, Leighty launched his development career with a small non-profit organization in Washington, DC, where he led a grass roots effort to grow the organization, eventually doubling and then nearly tripling its fundraising revenue. While working with major donors, annual fund solicitation, grant requests, and donor communication strategies, he also navigated the more technical aspects of a database merger. This experience gave him a unique perspective into all facets of development and their long-term impacts on organizational performance.
Leighty also served President George W. Bush as a paralegal for investigations in the Office of White House Counsel.
“Justin Leighty’s strengths as a leader, experience in community relations, and significant accomplishments in development will be a great asset in his role as the foundation’s executive director,” stated Larry Gray, president of Baptist Health Louisville. “His proven success and dedication to the mission of the Baptist Health Foundation Greater Louisville is an indication of his ability and commitment to lead the foundation to a bright future.”
“We are so thrilled to congratulate Justin Leighty on this new role as he leads the foundation team in building on its current success, and continues to lay the groundwork for expansion and improvements that enhance patient care at Baptist Health,” stated Clint Kaho, president of Baptist Health La Grange.
“I love this team and am really excited to work with them to bring Baptist’s goals to life as we raise funds to serve our patients and front-line healthcare workers, “ Leighty stated. “I am enthusiastically engaged in the mission of Baptist and excited to see the philanthropy of our community impact the incredible healthcare happening inside our walls. We have tremendous work to do together.”