The Champlin Foundation has announced that Nina Stack, the current president of the New Jersey Council of Grant Makers, has been named its next executive director, succeeding current executive director Keith H. Lang who will retire on June 30, 2018.

Stack has over 25 years of experience in the private, government and nonprofit sectors and has worked as a senior administrator and external affairs professional throughout her career. For the past 13 years as the president of the New Jersey Council of Grant Makers, she has strengthened and promoted effective philanthropy in New Jersey through networking, advocacy and programming. 

In her role as president, Stack shepherded several leadership initiatives of the Council including the creation of the Community Foundation of South Jersey, the Newark Philanthropic Liaison and Facing Our Future, a landmark effort looking at the systemic, long-term fiscal challenges facing all levels of government in New Jersey.  

R. Kelly Sheridan, Chairman of the Champlin Foundation Distribution Committee, called Stack the perfect individual to advance the Champlin Foundation’s mission of addressing the capital funding needs of Rhode Island non-profits in healthcare, education, social services, preservation, arts enrichment and animal welfare.

“We are thrilled to have Nina joining us as our new executive director,” said Sheridan. “Her breadth of experience and understanding of the best practices in grant making will enable The Champlin Foundation to have an even greater impact in strengthening Rhode Island communities and vital institutions across our state.”

“As someone who has been involved in philanthropy for many years, I have long been aware of the extraordinary contributions of The Champlin Foundation,” said Stack. “Given my personal passion for strengthening communities through philanthropy and my professional experience leading philanthropic organizations, the opportunity to advance the Champlin Foundation’s mission as executive director is a tremendous honor and privilege.”

Stack, who will begin her new duties in June, has a long-time connection to Rhode Island, established when her family introduced her to Block Island as a child. “I fell in love with Rhode Island as a child and that deep connection has continued ever since,” said Stack.

In announcing Stack’s appointment, Sheridan thanked outgoing Executive Director Keith H. Lang for his years of service to The Champlin Foundation. “We are very grateful for Keith’s leadership over the past 18 years,” said Sheridan. “We’re also thankful that Keith provided us with ample time before his retirement to enable an effective transition as Nina relocates to Rhode Island to begin her work leading The Champlin Foundation.”

Stack, a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, will be moving to Providence with her husband Bobby Stack. The couple has three adult daughters and three grandchildren.

Since its founding in 1932, the Champlin Foundation has awarded more than $569 million to fund capital projects in Rhode Island to foster better medical care, improve education, expand access to social services, conserve open spaces, preserve historic buildings, enrich the arts and advance animal welfare.