ABQ Community Foundation, NM Community Trust appoint new president and CEO

Marisa Magallanez said she never thought she’d become a CEO one day when she was a college student, but her love for community engagement led her down that path.

“I found an energy in that community experience and, without even understanding at the time, what kind of career trajectory that would put me on,” Magallanez said.

On Jan. 1, Magallanez stepped into the role of president and CEO of the Albuquerque Community Foundation and New Mexico Community Trust. Her predecessor, Randy Royster, held the position from 2005 to his retirement Dec. 31.

Magallanez said the sister organizations are nonprofits serving New Mexico communities by creating equitable opportunities and providing financial support. She’s worked with the ABQ Community Foundation since 2019, holding positions as advancement manager, advancement director, vice president of strategy and equity and chief operating officer, all of which led to a deeper understanding of the group, she said.

“It’s not lost on me that a community foundation that has a permanent endowment will be here for the long term,” Magallanez said. “And I get to come in for, I hope, a long time and really put my thumbprint on the organization.”

Founded in 1981, Magallanez said ABQ Community Foundation members over the last 40 years have “built an incredible organization.” In 2019, she said the team had 11 people and they had about $100 million in assets under management. Now, Magallanez has about 20 staffers and manages nearly $190 million.

“The whole premise of that growth is how it impacts the community,” Magallanez said. “I love to think about investments that we might have made, well before my time, in organizations that are thriving today. (It’s) just the small part we play in helping nonprofits do their really important work.”

Magallanez brings over 20 years of nonprofit management experience to her new role, beginning with an internship at the National Institute of Flamenco in 2005.

“My whole career has been spent in the nonprofit sector. It was a fantastic experience and journey,” Magallanez said. “Through the institute, I really found out about the power of community and what it means to build something that was vibrant — that connected all sorts of people.”

But the organizations cannot build stronger communities alone, Magallanez said. Rather, it takes relationship building between donors, funding partners, businesses and governments to be the “bigger change” for New Mexico.

In fact, fostering relationships is her favorite part of the role, she said, whether it be within the team or with outside community partners.

Approaching a week in her new role, Magallanez said she “hit the ground running” with inspiration and energy. Familiarity with the organizations and about six months of transitioning allowed Magallanez to immediately utilize every “tool in their toolbox.”

Magallanez said she ends her days feeling “good tired.”

“Yes, there’s a lot to do and there’s a lot of challenges that we’re facing … I’m reminded of the promise of our community,” Magallanez said. “That is a never-ending well of inspiration.”

Hannah García covers tech and energy for the Journal. You can reach her at hgarcia@abqjournal.com.