Erin Wenzel Email and Phone Number

My professional career has been rooted in the non-profit sector since day one, working as a production stage manager at prominent Chicago theatres for several years. Becoming a Development professional nearly 18 years ago, I discovered a new outlet for the skills I’d developed as a stage manager, namely project management, interpersonal communication, creativity, and collaboration as well as executing at a high level. My passion for philanthropy has grown exponentially ever since, as I have observed its transformational impact on the organizations for whom I have worked and the communities in which I have lived.For the past eight years, I have worked as Director of Development for Opera Colorado, reporting directly to the General & Artistic Director and crafting the vision and overall fundraising strategy for the organization. In this role, I build and nurture donor relationships, and have met or exceeded annual fundraising goals year after year. As a member of the senior leadership team, I work in close collaboration with colleagues to reach all company objectives. Opera Colorado’s works hard every day to remove barriers to make programming accessible and affordable, and sharing stories that excite and connect us in meaningful ways. Along with managing Opera Colorado’s development team and liaising with the Development Committee of the Board of Directors, for the past two years I have worked as a mentor for the University of Denver’s Institute for Leaders in Development (ILD), a unique professional development program that identifies Colorado’s emerging non-profit fundraising leaders and prepares them for the future. Helping to develop the next generation of fundraisers is one of my great passions, and a year ago, I joined the ILD faculty, co-teaching a session on effective donor stewardship.