San Diego Pride executive director resigns amid financial crisis

KishaLynn Elliott, the executive director of San Diego Pride, will resign in November following the announcement of a significant six-figure deficit. The organization is facing substantial financial challenges, including reduced corporate sponsorships, decreased grant funding from local and federal sources, and rising security costs due to threats against the LGBTQ+ community.

To stabilize the organization, San Diego Pride plans to implement significant staff cuts, reducing its workforce from 14 employees to three part-time staff members. The volunteer board will transition from a governance role to handling daily operations to manage the shortfall.

Board members have described the current operational model as unsustainable, noting that permit costs for events in Balboa Park tripled in 2026, alongside increased fees for police and fire monitoring. While the parade and festival are expected to continue in 2027, leadership indicated the events may return to a smaller, grassroots, volunteer-run format to ensure long-term viability.