Neil D. Steinberg is the former president and chief executive officer of the billion-dollar Rhode Island Foundation, former Brown University vice president for development, and former chairman and CEO of Fleet Bank of Rhode Island. Steinberg’s contributions to the growth and impact of the Rhode Island Foundation have grown the institution’s assets by three and a half times, despite taking the helm of the organization during an economic crisis in 2008. He has also contributed significantly to strengthening the Foundation’s position as the state’s leading philanthropic entity and a strong voice for civic leadership and systems change in the public good. In addition, his leadership has solidified the Foundation’s position as a national leader in the community foundation sector.
Since 2013, he has been named one of the 10 most influential people in Rhode Island by Providence Business News each year. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1975. Steinberg came to the Rhode Island Foundation in 2008 from Brown University, his alma mater, after serving as vice president of development. Steinberg co-chaired Rhode Island’s Race to the Top Steering Committee and has served as a director of the Providence Foundation, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council, the Providence Performing Arts Center, and the Urban League. He later served on the Rhode Island Commodores Board of Governors, as a Board member of the Partnership for Rhode Island, as a trustee of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the State Innovation Model (SIM) Healthy Rhode Island Steering Committee.
In 2018, the University of Rhode Island presented him with the 2018 President’s Distinguished Achievement Award, and New England Institute of Technology presented him with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. In 2018, the Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families presented him with its Coalition Award. In 2017, Johnson & Wales University conferred upon him the honorary degree of Doctor of Business Administration. In 2016, Providence Business News named him one of the 30 Driving Forces of Rhode Island’s business community. In 2015, he received Providence Business News’ “Corporate Citizen” Business Excellence award, and he was bestowed with an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters by Bryant University.
In 2013, he received the Rhode Island School Superintendent Association’s Paul Crowley Award for his commitment to improving the quality of education for the children of Rhode Island. He was also awarded Leadership Rhode Island’s David E. Sweet Leadership Award for his leadership and commitment to the community.
Steinberg was inducted into the Brown University Hall of Fame in 2007 for his contributions to the Track & Field Team. He received the Harry Henshel Award during his junior year at Brown for outstanding contributions to the 60, 220, and 440 relay teams. He competed in the 1974 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 4×100-meter relay. He was the leadoff runner on the 1974 relay team that still holds the Brown record of 40.90 seconds. His relay team in the 4 x 100 holds the first-, third-, and sixth-fastest all-time performances at Brown; his 4 x 200 relay was the sixth-fastest, and his sprint medley relay was the ninth-fastest. He earned first-team All-Ivy in 1973 and was All-New England First Team in both 1973 and 1975. He also received All-IC4A (All-East) accolades in 1975. After graduating, he continued to compete. As a Master’s Competitor for many years, he was consistently ranked nationally in the top ten in his age group in several individual sprint events, both indoors and outdoors. He achieved the Master All-American designation many times and competed in the Penn Relays for 20 consecutive years.
He lives in Pawtucket, RI, with his wife Genie and has two adult sons, Jason and Eric. He was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2019.