Joe Hammer, in many respects, has enjoyed a dual-track career over the course of his professional working life…that of a musician and a fund raiser.

A native “Hoosier,” Joe entered Ball State University, in Muncie, Indiana, as an organ major, graduating with a bachelor’s in communications and music. Upon completion of his master’s degree in public relations from Ball State, Joe worked in the not-for-profit sector in Indianapolis. He moved to New York City during the late ‘80s, working primarily in non-profit special event fundraising over the next 20-plus years. He and his family relocated from New York City to Indianapolis in 2008, where he continued his non-profit fundraising work with a museum and an educational foundation.  In 2015, he joined the development staff of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra; he retired from full-time fundraising in 2016.

Throughout his fundraising career, Joe continued to play the organ and sing in a number of choirs, including The Riverside Church and Church of the Holy Trinity Episcopal, New York City; the First Presbyterian Church, Sag Harbor, New York, as organist; and, Director of Music and Organist for the First Congregational Church (UCC), Exeter, New Hampshire. In Indianapolis, he served as Director of Music and Organist for St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, and as interim music director and organist for St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church. Joe also served as organist for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Granville, Ohio. Joe is also the Director of Music and organist at St. Paul’s Church in Nantucket (Episcopal).