Spinner joins Princeton Area Community Foundation as chief philanthropy officer

Steven B. Spinner, 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. He starts June 9.

During his career, the Pennington resident has played a key role in philanthropic work that raised more than $200 million to advance research, strengthen communities, and sustain mission-driven organizations.

“Steve has had a remarkable professional career in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership,” said Mathieu Nelessen, Community Foundation president and CEO. “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.”

Spinner succeeds Marcia Shackelford, who joined the Community Foundation in 2019 and announced her retirement last year. She 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. Nelessen said Shackelford has postponed her retirement until June 30 to assist in the transition.

Spinner was most recently the director of development at the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA). He established the organization’s  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.