Loretto Foundation gets new fundraising leader ahead of big birthday

The Loretto Foundation just brought in Barbara Karas as its new development director, just in time for the group’s 50th birthday this fall. Karas won’t just be another face in the office—she’s taking charge of fundraising, donor talks, and even the company’s own employee charity drive. Her job is huge: she needs to keep the money flowing so Loretto can keep helping people who mostly rely on Medicaid, which only pays for 70% of their care.Karas isn’t new to the game. Before joining, she spent years at Crouse Health Foundation, climbing up from smaller roles like annual giving coordinator to leading their whole development and marketing push. With a master’s in economics and a bachelor’s in international relations, she’s no stranger to big-picture thinking, even if her new work is very local. Her move comes at a tough spot for Loretto, which runs 19 locations across two counties and serves nearly 10, 000 people a year. Medicaid covers most of their clients’ costs, but it’s not enough. That’s why foundations like Loretto’s are so important—they fill the gaps where government support falls short. Karas will now be the one making sure those gaps stay filled.