Steve Schwab, CEO of Elizabeth Dole Foundation - CEOs You Should Know: Washington, DC

Steve Schwab is an experienced national leader in health, public policy, communications and philanthropy, and a passionate champion for military and veteran caregivers, their veterans, and families. As a widely sought after expert on these issues, Steve has closely advised the White House and policymakers, leaders, and organizations in every sector, testified before Congress, addressed audiences across the globe, and represented the concerns of caregivers and military families in national media appearances, including on NBC's TODAY, 60 Minutes, Fox & Friends, and NPR. As CEO of the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Steve spearheads the country's preeminent organization empowering, supporting, and honoring military caregivers, their veterans, and families. Since 2014, he has grown and developed the Foundation from its start-up phase into an established national nonprofit responsible for some of the most impactful reforms, programs, and legislative and regulatory solutions to the challenges facing military families. Under Steve's leadership, the Foundation launched the Hidden Heroes Campaign, established the Hidden Heroes Cities and Counties program, successfully championed the expansion of the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers, and created Heroes & History Makers, a signature fundraising event that has raised millions of dollars for caregiver resources. In 2024, Steve led the movement to pass the largest bipartisan VA reform legislation, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (Dole Act), which was signed into law on January 2, 2025. Steve led the launch of the Hidden Helpers Coalition in 2021, bringing together the White House and more than a hundred public and private organizations to support the children in military and veteran caregiving families. In 2021, Steve was named by the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough to serve on the Veterans' Family, Caregiver, and Survivor Federal Advisory Committee. Under Steve's leadership, the Foundation has taken on a critical role leading the coalition for Face the Fight, a USAA-led initiative to significantly reduce veteran suicide. Steve is also an Executive Producer of two films documenting the lives and service of young people stepping up as caregivers, the Academy Award qualifying Sky Blossom and Unconditional: Healing Hidden Wounds. Steve is a member of the Board of Visitors of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University, member of the RAND Epstein Family Veterans Policy Research Institute Advisory Board, and member of the Reach Resilience Board of Directors. Steve is also a member of the Board and chairs the Fundraising and Engagement Committee for Whitman-Walker Health, whose mission is to offer community-based health and wellness services to vulnerable citizens of the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia communities. He served as Chairman of the Board for PsychArmor, the nation's premier nonprofit for providing free education and support for all Americans to engage effectively with the military community, for a decade until he transitioned to a member of the Board in 2024.

Previously, Steve was head of external affairs for the National Cathedral, overseeing fundraising, marketing, and communications for the nation's spiritual home. He has raised hundreds of millions of dollars from individuals, foundations, and corporations across his career and is an expert on nonprofit leadership, philanthropy, campaigns, and coalition building. Steve came to Washington, D.C. after serving in three senior leadership roles in his hometown of Rochester, N.Y. He was Vice President for Development at the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff to Rochester Mayor Robert J. Duffy and as head of corporate development and relations for Rochester Institute of Technology. Steve started his career in politics in New York City, then subsequently served as Special Assistant to the President and Director of Development for the New York City Partnership and Chamber of Commerce. He has a BA in Political Science from Rockefeller College, University at Albany, and is currently a member of the inaugural class of the Executive Master of Public Affairs at Duke University.