Edwin Ellis Meader (1909–2007) was an American philanthropist, educator, and veteran known for his significant financial support of cultural and educational institutions in the state of Michigan. Along with his wife, Mary Upjohn Meader, he was a major benefactor to the Kalamazoo community and several large universities.
Meader was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1933. During World War II, he served in the United States Army, where he worked in military intelligence and cryptography. After the war, he pursued further academic interests, which led him to a teaching position in the geography department at Western Michigan University (WMU) during the mid-20th century.
The Meaders' philanthropy was largely enabled by Mary Upjohn Meader's connection to the Upjohn pharmaceutical company, founded by her grandfather, W.E. Upjohn. The couple donated tens of millions of dollars over several decades. Notable recipients of their contributions include Western Michigan University, the University of Michigan, and the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Their donations supported a wide range of initiatives, including the construction of the WMU School of Music facilities, the Meader Fine Arts Center, and the University of Michigan's Depression Center.
Meader was often described as a modest individual who avoided public recognition for his charitable activities. He remained active in local civic life in Kalamazoo until his death in 2007 at the age of 98. His legacy is maintained through the various academic buildings, scholarships, and programs that bear the Meader name across Michigan’s higher education landscape.