Merridee Book Joins World NGO Day Global Council as Executive Advisor

Coronado Island Film Festival CEO & Artistic Director from Southern California Joins International Advisory Body Advancing Recognition of the People, Stories and Impact Behind the Global Nonprofit Sector

California, USA — July 13, 2026

The Founder of World NGO Day today announced the appointment of Merridee Book, CEO & Artistic Director of the Coronado Island Film Festival, as an Executive Advisor to the World NGO Day Global Council.

Her appointment brings extensive experience in arts leadership, nonprofit development, cultural engagement and strategic partnerships to the international advisory body dedicated to strengthening recognition, collaboration and visibility across the global civil society community.

About Merridee Book

Merridee Book serves as CEO & Artistic Director of the Coronado Island Film Festival in California, where she leads efforts to celebrate cinema, creativity and meaningful storytelling through a respected Southern California cultural platform connecting filmmakers, artists, industry professionals and audiences.

Under her leadership, the festival has grown far beyond its Southern California roots into a truly international platform, screening critically acclaimed studio films alongside independent features and documentaries that shape cultural perceptions and narratives. Recent international standouts have included The Tale of Silyan, the animated feature Flow, Sugarcane, The Seed of the Sacred Fig and Shayda — reflecting the festival’s commitment to championing powerful stories from filmmakers around the world alongside emerging creative voices.

The Coronado Island Film Festival has grown into a vital cultural gathering within Southern California, creating a space where cinematic excellence, cultural exchange and community engagement intersect. Through screenings, educational initiatives and conversations around film and storytelling, the festival demonstrates the power of creative expression to connect communities and inspire dialogue.

Prior to joining the Coronado Island Film Festival, Book co-founded a diversified media company and went on to serve as Vice President of Development at the San Diego International Film Festival, where she contributed to nonprofit growth, fundraising, community engagement and organizational development within the arts and cultural sector.

Throughout her career, Book has worked at the intersection of media, arts, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, strategic partnerships and storytelling. Her experience reflects the important role cultural organizations play in strengthening communities, preserving narratives and creating opportunities for meaningful public engagement.

Why Her Appointment Matters

Storytelling has long been a powerful force in strengthening civil society. Across cultures and communities, stories help people understand challenges, recognize solutions and connect with individuals and organizations working to create positive change.

Merridee Book’s appointment reflects the growing importance of arts and culture in advancing the visibility and recognition of nonprofit organizations and community initiatives. Her background provides valuable insight into how storytelling, media and cultural engagement can help amplify the voices of organizations and individuals whose work often takes place beyond the public spotlight.

Through her role as Executive Advisor, Book will contribute to conversations around strategic communications, cultural leadership, nonprofit partnerships and public engagement, supporting World NGO Day’s broader mission of recognizing the people and organizations working to address social, humanitarian and community challenges around the world.

 

“Art and impact converge when a single story is given room to be seen. World NGO Day does something remarkably similar, uniting communities across 145 countries and countless languages around one shared purpose. Helping preserve that legacy means ensuring that the changemakers behind these organizations receive the recognition they deserve, because their work represents some of the most meaningful stories of our time.”

 

“Film and media have taught me that the most powerful stories are the ones that move people to act, and NGOs are where that action lives every single day. Serving as an Executive Advisor allows me to bring a storyteller’s perspective on narrative, visibility and recognition to a global community of changemakers whose work deserves greater attention.”

— Merridee Book

CEO & Artistic Director, Coronado Island Film Festival

 

“Civil society is built not only through action, but also through memory, recognition and the stories we preserve. The work of NGOs represents millions of individual acts of commitment, compassion and leadership that deserve to be documented and shared with the world. Merridee’s experience in arts, culture and storytelling brings an important perspective to the Global Council as we continue building greater visibility for the people behind nonprofit impact and preserving the history of those who serve communities globally.”

 

— Marcis Skadmanis

Founder of World NGO Day

 

About the World NGO Day Global Council

The World NGO Day Global Council is an international advisory body bringing together leaders from organizations, museums, arts institutions, philanthropy, education, technology, communications and business.

The Council exists to strengthen the global recognition, collaboration and long-term development of World NGO Day while supporting initiatives that advance awareness of civil society’s contribution worldwide.

The Global Council includes senior leaders from respected institutions and organizations, including the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois, USA; the Ulrich Museum of Art in Wichita, Kansas, USA; and the American Battlefield Trust in Washington, D.C., USA.

Council members participate in their individual advisory capacities, contributing their professional expertise and experience across diverse sectors.