MOSAIC Summer 2019 | Page 31

H E RE AT T H E H E ART Sacred Heart Welcomes New Director T his past winter, David Zanitsch, MA, CFRE, as- sumed his new responsibilities as a member of the Sacred Heart Major Seminary (SHMS) family as director of institutional advancement. The Office of Institutional Advancement has primary respon- sibilities for four key areas at the seminary – philanthropy, alumni relations, special events, and marketing and communications. Zanitsch brings to Sacred Heart a variety of both non-profit and for-profit corporate experi- ence. From serving as parish administrator in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, to being on the adjunct faculty of Silver Lake Col- lege of the Holy Family, to his work in financial services, all of his experiences allowed Zanitsch to begin immediately adding value to SHMS. When asked about fundraising, Zanitsch is quick to respond by identifying it instead as phi- lanthropy. While the words may seem to mean the same, they reflect two very different approaches to charitable giving. According to Zanitsch, phi- lanthropy is “highly relational” – focused on the goals and desires of the individual donor (or fam- ily) and not just the needs of the organization. Zanitsch’s enthusiasm and motivation in this challenging field are generated from the joy he receives in working with individuals who believe in the mission of Sacred Heart and the Church and have a desire to invest in its success. Zanitsch’s early career started in higher educa- tion, where he worked in administration at Tru- man State University in Kirksville, Missouri, and the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minne- sota. While serving as parish administrator in St. Paul, the entrepreneur within Zanitsch created a specialty retail food distribution business that was eventually purchased by an international food corporation. Always remaining open to God’s call, Zanitsch returned to his non-profit roots working for the Catholic Diocese of Fargo as Director of Steward- ship and Development. The diocese’s episcopal leader Bishop James Sullivan is a Sacred Heart Major Seminary graduate. While new to Detroit, Zanitsch has previously lived in Michigan. His work in philanthropy led him to work for Catholic hospitals in Michigan, North Dakota, and Colorado. Zanitsch was active in every community, and held leadership roles in Knights of Columbus, Boys Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, and United Way. It’s a godsend to Za- nitsch that his career has offered the opportunity to blend his professional responsibilities with his commitment to give back to the community. When Zanitsch arrived at the gates of Sacred Heart, it was thirty years after he first worked for the Catholic Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. The opportunity to return to work for the Church and contribute to the mission of Sacred Heart Major Seminary is a true blessing for him. shms.edu 29