Meet the Staff: Introducing Nicki Ruiz de Luzuriaga, MENTOR’s new Chief Development Officer
October 7, 2024
Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background?
I have been working in the nonprofit sector for most of my professional life, always focused on children and youth who our society leaves behind. For most of my career I ran youth- and family-focused programs: I ran a mentoring program for middle school-aged Latina girls, a home visiting program for pregnant and parenting youth, a tutoring program for kids living in homeless shelters, and many others. Throughout I was focused on how transformational relationships—whether they are with paid staff, volunteer mentors, or friends and family members—are the “special sauce” that can give young people a brighter future.
In 2018 I shifted to a role similar to what I am now doing at MENTOR, focused on marketing, communications, and fundraising. I was motivated to make the transition because I knew how much good work was happening that wasn’t being scaled because of a lack of funding. I wanted to help great organizations realize their biggest dreams, and have as much impact as possible.
What does your new role entail? What are you most looking forward to?
As Chief Development Officer, I oversee all aspects of marketing, communications, and fundraising for MENTOR. In partnership with our Affiliates across the country, our wonderful team at MENTOR National, and all of our partners and supporters, we lift up the work of the mentoring sector generally and of MENTOR more specifically. We connect with individuals, foundations, and companies who want to make a real difference in young people’s lives, and make sure that the organization has the resources needed to thrive.
I am most looking forward to engaging with all of the wonderful people who have supported the organization over the years. I approach fundraising not as a transaction—like “I need you to give me $x so we can do y”—but as an opportunity to deeply engage with someone about the kind of impact they want to have. Mentoring is an approach that is backed by decades of research and evidence about its effectiveness. Who wouldn’t want to make sure that as many young people as possible have access to great mentors? There is a role for everyone to play in MENTOR’s mission.
What brought you to MENTOR?
I have a fundamental belief in the potential that every young person has, so the language on MENTOR’s home page immediately drew me in:
“We believe that potential is equally distributed, but opportunity is not. Every young person, regardless of their background, has inherent abilities and talents, but not everyone has equal access to the same resources and support systems they need.”
I have family that grew up very blue-collar, and I have family who is more well-off, and I am grateful for my bicultural upbringing because it really influenced my worldview. It has always been very obvious to me that some people have a lot more opportunity than others. Some people, because of their families’ connections and the privilege they enjoy, almost can’t fail. And for some people, opportunity seems totally unreachable. I am motivated to expand opportunity for all young people.
In addition, I have spent decades reading the research on what makes kids succeed, and I know that quality relationships are absolutely key to children’s growth, development, and later success. Children and youth’s brains actually develop through back and forth interactions between them and caring adults. They learn key skills—persistence, a sense of their place in the world, long-term thinking, and more—thought the scaffolding of the adults in their lives. So I see mentoring as an absolutely integral piece of the puzzle of closing gaps and ensuring every young person can succeed.
What gives you hope for young people in America?
Young people aren’t so tied to doing things a certain way just because that’s how it’s been done before. They can help us imagine a better, more equitable, and more sustainable future—if we take the time to listen.