Erin Lively Koppel

Erin Lively Koppel is a strategic fundraising expert focused on planning and executing transformative projects for cultural institutions and historic venues.

Erin has over two decades of experience leading complex, multi-phase fundraising initiatives and managing high-level volunteer leadership. As a strategic consultant and director, she has guided organizations through every stage of the campaign lifecycle from prospect planning to recognition.

Erin's foundational experience includes a two-decade tenure at the renowned Lyric Opera of Chicago. While there, she was instrumental in exceeding annual fund goals of over $15 million directing all donor engagement and retention efforts; designing a $50 million campaign to increase the endowment via planned gifts; and personally securing six- and seven-figure gifts. As Deputy Director of Development and Director of the Women’s Board, she drove significant annual revenue through events netting over $5 million in her final year with the company.

This operational expertise is supplemented by her time at Tessitura Network, a non-profit technology company serving arts and culture exclusively, where she gained a panoramic view of the entire arts fundraising ecosystem. In this role, she coached and mentored development teams across the global Tessitura community, helping them refine their data-driven strategies and implement best practices to increase annual and major gift revenue. This also ensured she is proficient in leveraging modern donor management systems, including Patron Manager, to maximize data-driven results.

Since January 2023, she has partnered with The Grand Theater in Wausau, Wisconsin, where she serves as campaign counsel for their Second Century Capital Campaign. The Grand was founded in 1927 and as an historic theater, has many parallels to Miller Hall. The Second Century campaign successfully raised $17 million to date towards a goal of $17.5 million in the past two years.

She specializes in designing systems for prospect pipeline management, ensuring board accountability, and translating feasibility study findings into actionable solicitation strategies. She brings extensive experience mobilizing senior volunteer committees (Board members, community leaders, and patrons) to secure lead gifts, having delivered executive training programs on topics including major gift solicitation and campaign readiness for numerous nonprofit boards and fundraising teams.

Erin earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Dayton and pursued graduate studies in Arts Administration at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.