So many nonprofit leaders do what they do because of their own life experiences. Many seek to right a wrong they personally experienced, or seek a career path that allows them to have a sense of “paying back.” Marcos Zubia is such a leader.
In 1980, the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation (SVHF) was founded as a separate 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to partner with Christus St Vincent (CSV) to raise needed funds to enhance the ability of CSV to provide care.
At the helm of SVHF for the past four years is Marcos Zubia. Born and raised in Santa Fe’s south side, Marcos graduated from Capital High School and then continued his education, first at the Santa Fe Community College and then at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM. When you meet Marcos, you can immediately see how rooted he is in Santa Fe. Ask him any question, and he will inevitably circle back to his desire to do what is good for the community. His community.
Marcos Zubia Leads the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation’s Mission in Santa Fe
What could with others feel like pretense or salesmanship, feels with Marcos a genuine and earnest desire to give back. Many Santa Feans may remember him as one of the Santa Fe New Mexican’s 10 Who Made a Difference in 2017. At that time, he was the Board President of Esperanza Shelter, a place where survivors of domestic violence find safety and a path to recovery. At age 7, Marcos was himself an Esperanza client, along with his mother Gloria, when they fled domestic violence. Marcos went on to serve as interim director at Esperanza and later, as their Development Director, helping Esperanza weather the financial maelstrom of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was all in, returning in some small part, the lifesaving support he’d received as a small child.
It’s that same spirit of service that brought Marcos to SVHF. “Helping my community is what drives and compels me,” he commented on landing in his current role. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be part of the care that CSV provides to the community, our patients, and our workforce.” His eyes light up when he talks about the Reach Out & Read program they support, where books are provided in English and Spanish to pediatric patients.
SVF gives back between $1.5-$2 million each year in annual giving with everything from helping to pay off overdue hospital bills, to basic needs of CSV associates, to raising the funds necessary to open the state-of-the-art Regional Cancer Center last year.
What Marcos Brings to His Role
To ensure alignment between the Foundation’s fundraising and giving with the needs of CSV, Marcos is also part of the leadership team of CSV and reports directly to CSV’s CEO, Lillian Montoya.
“Marcos is an integral part of our team. He has brought a youthful exuberance and genuine passion to philanthropy. He has a gift for connecting people to purpose, inviting new audiences to see how giving can make a real difference in the lives of others while deepening their connection to Christus St. Vincent, our services, and our caregivers,” Montoya says.
Marcos leads his small team of four from offices situated at the entrance to the hospital’s cafeteria. He shares that they also run the gift shop at the hospital, which generates revenue each year for the Foundation’s efforts. CSV supports all the overhead for the Foundation, ensuring that 99% of what is raised by the Foundation goes directly into philanthropic giving.
In thinking about his role at SVF, Marcos reflects, “At some point, all of us will need healthcare in our community and from here in my role running the St. Vincent Foundation, I can help ensure that the future of that care is exceptional and accessible.”
To support the work of the St. Vincent Foundation, visit https://stvinfoundation.org/.
Story by Bill Smith
Photos Courtesy of St. Vincent Hospital Foundation
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