A Pennington resident, who has more than two decades of regional and national fundraising experience, has been hired as the next 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 & CEO. “Steve has had a remarkable professional career in philanthropy and non-profit 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!”
He will fill the role currently held by Marcia Shackelford, who joined the Community Foundation in 2019 and announced her retirement last year. Shackelford will remain connected to the Community Foundation, as she and her husband are fundholders, and she is also a member of the Fund for Women and Girls.
“We want to thank Marcia for her incredible dedication to our organization,” said Nelessen. “During her six years at the Community Foundation, Marcia has made an impact at the Community Foundation, and she has done a superb job leading the asset building team. She also graciously postponed, until June 30, her planned retirement so she and Steve could work together for several weeks, assisting with his transition into the role.”
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 served for more than three years as Chief Development Officer for the American Red Cross’ Indiana Region in Indianapolis, where he led and expanded its fundraising program. He joined the Red Cross in 2012, where he also served as Senior Division Philanthropy Officer at the organization’s National Headquarters in Washington, DC, and as Senior Director of Corporate Partnerships, Director of Development and Acting Chief Development Officer for the New Jersey Region in Princeton. During his career at the Red Cross, he was recognized as one of the organization’s leading fundraisers, often ranked in the top ten nationally.
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. I look forward to deepening relationships across the region and helping the organization continue to be a trusted resource for those who want to make a difference.”
Spinner and his wife have two children. His first day is June 9.
