Sparking Passions, Shaping Legacies
“Creating positive community change has to be a collaborative effort.”
For Jane M. Conover, these words define a vibrant York County. As president and CEO of York County Community Foundation (YCCF), Conover leads this nonprofit organization whose mission is to create a vibrant York County by engaging donors, providing community leadership and investing in high-impact initiatives while building endowment for future generations.
“Whatever your passion, we can make it your legacy” is more than just a YCCF tagline. Here in York County, YCCF — through the work of its staff, board of directors and committee volunteers — supports more than 350 nonprofits serving close to 100,000 people per year. It accomplishes this work by stewarding endowed funds from generous donors who care about supporting York County during and after their lifetimes through charitable giving. “We’re 100 percent committed to carrying out the wishes of our donors,” she adds.
In 2017, YCCF received $7.9 million in donor gifts. It created 15 new funds that support a better York County and awarded $5.3 million in grants to nonprofits.
Community foundations, Conover says, are becoming the central hub for community problem solving. YCCF helps shine a spotlight on community needs and addresses challenges through dialogue, sparking ideas into action and awarding grants to charitable organizations doing meaningful work. Supporting education and workforce development efforts like those offered at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College, for example, is one of many ways YCCF strengthens our community each day.
Conover — who joined YCCF in 2010 and has served as president and CEO for the past three years — says she wants her own legacy to be that of “a bridge builder, serving as a connector to maximize the impact of collaborations. I’m excited by fresh ways of thinking, and by people willing to take risks and do something bigger than themselves. There’s a momentum for change in York — breaking down barriers to progress. Our ‘can-do’ attitude bodes well for the future of the county.”
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