Client Innovator Spotlight: Kerith Dilley, AltaMed Foundation

We’re honored to spotlight Kerith Dilley, AVP of Development Operations at AltaMed Foundation whose work exemplifies how healthcare philanthropy can break barriers and build stronger, healthier communities.For Kerith, philanthropy isn’t abstract—it’s personal.

“Growing up, I benefited from scholarships, grants, and small acts of generosity that helped me get an education and access healthcare,” she shares. “Philanthropy is a hand up, an investment, and it’s about creating long-term impact.”

That deeply rooted understanding of generosity informs everything she does at AltaMed. As one of the nation’s largest federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), AltaMed provides care to anyone who needs it—regardless of their ability to pay. But Kerith’s team sees philanthropy as the bridge that closes the gap between essential care and truly equitable health outcomes.

The 70% that transforms lives

While government funding covers a portion of AltaMed’s mission, Kerith points out that it only accounts for about 30% of what determines a person’s health. The other 70%—factors like housing, education, nutrition, and community—are shaped through philanthropic investment.

“Philanthropy allows us to address gaps and scale solutions beyond basic care,” she explains. “Our donors help fund programs that provide food, educational pathways, specialty care, and services tailored to community needs.”

These investments turn into stories of hope—like Ishmael, a young patient whose life was saved when AltaMed doctors caught his eye cancer early, thanks to accessible, proactive care and philanthropic resources that funded his specialized treatment. Hear more about his story here.

Redefining healthcare philanthropy with data intelligence

Kerith and her team are pioneering a new model for healthcare fundraising—one informed by data, efficiency, and foresight. With Kindsight’s Ascend CRM, AltaMed is poised to transform the way it identifies opportunities, nurtures relationships, and measures impact.

“Ascend allows us to implement and shape best practices in healthcare philanthropy,” Kerith says. “We can identify trends, predict donor interests, and personalize engagement. It gives us the right tools to be at the table and advance best practices—especially in underrepresented communities.”

This forward-thinking approach reflects AltaMed’s larger mission: to close gaps in access, equity, and opportunity across the communities it serves.

Why Kindsight recognizes Kerith

Kerith embodies the spirit of a Client Innovator—combining data-driven insight with kindness, empathy and leadership. She is redefining what healthcare philanthropy looks like in the 21st century: strategic, community-focused, and relentlessly human.

Her commitment to building a culture of innovation and equity perfectly aligns with Kindsight’s mission to empower changemakers who make philanthropy smarter, more connected, and more impactful.

When asked for one word that describes Kindsight, Kerith doesn’t hesitate:

Elizabeth Gross Kitrosser

As a brand strategist, marketer, and entrepreneur, Elizabeth works shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the world’s most ambitious founders, business architects, scientists, artists, and engineers — bringing together distinct teams and ideas to tell compelling stories.