Jeffrey Vega has been named as the next next president and CEO of the Princeton Area Community Foundation by the organization’s board of trustees.
Vega, who currently serves as president of New Brunswick Tomorrow, will succeed Nancy Kieling, the Community Foundation’s first and current CEO, who will retire as of Dec. 31.
“After a national search process, the board is pleased to have found an outstanding individual to lead this first-rate community foundation,” said David Scott, chair of the Community Foundation Board of Trustees. “His deep knowledge of central New Jersey and his commitment to the work of the Community Foundation make him the right person to steward and build upon the organization’s successful legacy.”
During his many years managing New Brunswick Tomorrow, Vega spearheaded several large-scale public-private initiatives to propel New Brunswick’s resurgence, said a Community Foundation news release. Vega’s accomplishments include building partnerships with governments, corporations, and universities to address leadership and youth development, and civic planning.
“I’m honored to be selected to lead this exceptional organization of creative, dedicated and talented professionals,” Vega said. “The Community Foundation has a wide impact on Central New Jersey through its leadership, grantmaking, partnerships, and unique skills in philanthropy and I am looking forward to getting started.”
Vega, 47, has served as president of New Brunswick Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization that brings together diverse partners to identify and take action on issues related to the community’s health, youth and neighborhood needs, since 2000.
He joined the organization in 1993 as director of community services and was promoted to vice president in 1997. A Monroe Township resident, he is currently a member of the National Advisory Committee NJ Health Initiatives, a program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; and has served on numerous other advisory committees in the region.
Vega earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Urban Studies, Human Ecology, and International Environmental Studies from Cook College, Rutgers, and a Masters in Political Science/Public Policy from the Eagleton Institute at Rutgers.
“Jeff is a remarkable person whose work in New Brunswick has been a model to others in New Jersey,” Kieling said. “I’m very happy with the board’s decision and confident that the Community Foundation will continue to lead the way in central New Jersey’s philanthropic community.”
The Princeton Area Community Foundation promotes philanthropy and builds community across Mercer County and central New Jersey. It provides charitable giving expertise to individuals, nonprofits and corporations, and makes grants to nonprofit organizations. Since its founding in 1991, the Community Foundation has built an endowment of $105 million and granted over $55 million back into the community.
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