Coronado Nonprofit Leader Roundtable Celebrates One Year of Collaboration

May 20, 2026

Hosted by the Coronado Chamber of Commerce and Rena Clancy, Coronado Nonprofit Leaders gathered Thursday, May 14th, at The Henry to kick off year two of the Coronado Nonprofit Leaders Roundtable meetings. Left to Right: Erin Peterson, Kerri Dowling, Helen Kupka, Michelle Gilmore, Cathy Brown, Christine Stokes, Inge Cornejo, Carie Rodgers, Carla Bacon, Emily Foster, Rena Clancy, Stephanie Anderson, Elena Vizuet, Danielle Maske, Arlene Ventimiglia,  Tim Chin, Linda Edison, Bo Blumenthal, and Samecia Harbaugh.

Since its founding, the Coronado Community Foundation has believed in the power of partnership.

In March 2025, CCF hosted the first Coronado Nonprofit Leader Roundtable, bringing together Executive Directors, CEOs, and Board Presidents from local nonprofit organizations. This gathering marked the start of a collaborative effort to unite nonprofit leaders around a shared vision: strengthening a thriving Coronado community. Held quarterly, the Roundtable brings that vision to life by creating a dedicated space for leaders to exchange ideas, share insights, refine their skills, and engage in meaningful discussions that support our community.

With over 45 registered nonprofit organizations in Coronado, the leaders welcome a chance to connect, collaborate, and strategize on shared challenges in a roundtable format. "At the first meeting, we surveyed the nonprofit leaders to assess what would be meaningful and worthwhile in terms of content, speakers, discussion topics, and expert presentations," shared Michelle Gilmore, CEO of the Coronado Community Foundation. "The goal was to be a true Roundtable group with shared leadership and collective decision-making to maximize value." Each participating nonprofit has the opportunity to step into the spotlight by co-hosting a Roundtable, securing a venue, providing light refreshments, and opening the meeting with a welcome that highlights their mission and the impact of their work.

In just four quarterly meetings, new partnerships have been created, community events have expanded to welcome nonprofit visibility and support. From the PAWS Ruff Run, where nonprofits were invited to attend and host a booth for free, to Safe Harbor Coronado's chili cook-off, where nonprofits were invited to submit a chili entry to the fierce competition, to the Coronado Floral Association's Annual Flower Show, where nonprofits were invited to host a booth and activity to share their missions with the thousands who attended, the strength in building community through nonprofit leadership and welcoming partners seems to know no bounds.

Following the kick-off Nonprofit Leaders Roundtable in early 2025, Christine Stokes, Executive Director of the Coronado Historical Association, shared, "The Coronado Community Foundation's inaugural NPO roundtable was an incredibly valuable experience for our local nonprofit community. It provided a unique platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and identifying shared challenges and opportunities. I believe this initiative has the potential to significantly strengthen our nonprofit sector and enhance our collective impact in Coronado. The CCF's commitment to building capacity within our organizations is truly commendable, and I'm excited to see how this roundtable evolves and benefits our community."

For more information on the Coronado Nonprofit Roundtable Quarterly meetings, please contact info@ccfcoronado.org.

In Attendance:

Coronado Playhouse 

Coronado Chamber of Commerce

The Henry

Coronado Community Foundation

Coronado Promenade Concerts

Coronado Historical Association

Coronado Main Street

Strength in Service

FOCUS

United for Reading

Rotary Club of Coronado

Musica Vitale

Coronado Philharmonia Orchestra

Safe Harbor Coronado

Coronado School of the Arts (COSA)

Emerald Keepers

Coronado Optimist Club

Coronado Junior Women's Club