NJPAC Development Chief Peter H. Hansen Assumes New Role

Peter H. Hansen, NJPAC's Senior Vice President of Development, will assume a new role as the Arts Center's senior adviser/fundraising consultant, effective Oct. 3. With this strategic realignment, announced today by NJPAC President and CEO John Schreiber, the Arts Center becomes the inaugural client of Hansen Philanthropic Solutions, a consultancy launched recently by Hansen.

"We couldn't be more grateful to Peter for nearly 20 years of extraordinary fundraising and managing our most significant portfolios," Schreiber said. "Under his leadership, NJPAC has raised many millions of dollars, but also set a standard of excellence for arts fundraising in New Jersey."

Schreiber also announced that NJPAC has retained Lois L. Lindauer Searches of Boston to conduct a nationwide search for Hansen's successor. A description of the position is posted here.

As the newly minted adviser to NJPAC's development team, Hansen imparts more than 30 years of expertise in fundraising and nonprofit management. He will report to Lisa Hayward, Vice President of Development and interim department head.

Hansen, a resident of Belleville, served the Arts Center in several capacities during his career, notably as Director of Corporate Development and Sponsorship Marketing in 1992 - five years before NJPAC opened to the public - and as the innovator behind its most successful capital campaigns, raising hundreds of millions of dollars in support for New Jersey's premier cultural center.

Hansen, who is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), said he considered himself fortunate to have helped direct the growth of the Arts Center. "Working with renowned philanthropists, corporations and foundations as NJPAC's chief development officer was incredibly rewarding," he said. "I saw this as an opportune time to begin this new chapter in my career. I'll be drawing on years of skills application and knowledge of best practices to provide fundraising counsel for advancing NJPAC and other nonprofit organizations in the region, as well as nationally."

Hansen Philanthropic Solutions, based in Belleville, advises and provides services to nonprofit institutions, especially those affiliated with the arts, family foundations and family offices. Fundraising audits; assessment and planning for major gift programs; capital campaign development and execution; interim executive staffing, and evaluations of annual campaigns are among the firm's many assets.

During his tenure at NJPAC (1992-2002, then 2007-present), Hansen built the largest corporate fundraising and sponsorship program for the arts in New Jersey. His team's campaign to generate funds for the construction of NJPAC exceeded its initial goal by $20 million when the world-class venue opened in October 1997. His accomplishments also included reinvigorating the capital campaign, which concluded in 2010 at $182.7 million, compared to a target of $180 million.

Hansen previously held positions in development and marketing with the US Committee for UNICEF (now US Fund for UNICEF), Dance Theatre of Harlem, Bowdoin College, and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. He currently serves as president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals New Jersey Chapter.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is among the largest performing arts centers in the United States and is the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey - where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state's and the world's best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted more than 10 million visitors (including over 1.5 million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents. Visit njpac.org or call 1-888-GO-NJPAC for more information.