The Princeton Area Community Foundation has appointed Mathieu Nelessen as its new president and CEO. Nelessen was selected by the board of trustees after a nationwide search and began his role last month.
Nelessen brings experience from his previous position as CEO of the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA), where he transitioned the organization from a board-managed to a CEO-managed operation. Reflecting on his new role, Nelessen stated, “After 25 years of nonprofit service, it is a distinct honor to return to my home community to drive the incredible mission of the Community Foundation forward, with a focus on growth, innovation and impact.”
Nelessen's career includes leadership roles at the American Red Cross in New Jersey and nationally. He managed disaster response efforts for Superstorm Sandy in New Jersey and served as executive director for Hurricane Harvey recovery in Houston. His last position at the Red Cross was national vice president of Business Strategy and Planning, Biomedical Services.
Before joining the Red Cross, Nelessen held positions with the American Diabetes Association, Rider University, and Special Olympics New Jersey. He graduated from Rutgers University.
He is only the third leader since the foundation's inception in 1991. Nancy Kieling led for two decades before Jeff Vega succeeded her until his passing in 2024.
Sonia Delgado, chair of the board, expressed enthusiasm about Nelessen’s appointment: “The Community Foundation is an extraordinary organization with an incredible team, and we’re looking forward to Mathieu’s visionary leadership as we continue to grow and make an impact in our region.”
Anthony “Skip” Cimino praised Nelessen as an “excellent choice,” highlighting his engaging nature and depth of experience: “Mathieu is engaging, intelligent and thoughtful...and his roots are in this community.”
