Staff
Ernest Vargo II, CFRE
President & CEO
As President and CEO, Ernie leads the Eskenazi Health Foundation in its mission to contribute leadership, guidance, and philanthropic resources to Eskenazi Health. He leads all fundraising efforts, including that of an $87 million capital campaign to construct a new state-of-the-art public hospital in downtown Indianapolis. In the past 10 years, Eskenazi Health Foundation has raised nearly $146 million to enable everyone in our community to receive quality health care.
Prior to joining the Eskenazi Health Foundation, Ernie was a senior consultant with Johnson, Grossnickle, & Associates. Ernie is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) with a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations from University of Akron, where he currently serves as the immediate past chair of the national alumni board and a member of the President’s Advisory Committee. He began his career as the director of marketing and communications for Lambda Chi Alpha General Fraternity, then moved to the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra as director of development. Ernie is also an adjunct faculty member at the Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University and serves on the board and executive committee of Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation.