Biography: 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, creating what

Rybak calls a “community of generosity” to align like-minded fundholders with emerging community

needs. Rybak’s deepest passion is creating career pathways for youth of color, including his founding

and ongoing work with Step Up, a youth employment program that has served more than 34,000

Minneapolis high school students since 2003.