Staff and Board
Come Work with Us!
Civic Center Conservancy is looking for a Development Coordinator to support annual giving and capital initiatives by managing donor communications, data, and event coordination. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree and 2-3 years of nonprofit development experience, demonstrating strong organizational and communication skills.
Who You Are
- You are a self-starter and resourceful problem-solver with a talent for identifying and addressing gaps to enhance our nonprofit’s fundraising efforts.
- You thrive in a collaborative small team environment; you also excel at working independently to manage multiple deadlines.
- Your keen interest in learning drives you to continue improving our development operations and communications as you work closely with our Development Director.
- You use organization and administrative support to bolster highly effective, collaborative teams.
Interested in interning with Civic Center Conservancy team? Now’s your chance! We are searching for an Activations Intern with interest in event production, and public space administration, and being a part of Summer programming in Civic Center Park!
Ready to Apply?
Qualified and interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume with the subject line “CCC Development Coordinator” to Sara Leitch, Development Director, at people@civiccenterconservancy.org. Please share your connection to parks or public spaces in your cover letter.
Work with Us
Dear Friends, Partners, Collaborators, and Community,
We are seeking a proposal from organizations, either individuals or teams, that can bring to life the important cultural celebration of Día de los Muertos to Civic Center Park on October 26, 2024. This “Partner” would lead the vision, planning, and execution of the event. Civic Center Conservancy would support the permitting processes, advise on best practices for putting on an event in the park, and provide some baseline funding.
We are seeking a Partner who has:
- Deep cultural connection and competency around the Día de los Muertos tradition
- A strong team, whether internal or through partnerships, that can execute the production of the event and provide curatorial and artistic direction.
- Excitement to continue this important celebration for Civic Center Park and Downtown Denver through their artistic stamp and direction.
- Commitment to amplifying Denver’s quality of life, civic and community engagement, and economic vitality
- Commitment to elevating vendors and performers from historically marginalized groups and communities. Ideally, their team composition also reflects representation from these groups.
Potential partners should submit their applications to activations@civiccenterconservancy.org by 6PM on June 28, 2024. Please see the Request for Proposals below.
Meet Our Team
Eric Lazzari
Executive Director
The Conservancy named Eric the Executive Director of the in November of 2019.
He joined the Civic Center Conservancy in November 2011, bringing extensive event operations and program management experience to his initial role as Director of Programs and Events. Eric was promoted to Director of Strategic Operations in May of 2018.
Eric is a proud member of the 2020 Class of Leadership Denver. He was also a member of the Downtown Denver Leadership Program’s 2014 class, where he was selected as the winner of the John Parr Leadership Award and elected by his peers as the class trustee.
Prior to joining the Conservancy, Eric served as the Program Operations Manager for USA Swimming in Colorado Springs, developing and managing various programs, clinics and series. He previously served as Director of Special Projects for the Metro Denver Sports Commission, leading event production for the 2008 Frozen Four and coordinating sponsorship development and activation for the CU vs. CSU Rocky Mountain Showdown. He received his bachelor’s degree in Leisure Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and his MBA from the University of Denver.
Sara Leitch
Development Director
Sara joined the Civic Center Conservancy in March 2021 as the development manager.
Prior to joining Civic Center Conservancy, she worked in individual giving at Prospect Park Alliance and general development at GrowNYC.
She brings with her experience engaging people in urban parks through membership programming, events, and philanthropy. Sara earned her B.A. in psychology from the University of Iowa, and her J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law. She resides in Denver with her young family and makes frequent use of Denver’s green spaces.
Eric Raya Steinbeiss
Director of Community Partnerships + Activation
Eric Raya Steinbeiss is coming to the Civic Center Conservancy from Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, where he was the Manager of STEM and Career Readiness Programs since 2020.
He grew up near Pasadena in the Los Angeles suburbs before attending the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a B.S. in Environmental Science, Policy, & Management. Eric has a long professional history in informal science education and positive youth development, having held positions at the Headlands Institute, California Academy of Sciences, Denver Zoo, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
While at DMNS, Eric developed his skills in organizing special events that activated the Museum’s public floors and exhibition spaces during their Free Days and other special events, along with spearheading the Museum’s presence at community fairs and festivals. Through this work, he developed and fostered many relationships with the diverse communities of Denver. An 11+ year resident of Denver, Eric has found ways to give back to our community through serving as a “Big” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, being a Community Representative in the James Bible Park public art selection process, and serving as Board Member and President of his alumni club the Rocky Mountain Golden Bears. In his spare time, Eric loves to garden, cook, travel, and explore the wonders of the natural world with his husband, Matt, and pup, Charlie.
Allison Galgiani
Event Success Coordinator
Allison Galgiani specializes in the planning, production, and management of arts and cultural programs and events. Before joining Civic Center Conservancy, Allison spent over a decade in the New York City fine art sector. Throughout her professional journey, she has been committed to creating experiences that encourage community engagement and connectivity.
Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Allison received her B.A. in Art History and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Arizona and holds an M.A. from Christie’s Education New York. In 2021, Allison relocated to Denver, where she enjoys the city’s vibrant cultural offerings and spending time in the mountains. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Access Gallery, a nonprofit organization that provides educational and economic opportunities for people with disabilities.
