The Steven A. Minter Endowed Forum

For 28 years, Steve Minter served as President and Executive Director of the Cleveland Foundation, the first community foundation and second largest in the nation with assets of $1.5 billion. Following his retirement in 2003, he was appointed Executive-In-Residence at Cleveland State University. In May, 2010 he was appointed Interim Vice President of Advancement.

Outside the Foundation, Mr. Minter spent 15 years in positions with the government. He began his career as a caseworker at the Cuyahoga County Welfare Department in 1960, and rose through the ranks to become its director in 1969. In 1980, he served as the first Under Secretary for the United States Department of Education under President Carter. For five years, he was the Commissioner of Public Welfare for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Over the years, Mr. Minter has served on or chaired boards of national and regional organizations in the fields of education, health and human services. Most notable are: Community Foundations of America, American Public Welfare Association, Council of Foundations, The Independent Sector, the Knowledge Works Foundation, and Policy Bridge.

During his career, he has received many honors including the 2003 Distinguished Grantmaker Award presented by the Council of Foundations; the Charles Eisenman Award presented by the Jewish Community Federation; 2001 Louis Stokes Community Visionary Award; the 1999 Man of the Year Award presented by 100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland and many others. He was also a member of the National Academy of Public Administration.

He and his wife, Dolly, have three married daughters and five grandchildren. Mr. Minter died in September, 2019.