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WHO WE ARE

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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.

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MEET OUR STAFF

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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.

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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)

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BILL LOWMAN

BOARD SECRETARY

President Emeritus, Idyllwilld Arts Foundation, Founder; Idyllwild Arts Academy

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MISSY COOK

BOARD TREASURER

Attorney, Owner; Coast Benefits

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WHITNEY BENZIAN

DIRECTOR

Former Coronado City Councilmember; Realtor, Douglas Elliman

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SUSIE KEENEY

DIRECTOR

College Admissions Coach; Community Leader

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ARIE VAN VUGT

DIRECTOR

Community Leader, Rotarian, Volunteers with Coronado Yacht Club and Coronado Hospital Foundation

MEET OUR ADVISORS

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BILL LOWMAN

CHAIR

President Emeritus, Idyllwilld Arts Foundation, Founder; Idyllwild Arts Academy

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DICK ARNOLD

ADVISOR

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

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SHEILA BRAUN

ADVISOR, FINANCIAL COMMITTEE

Financial Advisor, CPA

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JAMES O'CONNOR

ADVISOR

President and Managing Member of Capital Advisory

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INGE CORNEJO

ADVISOR

Community Volunteer

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MALIA ADLER PFISTER, MSW

ADVISOR

Nonprofit Consultant 

DEEP San Diego Board Member 

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CLIFFORD HOLLANDER, PhD

ADVISOR

The Hollander Group, 

President & CEO 


Technical consulting Specialties:

Large-Scale Systems, Metrics,

AI & Secure Communications

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LAURA DEITRICK

ADVISOR

Executive Director of The Non-Profit Institute, USD

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