Boston Main Streets Foundation

The Boston Main Streets Foundation, a public-private initiative established by the City of Boston in 2007, has been the driving force behind the revitalization of the City’s neighborhood commercial districts. We are committed to making Boston’s neighborhood commercial districts thriving, vibrant centers of commerce and community by supporting the Boston Main Streets program. Our Foundation seeks to develop long-term strategies to increase the economic power and resources of neighborhood commercial districts while pursuing initiatives that build knowledge and capacity for Main Streets programs and the businesses they serve.

Our Goals

Develop renewable income streams for local Boston Main Streets organizations

Provide funding opportunities and raise corporate, private, and public support for Boston Main Streets districts

Create thriving, vibrant centers of commerce and community

Our Board

Joel Sklar, Board Chair
President, Samuels & Associates

Jeanne Desaro
Executive Director, Greater Ashmont MS

Darryl Fess
President, Brookline Bank

Michael Hunter
Business Development Executive, Trinity Financial

Karl Seidman
Retired Professor – Urban Planning, MIT

Burton R. Gesserman CPA, Treasurer
Shareholder, Walter & Shuffain, P.C.

Paulo Amado De Barros
Board President, Bowdoin Geneva MS

Chris Gedrich
Vice President of Operations, Suffolk Construction

Jayda Leder-Luis
Vice President of Corporate Communications, Stratacomm

Gustavo Quiroga
Executive Director, LISC Boston

Ben Starr
Partner, Atlantic Retail

Daniel Rottenberg, Executive Secretary
Attorney, Goulston & Storrs

Geri Denterlein
Founder & CEO, Denterlein

Ellen Handly
Vice President of Workplace Planning, Fidelity Investments

Grace Lee
Regional President for Eastern Massachusetts, M&T Bank

News

Seasoned Community Leader and Skillful Social Entrepreneur selected as First Executive Director of Boston’s Main Streets Foundation

Tuesday, September 26, 2023 (Boston, Mass.) The Boston Main Streets Foundation, a public-private initiative that supports the Boston Main Streets programs and the businesses they serve, has named Eric Esteves as its first Executive Director.

Mr. Esteves comes to this position with a solid set of credentials that reflect his deep knowledge of the city, his passion for service to the small business community, and his understanding of the importance of investing in Boston’s neighborhoods. Having most recently served as Executive Director of the Lenny Zakim Fund where he raised significant funds and grew the organization’s revenue, Mr. Esteves brings a creative approach to cultivating a donor base. These skills will allow the Main Streets Foundation to answer the call of Mayor Wu and her administration to challenge the status quo when it comes to expanding opportunities for small businesses.

“In Eric, our search committee found someone we believe will be a great partner in advancing the work of small businesses. Since 2007, the Foundation has provided grants and, during the pandemic, we were an essential lifeline to many small businesses. As our communities recover, we can and must do more. Eric will work shoulder-to-shoulder with our board of directors to ensure we achieve high goals. A strong Boston relies on strong neighborhoods,” said Foundation Board Chairman Joel Sklar.

“The Boston Main Streets Foundation is critical to empowering our small businesses, building community across neighborhoods and connecting every resident in our city to opportunity,” said Mayor Wu. “As we continue to help our small businesses thrive and serve as anchors across Boston’s neighborhood, I’m excited for Eric Esteves’ leadership and look forward to the Foundation’s work to ensure that all of our local businesses are supported, and visitors can experience the vibrancy of Boston’s communities.”

Prior to working with the Zakim Fund, Mr. Esteves ran several small businesses and served within a number of non-profit organizations, including The Boston Foundation, Lead Boston, YW, and Root Cause, an initiative that helps human service leaders assess and implement quality improvement measures.

“I am honored and humbled to take on this role with the Boston Main Streets Foundation. The opportunity for growth is enormous, and I enthusiastically embrace the challenge to take the Foundation to a higher level,” commented Esteves.

Eric Esteves is a proud resident of Boston who graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Business Administration and an MS in Information Systems.

Boston Main Streets is the network of 20 independent nonprofit Main Streets organizations that exist across Boston. The Boston Main Streets Foundation is a public-private initiative established by the city of Boston. It has been the driving force behind the revitalization of the city’s neighborhoods and commercial districts. The Main Streets Foundation is committed to making Boston’s neighborhood commercial districts thriving and vibrant centers of commerce and community. The foundation also seeks to develop a long-term strategy to increase the economic power and resources of neighborhood commercial districts, while pursuing initiatives that build knowledge in capacity for main streets programs in the business as they serve.

Our Current Supporters

Challenger Sponsor: $100,000+

Bank of America

Platinum Sponsor: $50,000+

J. Derenzo Company

Gold Sponsor: $25,000+

John Moriarty & Associates

National Development

Suffolk Construction

Samuels & Associates

Weiner Ventures

EM Duggan

Silver Sponsor: $15,000+

Elkus Manfredi Architects

New England Development

Manganaro

ML McDonald Electric

Pavilion Flooring

Sweeney Drywall Finishes Corp

East Coast Interiors