Rip Rapson

Rip Rapson is the current President of the Kresge Foundation. He took up the post in July 2006. He was previously the President of the McKnight Foundation. He is the eldest son of architect Ralph Rapson. Prior to joining Kresge, Rapson served as president of the McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis. Under Rapson’s leadership, McKnight received the Council on Foundation’s inaugural Paul Ylvisaker Award for Public Policy, developed a far-reaching regional growth program, championed a state-wide effort to advance early childhood development opportunities, launched a business-led partnership to promote a metropolitan civic agenda, and expanded its support for alternative energy and the protection of the Mississippi River. Rapson previously has served as a Senior Fellow at the University of Minnesota, Deputy Mayor of Minneapolis, and Legislative Assistant to U.S. Representative Don Fraser. He received his law degree from Columbia University and was a partner in the Minneapolis law firm of Leonard, Street and Deinard.