WHO WE ARE
home
AN AMAZING PLACE WE CALL
You feel the magic of Coronado when you drive over the bridge. The San Diego skyline glitters nearby, the beach beckons ahead and the Grand Dame, the Hotel Del Coronado, anchors its history.
We’re a mix of residents, military staff and visitors joined together in this special place that is just 3.5 square miles, bounded by the Pacific Ocean and the San Diego Bay.
It would be hard not to love Coronado. And we do love it. City government works here. Residents are engaged. Volunteers are active. Nonprofit organizations are changing lives. The military watches over our country, while we keep an eye on ways to support military families.
Since 2021, CCF has been working to address unmet needs in our community by partnering with nonprofits, city government, organizations and individuals. Our initiatives and grants strengthen our community as well as build capacity and capability in our partner nonprofit organizations.

MEET OUR STAFF

MICHELLE GILMORE, CFRE
CEO
Michelle Gilmore is an accomplished fundraising professional and nonprofit leader. Following ten years as a K-12 educator, Michelle merged her education-focused background with fundraising savvy to make a difference. She has worked as a senior development director at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and CEO of the Coronado Schools Foundation. She co-authored the book Eventology, The Science Behind Non Profit Fundraising, hosted workshops and trainings throughout Southern California, and held positions on multiple boards. Through her work, Michelle has raised millions of dollars for nonprofit organizations. San Diego locals, Michelle and her husband, Ted, raised their three boys in Coronado and are proud to call Coronado their home.

DELANEY DAVENPORT
Project Manger
Coronado High School Alumni
Nonprofit & Digital Marketing
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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HELEN KUPKA
BOARD PRESIDENT
CEO Gelzer Systems Company, Co-Founder TLA Technology (ret)

BILL LOWMAN
BOARD SECRETARY
President Emeritus, Idyllwilld Arts Foundation, Founder; Idyllwild Arts Academy

MISSY COOK
BOARD TREASURER
Attorney, Owner; Coast Benefits

WHITNEY BENZIAN
DIRECTOR
Former Coronado City Councilmember; Realtor, Douglas Elliman

SUSIE KEENEY
DIRECTOR
College Admissions Coach; Community Leader

ARIE VAN VUGT
DIRECTOR
Community Leader, Rotarian, Volunteers with Coronado Yacht Club and Coronado Hospital Foundation
MEET OUR ADVISORS

BILL LOWMAN
CHAIR
President Emeritus, Idyllwilld Arts Foundation, Founder; Idyllwild Arts Academy

DICK ARNOLD
ADVISOR
USN (ret), Commanding Officer, Science Application Intl' Corp Fleet Training Advisor

SHEILA BRAUN
ADVISOR, FINANCIAL COMMITTEE
Financial Advisor, CPA

JAMES O'CONNOR
ADVISOR
President and Managing Member of Capital Advisory

INGE CORNEJO
ADVISOR
Community Volunteer

MALIA ADLER PFISTER, MSW
ADVISOR
Nonprofit Consultant
DEEP San Diego Board Member

CLIFFORD HOLLANDER, PhD
ADVISOR
The Hollander Group,
President & CEO
Technical consulting Specialties:
Large-Scale Systems, Metrics,
AI & Secure Communications

LAURA DEITRICK
ADVISOR
Executive Director of The Non-Profit Institute, USD
