Chief Development Officer
Bonnie Brae

Located in Liberty Corner, NJ, the campus-based residential program and special education school provides comprehensive care for at-risk youth and families throughout New Jersey. Bonnie Brae offers crises stabilization, clinical treatment, education, recreation, aftercare services, work experience, and integrated health services to boys between the ages of 12-21.

In addition to the main campus programs, Bonnie Brae has three community-based transitional residential treatment programs which provide independent living skills to young men transitioning from residential treatment back into the community. Across locations, Bonnie Brae serves up to 124 youth at a time, 98 on the main campus; 8 at the Community Based Transitional Home in New Brunswick, the Powers House; 8 at the Community Based Transitional Home in Bound Brook, the Van Houten House; and 5 at the Community Based Transitional Home in Bridgewater, the Brozowski House and 5 at the Crises Stabilization program in Chester, Cherry Lane.

Within the past 20 years, Bonnie Brae has more than doubled the number of youth it serves each year and aims to keep the growth on an upward trajectory by expanding the unique continuum of care it offers to include more community-based services.

Alumni surveys and studies continue to prove the lasting impact of a Bonnie Brae experience. 

When boys arrive at Bonnie Brae:

• 69% had been runaways averaging 5.8 placements before coming to Bonnie Brae;
• 67% had been abused, neglected or witnessed violence inside or outside the home;
• 70% were taking psychotropic medications;
• 94% had school problems including multiple suspensions, expulsions and truancy.

When boys leave Bonnie Brae:

• 100% of all eligible Bonnie Brae seniors graduated from Bonnie Brae high school compared to the statewide average of 83%.
• 80% graduated successfully from their program;
• 64% were reunified with their families and 67% felt Bonnie Brae helped them to get along better with family members, friends and other people;
• 46% decreased their psychotropic medications and an additional 21% were reduced to no psychotropic medications.

In their most recent survey of alumni who were discharged in 2020, the organization found that the Bonnie Brae experience has had lasting impact:

• 80% are living in the community in stable living arrangements.
• 75% are enrolled in high school or have graduated.
• 89% have had no contact with the criminal justice system.
• 66% are working part-time or full-time jobs in the community.

• Year Founded – 1916
   
• Organizational Governance – Bonnie Brae’s Board of Trustees is composed 17 members. The Board’s primary responsibilities include setting the strategic direction, guidance and support to the CEO, financial oversight, fundraising/resource development and risk management.
   
• President – Betty Cass-Schmidt
   
• Foundation Board – Bonnie Brae’s newly formed Foundation Board consists of 6 members. The Foundation has been created to focus on fundraising and financial growth to support the organization’s strategic goals and initiatives.
   
• Foundation President - Harry T. Osborne
   
• CEO - Paul Rieger
   
• Organizational Budget - $36m
   
• Investments - $50m
   
• Number of Employees – 313
   
• Website – https://www.bonnie-brae.org/
   
• Number of youth and their families served in 2023/24 – 273

Paul D. Rieger, MSW
Chief Executive Officer

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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Paul Rieger, is an experienced non-profit leader with 33 years of service to programs for youth and families, along with many other accomplishments. Paul has had remarkable success with developing and growing high quality/fiscally viable continuums of community based mental health programs and services. In addition to the CFO, COO and CDO, Paul also oversees the Medical Director, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, an Executive Assistant and the Director of Aftercare.

Paul began his tenure as CEO at Bonnie Brae in 2016. Since then, significant accomplishments include guiding the agency through a successful capital campaign that resulted in a new cottage and state of the art family center, sustaining full in-person residential and educational programing during the pandemic, expansion of programs with two crises centers - one that serves females and developed aftercare services that includes a mentoring program. He has presented nationally on a variety of mental health treatment and program topics. Paul currently serves as the President of both New Jersey Alliance for Children, Youth and Families (NJACYF) and the Association for Children’s Residential and Community-Based Services (ACRC). He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Holy Cross and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania.

Christian Whooley
Chief Operating Officer

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The Chief Operating Office (COO), Christian Whooley, is a seasoned administrator and licensed professional counselor who has twenty years of experience providing services for young men and women in inpatient, outpatient residential, alternative schools and community-based services. Chris oversees Operations, Education, Clinical, Residential, Community Residential and Nursing. Chris has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Staten Island and a master’s degree in counseling from Rider University.

Matt Nissen
Chief Financial Officer

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The Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Matt Nissen, is an experienced finance, accounting and strategy executive with over 15 years’ experience. He currently oversees the Accounting and Information Technology departments and is responsible for the direction of financial activities of the agency including coordination of budgets and auditing. Matt has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in business administration from Rider University.

• Collaborate with the CEO, Foundation Board members, and Board of Trustees to align development efforts with organizational priorities.
   
• Design and lead the organization’s comprehensive fundraising and development strategy, setting clear short- and long-term fundraising goals that align with these priorities and develop implementation objectives to achieve them.
   
• Work with the leadership team to effectively communicate the organization’s mission, vision, values, and strategic direction to internal and external audiences.
   
• Provide overall leadership responsibility for the Foundation, Development Department, and community relations activities focused on philanthropy.
   
• Lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the development team.
   
• Develop and implement strategies to achieve the foundation’s mission and goal of supporting the organization’s needs and advancing strategic growth into new program areas.
   
• Work with the CEO and Foundation Board to identify and recruit new Foundation Board Members.
   
• Design and implement a metrics-driven, cost-effective development program that includes: corporate and individual major gifts, event fundraising, sponsorships and monthly/annual giving. 
   
• Partner with the CEO and Foundation Board on long-term and multiyear fund-raising strategies; capital campaigns, planned giving, and endowments.
   
• Provide administrative oversight for donor cultivation, grant management, and relationships with corporate, family foundations, and government entities.
   
• Identify prospective donors to special project funds and supporters of ongoing operations through analysis of donor records, individual, foundation, and corporate contacts, and community knowledge.
   
• Collaborates with the CEO and CFO to align fundraising with budgetary needs. Ensure accountability and transparency in the use of funds raised.
   
• Oversee the development-related marketing and communication efforts including; website, social media and public relations/marketing materials to increase community awareness and enhance the organization’s image and promote philanthropic support.

• Minimum of eight years of proven experience in nonprofit fundraising.
   
• Minimum of five years of experience developing and leading development department staff.
   
• Experience in leading a development program raising seven figures or more annually.
   
• Track record of personally identifying, cultivating, and soliciting major gifts.
   
• Flexible and enthusiastic regarding change; persistent in overcoming obstacles to change.
   
• A demonstrated understanding of and appreciation for Bonnie Brae’s mission.
   
• Creative, innovative and able to devise new approaches to philanthropy.
   
• Experienced in collaborating with leadership teams, non-profit boards, volunteers, and community stakeholders.
   
• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree and/or CFRE preferred.
   
• Experience leading a foundation preferred.