Maryellen Missik-Tow
7637 Oakland Ave. NE, Albuquerque,New Mexico
Summary
Results-driven Development Director with over 15 years of experience in relationship fundraising and board management. Since 2010, secured over $20 million dollars to enhance philanthropic impact, elevate a major gift program, and increase community support. Committed to exceeding fundraising goals, and building long-term donor relationships with diverse groups, including staff, volunteers, donors, and community leaders.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Development Director
UNM Foundation, Popejoy Hall, Center for the Arts
Albuquerque, NM
10.2009 - Current
- Impactful storyteller. Crafted personalized donor narratives and stewardship reports that led to a 25% increase in repeat major gifts, directly connecting donor passions to program outcomes.
- Spearheaded and launched new outreach initiatives, Broadway for Teens, and Broadway for Veterans, resulting in a 2,000% increase in the program within three years.
- Exceeded $1 million in revenue targets for ten consecutive years.
- Acts as the primary face of the organization, conducting in-person or virtual meetings to secure significant gifts.
- Develops strategies to directly solicit and close individual principal gifts from $25,000 to over $1 million, to increase contributed revenue from annual, capital, and planned gifts.
- Grows a diverse portfolio of 125 to 150 individual, corporate donors, and prospects by building relationships with top-echelon supporters for the purpose of discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
- Recruits, motivates, and manages the performance of a 14-member board of directors in non-profit philanthropy.
- Increased board giving by 42% in 2025.
- Designs and executes a dynamic schedule of VIP donor events, including international donor trips with the Board of Directors, to enhance donor engagement, stewardship, and elevate giving.
- Adapts to challenges; able to pivot fundraising strategies during the 2020 theater closure by introducing the first online giving campaign that generated $90,000 in new revenue.
- Introduced "The 1966 Heritage Society" and launched the first planned giving program, ultimately closing $3 million from estate gifts.
- Matches donor's philanthropic interest to campaign needs, leading to increased financial commitment from signed pledge agreements that totaled almost $1 million for capital campaign.
- Prepares and negotiates comprehensive, complex fundraising proposals for major gift solicitation.
- Initiated business development strategies that elevated corporate sponsorship and naming opportunities to $400,000.
- Aligns donors with creative giving opportunities and secures naming opportunities for the first Universal Restroom on the UNM campus.
- Oversees all fundraising communication; ensures that messaging is compelling, consistent, and coordinated across all platforms.
- Works to engage a large and diverse community in the mission and programs of the theatre through successful networking and relationship-building.
Associate Director
UNM Foundation, UNM School of Medicine
Albuquerque, New Mexico
11.2006 - 10.2009
- Managed a robust annual giving program for the UNM School of Medicine's Center for Development and Disability.
- Initiated and executed the state's first Autism Town Hall and awarded $75,000 from Albuquerque Mayor Martin J. Chavez.
- Coordinated the 2008 and 2009 Mayor's Ball with the City of Albuquerque and awarded $100,000.
Graduate Advisor, School of Engineering
The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
09.2002 - 10.2006
- Guided over 275 graduate students through the UNM system to their best advantage from admission until graduation.
- Demonstrated leadership and innovation by implementing successful outreach programs for UNM engineering students that expanded educational and research partnerships with business and local tech industry.
President/CEO
Missik Personnel Consultants
Cedar Grove, NJ
08.1989 - 12.1997
- Led corporate recruitment and job placement for top financial institutions and fortune 500 firms across diverse industries in New York and New Jersey.
- Placed college graduates and mid-level management in permanent and temporary positions for financial institutions and international corporations on Wall Street.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Pace University
New York, NYSkills
- Major Gift Solicitation
- Board Management
- Capital Campaign
- Strategic Planning
- Relationship Fundraising
- Planned Giving
- Annual Appeal
- Corporate Sponsorships
- Marketing & Communication
- Volunteer Management
Certification
- 2021 Seize the Opportunity, Major Gift Fundraising Seminar, The Institute of Charitable Giving
- 2017 The Major Gift Roundtable, Major Gift Fundraising, The Institute of Charitable Giving
- 2016 Designing a Successful Capital Campaign, Major Gift Fundraising, The Institute of Charitable Giving
Timeline
Development Director
UNM Foundation, Popejoy Hall, Center for the Arts
10.2009 - Current
Associate Director
UNM Foundation, UNM School of Medicine
11.2006 - 10.2009
Graduate Advisor, School of Engineering
The University of New Mexico
09.2002 - 10.2006
President/CEO
Missik Personnel Consultants
08.1989 - 12.1997
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
Pace University