R.T. Rybak

R. T. Rybak became President and CEO of the Minneapolis Foundation in 2016 after careers in journalism, publishing, urban development and marketing, and 12 years as Mayor of Minneapolis.

Under his leadership the Foundation has more than doubled the money it directs to nonprofits, now granting more than $100 million a year in Minnesota and around the world. The Foundation’s giving program focuses on equity and justice in education, economic mobility and the environment, and creates what Rybak calls a “community of generosity” to align like-minded donor fundholders with emerging community needs.

Rybak’s deepest passion is creating career pathways for youth of color, including his founding and ongoing work with StepUp, a 22-year-old summer job program that has employed more than 34,000 Minneapolis high school students.