About Us

Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Mexico is a mission-driven nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth through mentorship. We believe every child deserves a champion. Our programs connect caring adult and teen mentors with young people to ignite their potential, creating meaningful relationships in schools and community spaces across the state.

Position Summary

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) serves as the agency’s principal fundraiser and strategic leader of the Development Department. The CDO oversees fundraising, marketing, mentor/mentee recruitment, and community engagement. This role manages a team including staff for recruitment, fundraising events, marketing, and grants. As a key advisor to the CEO, the CDO collaborates with staff, supports the Board of Directors, and builds lasting relationships to expand the agency’s reach and impact. Travel throughout the state required.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Set and execute annual fundraising and recruitment strategies aligned with agency goals
• Collaborate with the Executive Team on talent, risk, efficiency, customer service, and strategic partnerships
• Ensure gold-standard mentoring practices and maximize innovation, relevance, and ROI
• Deliverables: Strategic plans, reporting, board engagement, high-impact results

Department Management

• Lead the Development Department to achieve optimal performance
• Oversee data analysis, compliance, and performance tracking using scorecards, KPIs, and CRM tools
• Provide coaching and training to ensure individual and team goals are met
• Deliverables: Quarterly KPIs, timely coaching, team development

Fundraising & Donor Stewardship

• Develop and implement multi-year and annual fundraising plans with baseline and stretch goals
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major donors and prospects
• Make 10–15 meaningful donor visits per month and convert event donors into long-term investors
• Lead donor appreciation and stewardship strategies
• Deliverables: Campaigns, donor relationships, revenue goals met or exceeded

Mentor & Youth Recruitment

• Create and execute recruitment plans for mentors and mentees across all programs
• Manage partnerships that serve as recruitment pipelines
• Deliverables: Monthly enrollment goals, match KPIs, recruitment campaigns

Marketing & Communications

• Develop and execute annual and quarterly marketing plans aligned with BBBSA branding
• Oversee all media channels including social media, newsletters, earned media, and email campaigns
• Support visibility of programs and impact through strategic communications
• Deliverables: Marketing analytics, brand awareness, community engagement

Collaboration & Community Engagement

• Serve on internal and external committees to foster innovation and mission alignment
• Engage with BBBS sister agencies and youth-serving organizations
• Build local support through networking, events, and strategic partnerships
• Deliverables: Committee participation, peer collaboration, community impact

Additional Duties

· Support Board members in fundraising initiatives and donor cultivation

· Prepare reports for board and senior staff meetings

· Maintain confidentiality of donor-related information

· Work with the CEO and Business Manager to manage the Development Budget

· Lead Senior Directors in creating annual individual giving plans

· Discover new revenue streams and adapt to changing philanthropic landscapes

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education

· Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, marketing, public administration, or related field

Experience

· 5+ years of progressive experience in fundraising, donor relations, or nonprofit development

· Proven track record of meeting revenue goals and managing donor portfolios

· Experience supervising staff and managing cross-functional teams

Skills

· Strong written and verbal communication skills

· Proficiency in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce)

· Ability to manage budgets and analyze fundraising metrics

· Comfortable with public speaking and donor engagement

Knowledge

· Understanding of donor stewardship, major gifts, and event-based fundraising

· Familiarity with marketing and recruitment strategies

Preferred Qualifications

Education

· Master’s degree in nonprofit leadership, business administration, or related field

Experience

· 7–10 years in senior development roles with demonstrated success in strategic planning and high-level donor cultivation

· Experience working with boards, executive leadership, and community stakeholders

· Background in youth services, mentoring, or mission-driven organizations

Skills

· Advanced knowledge of fundraising software and digital marketing tools

· Experience with grant writing and foundation relations

· Ability to lead cross-departmental initiatives and drive innovation

· Bilingual (Spanish/English preferred)

Certifications

· CFRE (Certified Fund-Raising Executive) or similar credential highly regarded