Pamela Weese Powell
Albuquerque
Summary
Nonprofit executive with a track record of increasing revenue by 52% and securing estates from $1M -$17M. Expertise in leading cross-functional teams and executing strategic campaigns that drive organizational growth and sustainability while fostering key relationships with high net-worth individuals.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Development and Marketing
Animal Humane New Mexico
01.2024 - Current
- Lead Development, Marketing, Events, and Communications departments with oversight of 10 direct reports.
- Increased departmental revenue by 52% in FY2025 through integrated multi-channel fundraising campaigns and strategic donor engagement.
- Developed and executed annual fundraising strategy integrating direct mail, corporate partnerships, digital campaigns, donor stewardship, and event fundraising to enhance overall revenue generation.
- Led cross-functional campaign and communications planning to align organizational efforts with revenue growth objectives, ensuring achievement of annual fundraising targets.
- Managed partnership with RKD direct mail agency, achieving 25% over annual fundraising goal in FY2025.
- Expanded corporate partnerships program, increasing cause marketing revenue from $15K to $158K within one fiscal year.
- Secured and cultivated new business partnerships and major donor relationships, contributing to organizational growth and sustainability.
- Directed CRM transition from DonorPerfect to Virtuous AI CRM, increasing operational efficiency and reducing administrative workload by 40%.
Director of Philanthropy
Santa Fe Humane Society
11.2022 - 01.2024
- Oversaw development, marketing, and communications operations for $8 million annual fundraising portfolio, driving strategic initiatives for revenue growth.
- Directed four annual fundraising campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, direct mail, digital fundraising, corporate and foundation relations, and special events.
- Stewarded a transformational $17 million estate gift in partnership with legal counsel and estate representatives.
- Managed donor cultivation strategy, engaging major donors through personalized outreach and fostering executive-level relationships to enhance giving.
- Successfully secured $510,000 in state capital outlay funding through legislative and executive relationship management.
- Supervised cross-functional fundraising and communications staff to achieve aggressive revenue objectives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Led organizational communications strategy during a six-month public relations crisis.
Capital Campaign Consultant
Sawmill Center for the Arts
10.2021 - 07.2022
- Led fundraising strategy and campaign operations for a multimillion-dollar capital campaign that raised more than $7 million.
- Secured funding from diverse sources including state government, county leadership, municipal partners, foundations, corporations, and individual donors, enhancing campaign financial stability.
- Developed moves management systems and donor tracking processes that improved prospect cultivation and stewardship effectiveness.
- Organized donor engagement events and volunteer leadership activities to increase campaign support and elevate visibility among stakeholders.
Organizational Management Consultant
Locker #505
11.2020 - 01.2022
- Collaborated with Board of Directors and Executive Director to create and execute comprehensive three-year strategic growth plan.
- Increased grant funding from $10,000 annually to more than $100,000 annually within two years.
- Secured corporate sponsorships and partnerships, driving significant revenue growth.
- Led organizational development initiatives focused on financial sustainability, donor engagement, community expansion, and governance.
- Facilitated board retreats and leadership development initiatives, enhancing organizational capacity and regional impact.
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico
12.2018 - 07.2019
- Led organization through financial turnaround, eliminating more than $900,000 in debt within seven months.
- Secured largest unrestricted donation in organization history, significantly impacting financial stability.
- Raised $656,000 through grants, donor cultivation, events, and strategic funding partnerships.
- Cultivated strategic relationships with major institutional funders, community leaders, and corporate partners to enhance funding opportunities.
- Oversaw 63 staff across six locations, fostering accountability and operational efficiency to support organizational goals.
Chief Development Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico
11.2018 - 12.2018
- Conducted organizational assessment of fundraising, operations, culture, and financial systems to inform executive leadership and board decisions.
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance youth engagement and program development.
- Collaborated with community partners to secure resources and funding for programs.
- Oversaw staff training and development to improve service delivery standards.
Director of Business Development
Verge Fund & ABQid
08.2014 - 05.2016
- Raised $4.8 million in startup and innovation funding through corporate, foundation, investor, and government partnerships.
- Collaborated with executive leaders and investors to drive strategic fundraising efforts and enhance visibility of high-profile public events.
- Developed sponsorship and community engagement strategies to maximize impact of major regional initiatives.
Director of Development
UNM School of Engineering
03.2013 - 08.2014
- Raised a record $2.3 million in one year, exceeding previous fundraising benchmarks by 15%.
- Cultivated and solicited major donor prospects, developing donor stewardship initiatives and fundraising events to enhance donor engagement.
- Led fundraising initiatives to support engineering programs and research projects.
- Developed strategic partnerships with industry leaders to enhance program visibility.
- Managed donor relations, ensuring effective communication and engagement strategies.
Foundation Relations Manager
Best Friends Animal Society
09.2010 - 12.2011
- Oversaw grant strategy, proposal development, and donor stewardship initiatives nationwide to maximize support.
- Exceeded fundraising goals by more than 25%.
- Cultivated relationships with over 85 foundations and corporate donors to enhance funding opportunities.
Education
Master of Fine Arts -
Hunter College
Bachelor of Fine Arts -
University of New Mexico
Skills
- Major gifts solicitation
- Major gifts and donor stewardship
- Campaign development and expansion
- Capital campaigns
- Event fundraising
- Annual Giving Programs
- Fundraising expertise
- Corporate partnerships
- Foundation and government relations
- Volunteer and board engagement
- Campaign execution
- Revenue growth strategy
- Marketing strategy
- Public relations and communications
- CRM integration
- Data management
- Data analysis
- Budget and operational oversight
- Crisis management
- Executive leadership
- Strategic thinking
- Nonprofit management
- Board relations
- Organizational skills
- Annual Giving Programs
Community Leadership
Chief Executive Officer (Volunteer), Dakota Tree Project, 2020-Present - Co-founded environmental nonprofit focused on urban tree equity and environmental sustainability in underserved Albuquerque communities. Built strategic partnerships with government agencies, nonprofits, and environmental organizations., Led volunteer engagement and community stewardship initiatives resulting in more than 400 trees planted throughout Albuquerque.
Board Member and Chair, Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, 2015-2021
Board Member Albuquerque Museum Foundation 2022-2025
Board Member and Chair, Paws and Stripes, 2016-2021
Accomplishments
- 2026 Speaker at Virtuous Responsive Summit, Dallas Texas
- 2016 Named Woman of Influence by ABQ Business Journal
Timeline
Director of Development and Marketing
Animal Humane New Mexico
01.2024 - Current
Director of Philanthropy
Santa Fe Humane Society
11.2022 - 01.2024
Capital Campaign Consultant
Sawmill Center for the Arts
10.2021 - 07.2022
Organizational Management Consultant
Locker #505
11.2020 - 01.2022
Interim Chief Executive Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico
12.2018 - 07.2019
Chief Development Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico
11.2018 - 12.2018
Director of Business Development
Verge Fund & ABQid
08.2014 - 05.2016
Director of Development
UNM School of Engineering
03.2013 - 08.2014
Foundation Relations Manager
Best Friends Animal Society
09.2010 - 12.2011
Master of Fine Arts -
Hunter College
Bachelor of Fine Arts -
University of New Mexico