Princeton Area Community Foundation Appoints Two New Trustees to Board

The Princeton Area Community Foundation has appointed two new trustees to its board, adding expertise in investment management and nonprofit leadership to the organization that has awarded more than $262 million in grants since 1991.

The board voted unanimously to appoint Aamir A. Rehman of Princeton Junction in West Windsor and Trenton resident Lucy I. Vandenberg to three-year terms as trustees, according to the foundation.

“Aamir and Lucy will be outstanding trustees,” said Board Chair Marygrace Billek. “They will bring additional leadership, investing and grantmaking expertise to our board, as we continue to carry out our mission of promoting philanthropy to advance the wellbeing of our communities forever.”

Rehman brings extensive investment and academic experience to the role. He serves as an associate professor at Columbia University’s Business School and chairs Innate Capital Partners, a private investment office that invests in funds and companies, according to the foundation. At Columbia, he holds the position of senior fellow at the Richard Paul Richman Center for business, Law, and Public Policy.

His community involvement includes trustee positions at Mercer County Community College, Rutgers Preparatory School and the Medina Health Center. Rehman previously served as board chair of the Mercer County Community College Foundation, according to the announcement.

Rehman’s international experience includes work as a consultant to the World Bank Group’s Finance and Markets Global Practice and as a senior adviser to the United Nations Development Programme, the foundation stated.

Vandenberg contributes significant nonprofit leadership experience as executive director of the Schumann Fund for New Jersey, where she oversees $1.7 million in annual grantmaking to 50 nonprofits in Essex County and statewide, with a focus on children and families, according to the foundation.

Her career includes roles as a senior program officer at The Fund for New Jersey in Princeton, executive director of PlanSmart NJ in Trenton, and executive director of the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing. She also worked as a senior policy adviser in the New Jersey Governor’s Office, the foundation reported.

Vandenberg’s community service includes former positions as a trustee and executive committee member of the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, a former member of the Trenton Board of Education, and former chair of the Trenton Green Team, a program of Sustainable Jersey, according to the announcement.

“We want to welcome Aamir and Lucy to our board,” said Mathieu Nelessen, Community Foundation President and CEO. “They both care deeply about our communities, and they will be fantastic additions to our governing body.”

The Princeton Area Community Foundation has operated for 35 years, helping donors support causes important to them since its founding in 1991, according to the organization. The foundation has distributed more than $262 million in grants to charitable organizations during that time.

The appointments strengthen the foundation’s board as it continues its mission of promoting philanthropy throughout the Princeton area and surrounding communities. Both new trustees bring complementary expertise that aligns with the foundation’s dual focus on investment management and strategic grantmaking.

The foundation serves as a vehicle for charitable giving in the greater Princeton area, managing donor funds and distributing grants to support local nonprofit organizations and community initiatives.