Corey McDaniel

Corey McDaniel joined CWB in 2025 bringing over two decades of experience leading nonprofit organizations across the arts, education, and human service sectors. A seasoned educator, fundraiser, and strategist, he has helped raise millions in support of mission-driven work through grants, sponsorships, individual giving, and community events.

Before coming to CWB, Corey served as Director of Philanthropy at Icicle Creek Center for the Arts in Leavenworth and Director of Development at Harlequin Productions in Olympia. He is also the founding Producing Artistic Director of Seattle’s Theatre22, which he led for ten years—building a vibrant community around inclusive, healing-centered storytelling.

Corey’s connection to boats and the water began in childhood. His father managed a marina on Lake Travis in Texas’s Hill Country where he spent his days helping with rentals, walking the docks, and falling in love with life on the water. That early connection to place and shared experience continues to fuel his commitment to building strong, inclusive communities.

At CWB, Corey leads all development efforts, including marketing & communications,  fundraising strategies, donor engagement, grant writing, and special campaigns that preserve and expand access to our region’s maritime heritage. He believes that boats—like stories—bring people together, and that community is both the reason and the reward for this work.

Outside of CWB, Corey is often directing theatre, spending time with his Aussie Doodle Ripley, or simply enjoying all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer—especially when it involves great people, good food, and a waterfront view.