Rybak Chosen To Lead Minneapolis Foundation

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Former Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has been chosen to lead the Minneapolis Foundation and tackle issues related to social and economic disparities in the city.

The foundation announced Monday that Rybak, a current board member, will be the seventh CEO/president in the organization's 100-year history, replacing current CEO Sandra Vargas at the end of June.

"It is a tremendous honor to be joining a true institution that has spent a century doing great things for my hometown," Rybak said in a press release. "Knowing what this foundation can do, and how much more needs to be done, I know we can, and must, do even more to make sure the prosperity so many enjoy is shared by everyone."

The foundation, which connects people with resources to improve the greater Minneapolis community, said it chose the former mayor because of his connections, ability to raise funds and focus on equity.

Currently, Rybak is the executive director of Generation Next, a coalition of business and civic groups dedicated to shrinking achievement and opportunity gaps in the Twin Cities.

The Minneapolis Foundation, which distributed $80 million in grants last year, said its search for a CEO was national in scope.

"We had an extremely robust pool of candidates, spanning nonprofit, corporate, political, and education sectors," said John Sullivan, a foundation trustee and the head of the search committee. "It became apparent that R.T. has the ability to bring many parties to the table not just to talk, but to work together for the greater good."

Rybak served three terms as mayor of Minneapolis before leaving office in 2014.