As Vice President of Strategic Philanthropy with the Ascension Foundation for Health Equity, Francesca leads the Foundation’s national development efforts, designing partnerships and campaigns to support the organization’s philanthropic grantmaking objectives. In addition to this work, she collaborates with leaders of Ascension’s local foundations to advance excellence in fundraising strategy system wide. 
 
Francesca brings global experience through her work in nonprofit, government, and consulting sectors, including in the United States, Europe, Russia, Southern Africa and at the United Nations. A human rights expert specializing in gender equity and anti-discrimination, Francesca is committed to building a more just and equitable society by including philanthropists in the mission of organizations. Before joining the Foundation, Francesca led a $1 billion campaign as Vice President, Philanthropy Strategy at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Previous positions with global consulting firm CCS Fundraising raised close to $1 billion for organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Girls Inc., National Urban League, Salvation Army, Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York Public Radio and Hospital for Special Surgery. 
 
Francesca holds an MS in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA in Political Science and Human Rights from Barnard College at Columbia University.