Our Team

Founder

Bob Kelly served as the president and CEO of The San Diego Foundation, which provided leadership for effective philanthropy, for two decades. In that capacity, he oversaw all activities, programs and asset management during a time of significant growth and achievements that have benefitted the entire San Diego region.

Prior to joining The San Diego Foundation, Bob served as executive director of the American Cancer Society San Diego and vice president for Southern California. He also previously served as assistant to the president and senior vice president of Sharp HealthCare and chief operating officer for Sharp HealthCare Foundation. In addition, Bob was senior vice president for CCP and Associates, a comprehensive cancer center consulting firm.

Bob’s commitment to his community is clearly reflected in his many volunteer roles and services activities, including time spent as a board member of the San Diego Symphony Foundation, the San Diego Real Estate Foundation, Beauchamp Charities, the Children’s Initiative, and Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute. He is a past president of the UCSD Alumni Association and a former chair of the Sharp HealthCare board, League of California Community Foundations, Youth for Progress, and San Diego Grantmakers. Bob has also served on the boards of the San Diego Chamber Foundation, the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, the Elsinore Cattle Co., the International Community Foundation, and the De Anza Country Club. He is a member of the Downtown Rotary and a graduate of UC San Diego.

His current positions include:

• Chairman, Borrego Valley Endowment Fund
• Board member, Mingei International Museum
• Board member, San Diego Hunger Coalition
• Board member, Legler Benbough Foundation
• Board member, Voice of San Diego
• One of nine committee members, Rotary International ($1.5 billion assets under management)

Bob is the principal of BK Foundation Advisors, a philanthropic consulting firm working with foundations, corporations, individuals and families.

Co-Founder, Chief Financial & Operating Officer

Jerry Ray is an administrative and financial professional, with demonstrated success serving multimillion-dollar nonprofit organizations for more than 37 years, as both a senior executive and consultant. He has held C-level positions in a number of nonprofit organizations, including the San Diego Foundation and the San Diego Rock Church.

Jerry is motivated by making a meaningful and practical difference in the lives of others, and highly values excellence and effectiveness in the work environment. His leadership style is focused through the lens of mission, vision and strategy. His strengths include team building and efficient utilization of people toward a strategic direction, well-thought-out decision making in the context of vision, sound financial management, and creating a solid foundation of organizational structure. He enjoys the challenge of leading and managing the growth, operations. and financial strength and stability of emerging or expanding organizations, and working in an environment where he can apply his skills and managerial talents over a broad spectrum of functional areas and activities.

Jerry has assisted in the formation of six nonprofit organizations, serving on the board of four of them. He holds an MBA from San Diego State University.

Chief Programs & Community Engagement Officer

Joe Gavin joined the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation in December 2018. Previously, Joe worked for over 7 years at Serving Seniors, a San Diego nonprofit dedicated to helping seniors in poverty live healthy fulfilling lives. His most recent role was director of integrated services, overseeing all programs provided by the interdisciplinary team at the organization’s flagship community site, the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center.

Joe was instrumental in the development, operationalization and implementation of the collaborative project between Serving Seniors and the West Senior Dental Center. As Serving Seniors’ lead administrator on this project, Joe supervised a team of interdisciplinary professionals that weaved wellness services with affordable, high quality dental services for older adults with limited access to care. More than 900 older adults received comprehensive services during Joe’s tenure.

Joe demonstrated his versatility as Serving Seniors’ lead manager on the rehabilitation of a 155-unit building that required the temporary relocation of more than 175 residents for several months. This partnership with Westminster Manor, Chelsea Investment Corp., and Serving Seniors required significant investment to ensure the well-being of a culturally and age-diverse population. In 2015, the project earned a nomination for a national award for building redevelopment.

At SDSCF, Joe brings a thorough knowledge of San Diego’s older adult network, as well as expertise on programs/services, older adult infrastructure, and the biopsychosocial gerontological environment. Joe will establish relationships with a variety of community stakeholders, conduct environmental assessments, and create content that will support SDSCF in its mission to transition the local senior population from vulnerable to vibrant.

Joe holds a B.S. in psychology from Governors State University in University Park, Illinois, and a M.S. in gerontology from San Diego State University.

Director of Partnerships

Kristoffer has more than 15 years of experience in TV, media, video marketing, event productions, and nonprofit management. He is a third-generation San Diegan with deep love and ties in the San Diego philanthropic community.

Kristoffer brings his unique relationships, vision, and craftsmanship from his work in the global creative space to the philanthropy sector. Having worked with Silicon Valley giants and unicorns such as LinkedIn, Microsoft, AppDynamics (Cisco), Microfocus, Rubrik, and local entities such as the Salk Institute and Petco, Kristoffer understands the role of corporate social responsibility in empowering companies to connect to their communities through philanthropy.

Kris has served and volunteered with many nonprofits, including:

• Co-Director of the Life Through Art Foundation, which helped bring arts to inner-city youth
• Co-Chaired the Sanford Burnham Prebys Institute’s annual “Bring It!” event
• Head of Partnerships at the Hack n’ Smack Celeb Golf Tourney supporting Melanoma research
• Volunteer for Rady’s Children’s Hospital Charity Ball Event
• Video Chair of the Meals on Wheels San Diego annual fundraiser
• Development Coordinator for Junior Achievement

In total, Mr. Kelly’s fundraising efforts have generated over $1M in funds and partnerships.

Kristoffer is a new father of two, a graduate of LEAD San Diego’s Impact class of 2020, a Herbert G. Klein Memorial Leadership Award recipient, and he holds a BFA from Chapman University.

At SDSCF, Kristoffer is responsible for connecting people, companies and causes to make a positive impact on the lives of seniors living in the San Diego region. He looks forward to meeting with you and seeing how we can partner to help seniors together.