A Pennington resident with more than two decades of regional and national fundraising experience is the new chief philanthropy officer at the Princeton Area Community Foundation.
Steven B. Spinner is an expert in corporate and foundation relations and major gift fundraising. During his career, he has played a key role in philanthropic work that raised more than $200 million to advance research, strengthen communities, and sustain mission-driven organizations.
“The Community Foundation is proud to welcome Steve as our incoming chief philanthropy officer,” said Mathieu Nelessen, Community Foundation president and CEO. “Steve has had a remarkable professional career in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership. He brings deep expertise in all aspects of fundraising and mission-based philanthropy. His work is anchored in building profound and deeply impactful relationships that drive engagement. He is returning to a community that he knows well, to a county where he was raised, and a community where he had deep professional and personal roots. I am very excited to be working with Steve to drive our mission forward!”
His appointment was effective June 9. He filled the role previously held by Marcia Shackelford, who joined the Community Foundation in 2019 and announced her retirement last year.
Spinner was most recently the director of development at the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). He established the organization’s first fundraising program, helping the nonprofit expand its funding beyond a single foundation revenue source. He also doubled the organization’s annual fundraising revenue in 15 months.
Before joining CARRA, Spinner had worked for the Red Cross in various capacities since 2012, culminating with more than three years of service as chief development officer for the American Red Cross’ Indiana Region in Indianapolis, where he led and expanded its fundraising program. He previously served in development roles at Rider University and Westminster Choir College. Steve graduated from Rider University with a bachelor of science in business administration.
“I’m honored to be joining the Community Foundation at such an exciting time in its growth,” Spinner said. “It has a remarkable legacy of strengthening communities through philanthropy, and I’m eager to work alongside our fundholders, donors, partners, and staff to build on that impact.”
