Jeff Zanelli

Jeff Zanelli is the chief marketing and communications officer at Points of Light, where he leads the organization’s global branding, strategic communications, and performance marketing efforts. He is responsible for driving awareness, community engagement, and creative storytelling to increase Points of Light’s worldwide impact. Jeff also provides executive counsel to organizational leadership on brand reputation, growth, and large-scale strategic initiatives.

A seasoned C-suite leader with more than 20 years of experience in mission-driven marketing, Jeff previously served as the inaugural chief marketing officer for the National Forest Foundation. During his tenure, he led a comprehensive brand transformation that grew brand awareness and significantly increased the organization’s base of support.

Prior to that role, Jeff spent over a decade at The Nature Conservancy, most recently leading a team of marketing and volunteer staff across Canada, the Caribbean, and the United States as the North America Director of Marketing & Outreach. He was instrumental in modernizing the brand’s public relations and digital strategies and launched the organization’s first national volunteerism program to align local service with global conservation goals. Earlier in his career, he directed marketing and community relations for the City of Boston under Mayor Thomas M. Menino, where he scaled literacy programs to reach over 30,000 children annually through corporate and community volunteerism.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Westfield State University. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, two daughters, two dogs, two cats, and horse.