President/CEO - Association of Fundraising Professionals : Job Details

President/CEO

About Museum of New Mexico Foundation

The Museum of New Mexico Foundation (“MNMF”) is an independent 501(c)3 organization governed by a 50-member Board of Trustees with an additional 25 advisory trustees. Its mission is to provide financial support for exhibitions and educational/public programs, and undertake special initiatives (capital/endowment campaigns) benefiting the following New Mexico state institutions (collectively known as the Museum of New Mexico system): the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, the Museum of International Folk Art, the New Mexico History Museum and Palace of the Governors, the New Mexico Museum of Art and Vladem Contemporary, New Mexico Historic Sites and the Office of Archaeological Studies (OAS).

The museums and OAS are located in Santa Fe, the state capital, while the New Mexico Historic Site system encompasses eight distinct sites located across the state. The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs manages these institutions, with partial oversight from the Museum of New Mexico Board of Regents. The Foundation also advocates before the New Mexico legislature for capital outlays, special appropriations and other initiatives to support the Museum of New Mexico system. The Foundation also manages five Friends Groups and four Advancement Committees associated with the institutions it supports.

The collaborative Public/Private Partnership between the Foundation, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Board of Regents is unique and is governed by a new General Operating Agreement that was updated in 2025 and defines the roles and responsibilities of the Foundation and its public partners.

To fund its operations, the Foundation manages five membership programs with all revenue directed toward general operating support. The Foundation administers 9,000 member households, operates five Museum Shops plus an online store, operates a licensing program to work with third parties produce and sell merchandise related to museum collections, manages over 40 endowments, and provides other financial management.

Since its inception, MNMF has delivered $120M in private sector support to four State museums, the Office of Archaeological Studies, and eight State historic sites. Through its fundraising efforts, the Foundation:

• Provides $1.5-2M annually for exhibitions and education programs at supported institutions.

• Conducts multi-million-dollar Capital Campaigns, raising over $30M for projects like the Vladem Contemporary facility and other initiatives.

• Advocates in the NM Legislature for Capital Improvements, securing $5.22M in 2024 for supported institutions.

• Engages hundreds of volunteers who contribute over 14,000 hours every year to support the cultural institutions supported by the Foundation.

The core strength of MNMF is the people who are associated with the organization—General Members, Friends groups, Donors, Trustees, Staff--those whose financial contributions, professional expertise, and significant volunteer time enhance the Foundation's success in fulfilling its mission. Motivations for this level of commitment and generosity include a love of New Mexico's unique multi-cultural landscape, and a passionate connection with MNMF's partner museums, historic sites and archeological programs.

To learn more about Museum of New Mexico Foundation visit their website at:

What's Next

In 2025, MNMF adopted a new Strategic Plan. The Plan marks MNMF's first comprehensive planning effort involving all stakeholders and partners. Over 200 participants contributed through SWOT and environmental assessments as well as through personal interviews. In addition, Board members participated in candid roundtable discussions.

Building on existing strengths, the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan identifies new opportunities to enhance the Foundation's performance and amplify its success, defining clear, measurable goals and objectives. The plan's thoughtfully crafted actions will increase success, monitor progress, allow adaptation when needed, and enhance accountability. Built into the plan is an environment for cultivating a culture of continuous improvement, adaptability, and resilience.

The Plan outlines five key objectives:

• PARTNERSHIPS: Create Collaborative and Transparent Partnerships that Increase the Foundation's Funding and Support for DCA and its MNMF-related Divisions.

• DEVELOPMENT: Increase Support to the MNMF-related Divisions Through Enhanced Development Practices.

• MEMBERSHIP: Increase Significantly Membership Numbers, Diversity, and Revenue for the Advancement of the Future of the Foundation and the MNMF-related Divisions

• COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING: Develop Clear and Consistent Internal and External Communications to Support the Foundation's Mission.

• THE ORGANIZATION: Advance the Foundation's Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Sustainability

The next President/CEO of MNMF will have the opportunity to lead the organization through its next chapter of excellence. While the Strategic Plan outlines a series of objectives that MNMF wants to accomplish, the President/CEO will provide critical insight into each area and their implementation.

The Opportunity

The President/CEO leads the Foundation's efforts to secure financial resources to meet the priorities of the Museum of New Mexico system and fund the Foundation's operations. This position develops and strengthens relationships and collaboration between the Museum of New Mexico system, the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Museum of New Mexico Board of Regents. In addition, the President/CEO is responsible for implementing and advancing the Foundation's newly adopted Strategic Plan in close collaboration with staff and the Board.

The President/CEO leads the development of member and donor relationships and stewardship, identifies and solicits corporate sponsorships, and ensures that the Foundation maintains a strong fiscal position. Leading the development of strong, deep community relationships, the President/CEO maintains transparency within the Foundation and with the public, fosters and inspires trust in the Foundation and its work, and maintains open and regular communication with the Board of Trustees and with staff. As a trusted relationship builder, the President/CEO must navigate complex partnerships and unify internal and external stakeholders in support of a shared mission.

The President/CEO empowers and supports staff to make decisions aligned with the vision, mission, and values of the organization. The position provides crucial strategic advising to the Foundation's development and membership staff, and emphasizes accountability, professionalism, and teamwork across all Foundation departments.

