Director of Development
Watershed School + Friends School
720-736-7339
Tami brings over 20 years of experience in fundraising, nonprofit leadership, and community engagement to her role as Director of Development at Watershed. Her background includes leading development and community engagement at Mackintosh Academy in Littleton, serving in key fundraising roles at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, and working as a consultant with Dini Spheris, a national development firm where she supported advancement efforts at independent schools across Colorado and nationwide.
Tami earned her B.S. in Business Administration from Auburn University and an M.A. in Nonprofit Management from the University of Georgia. She is a Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE), and has led multi-million-dollar campaigns, coached nonprofit leaders and boards, and built inclusive, mission-driven development programs. She has also served in leadership roles with the Institute for Leaders in Development, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and National Philanthropy Day.
Tami’s passion for philanthropy began early—she recalls making her first donation to the World Wildlife Fund at age eight, inspired by the panda on a mailer her family received. Raised with a strong value of service, she began volunteering at a young age and has carried that sense of purpose into her professional life. She believes that relationships are at the heart of meaningful impact and is committed to fostering a culture of giving grounded in connection, generosity, and shared values.
Outside of work, Tami loves exploring Colorado with her husband, Patrick, and their daughter, Zoe, through skiing, hiking, biking, and camping adventures. She’s a longtime advocate for animal adoption and currently shares her home with two retired racing greyhounds, Stiggy and Enzo, and an assortment of her daughter’s beloved pets. She also enjoys traveling the world, learning about other cultures, and finding inspiration in new places and people.
