About Patrick

Patrick Cleary serves as director of community prosperity and investments at the Humboldt Area Foundation. He was previously executive director of the foundation from in 2012-2019 after a 34 year career in the private sector. During his seven years of leadership the foundation’s total assets grew by 62%, to more than $128 million. That money was reinvested into projects such as the recently opened Fortuna Open Door Community Health Center building. Under Cleary’s tenure the foundation took on projects as challenging and diverse as helping finance the Carson Block renovation project in Eureka’s Old Town, the formation of the Equity Alliance of the North Coast and economic development initiative Humboldt Made. He was previously the president of Lost Coast Communications, a local radio and online news group. He spent 17 years on Wall Street rising to the ranks of managing director of Chase Manhattan Bank. He is an amateur musician who plays guitar, mandolin, banjo and bass.