Carol Minter has spent her 20-year career helping nonprofit and public education institutions thrive. She is currently Executive Director at Soundscapes, an El Sistema-inspired music education program in Southeastern Virginia that provides music education and performance opportunities for hundreds of students each year. Before becoming Executive Director in May 2022, she helped Soundscapes grow its program and its budget as Development Director 4 years. Carol has had the opportunity to share her expertise in fundraising and nonprofit management as a speaker at local and national events, including at the El Sistema USA National Symposium.
Before joining Soundscapes, Carol worked as a consultant for 7 years, providing expertise in successful fundraising strategy, grant writing, and event planning to a variety of nonprofits across the state of Virginia. Prior to that, she was Assistant Director of the Annual Fund at Christopher Newport University for one year, and Development Director at Peake Childhood Center, which provides quality childcare for low-income families. Carol has a BA in Communication from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the Academy for Nonprofit Excellence, and participated in the Virginia Peninsula Chamber’s LEAD Program as part of class of 2019.
The value of music was instilled in Carol from a young age. She grew up knowing she’d need to knock loudly at her grandfather’s door to be heard over his records; no dinners took place at her parents’ house without music playing; and it was not uncommon for her extended family to attend Viginia Symphony Orchestra concerts together. She considers it a privilege to support the important creative endeavors of teaching artists and student musicians through her work at Soundscapes and as a part of the greater El Sistema USA community. Carol and her husband, Patrick, live in Newport News, Virginia with their two teenage sons and two dogs.