Key Responsibilities of the next President/CEO include:

Strategic Leadership:

• Represent the organization as the Foundation's primary spokesperson.

• Collaborate with the Board of Trustees and staff to implement the Foundation's Strategic Plan.

• Drive innovation in programs, operations, and services to maximize fulfillment of the Foundation's mission.

Development and Fundraising:

• Develop and execute fundraising plans and strategies to support exhibitions, education/public programs, and special initiatives (capital/endowment campaigns) at Foundation-supported institutions.

• Diversify and grow development revenues through with a focus on planned giving, endowments, annual campaigns, capital campaigns and other initiatives.

• Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, and corporate partners, as well as with Museum of New Mexico and Department of Cultural Affairs leadership.

Membership

• Oversee the development and execution of a museum membership program serving 9,000 member households to maximize revenues supporting Foundation operations.

• Ensure strong and effective collaboration between membership and development functions.

• Ensure a high level of service to members and donors.

Financial and Operational Management:

• Responsibly manage the Foundation's $4.8M operating budget.

• Oversee financial reporting, audits, and risk management in collaboration with the Board and its relevant Committees.

• Optimize efficiency and effectiveness through strategic staffing, robust use of technology, and strong project management.

Board and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Partner with the Board to align governance with strategic priorities.

• Provide education and regular updates on Foundation performance, challenges, risks, and opportunities.

• Engage stakeholders to enhance realization of the Foundation's mission.

Team Leadership:

• Provide leadership and oversight of organizational staffing and culture, including supervision of senior staff and collaboration with the HR Manager on policies, talent development, change management and employee engagement.

• Recruit, mentor, and retain a highly skilled, experienced senior leadership team.

• Create and maintain a culture of constant improvement while maintaining best practices in programs and operations.

• Ensure staff adherence to ethical fundraising, membership, retail, and licensing practices.

Candidate Profile

The President/CEO of Museum of New Mexico Foundation will possess the following professional and personal qualities, skills and competencies:

Transformational Leadership: The next President/CEO must be a visionary leader with strategic planning and implementation skills, a future-focused mindset, and the ability to inspire and unify a diverse team across departments, sites, and communities.

Exceptional Relationship Builder: Strong interpersonal and political skills are essential. The role requires navigating complex public-private partnerships with diplomacy, humility, and poise. Success hinges on the ability to build and sustain relationships with trustees, state officials, donors, museum directors, staff, and volunteers.

Fundraising Expertise: Candidates must have direct experience in major gifts, capital campaigns, and donor stewardship. Familiarity with planned giving and comfort engaging high-capacity donors is vital. While a VP of Development is expected to be hired, the President/CEO must remain active in principal gift conversations and strategy.

Financial Acumen: Deep understanding of nonprofit finance, a focus on ROI, and data-informed decision making is expected. The President/CEO must understand how finances intersect with development, membership, retail, and operations, and be comfortable communicating with sophisticated donors and board members.

Public-Private Leadership: This role sits at the center of a unique ecosystem involving the state government, museums, and a robust Foundation structure. Candidates should be experienced in working with state agencies and understand the nuances of governance without direct control over museum operations.

Cultural Competence: A deep respect for New Mexico's cultural heritage, history, and communities is non-negotiable. The President/CEO must demonstrate cultural humility, curiosity, and willingness to learn and engage with Indigenous, Hispanic, and rural communities statewide.

Organizational Management: The President/CEO will lead a seasoned executive team and must be capable of providing high-level support, mentorship, and strategic alignment while resisting micromanagement. The ideal candidate can act as the bridge between staff and board, advocate for the team, and set a tone of transparency and professionalism.

Continuous Improvement & Staff Development: The President/CEO should foster a culture of continuous improvement and invest in professional development for staff, particularly in fundraising and membership integration.

Entrepreneurial & Strategic Risk-Taking: The new President/CEO should be a leader who is entrepreneurial, innovative, and not afraid to take calculated risks to adapt to evolving philanthropic and economic landscapes.

Transparency & Realism: The next President/CEO must communicate transparently with the board about internal challenges, capacity constraints, and funding realities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree

• 15+ years of demonstrated leadership experience in nonprofit administration with a focus on fundraising, financial oversight and external relations

• Proven track record of securing six- and seven-figure gifts, grants and sponsorships.

• A deep respect for cultural heritage, history, and communities, demonstrated through cultural humility, curiosity, and willingness to learn and engage with Indigenous, Hispanic, and rural communities statewide.

• Advocacy experience and/or history of working with state governments and public- private partnerships.

• Experience in overseeing marketing and communications efforts, including content development, PR, messaging, systems and channels.

• Experience in managing or collaborating across multiple sites or geographically distributed teams.

Compensation & Benefits

The compensation range for this role is $235,000 to $260,000, inclusive of a performance-based bonus, plus benefits including health insurance, retirement plan, professional development, and paid leave.

The Museum of New Mexico Foundation truly embraces diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity, both in our hiring practices and employee experiences. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. We strive to create a mindful and respectful environment where everyone can bring their authentic self to work and experience a culture free of harassment, racism and discrimination.

Contact

DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Anne McCarthy, Naree Viner and Stephen Milbauer. Express interest in this role by filling out our or emailing the search team directly at [email protected]. All inquiries and discussions are strictly confidential.

DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with

disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

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