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York County Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.6M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,600,000 (2023)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $50,000
  • Typical Grant: $5,000 - $20,000
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months
  • Geographic Focus: York County, Pennsylvania
  • Application Method: Rolling basis with three annual deadlines

Contact Details

Address: 14 West Market Street, York, PA 17401
Phone: (717) 848-3733
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://yccf.org/
Grant Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=yorkcounty
Grants Administrator: Layla Boyce

Overview

York County Community Foundation (YCCF) was established to create a vibrant York County for future generations. With nearly 700 endowed funds and annual giving exceeding $10.6 million, YCCF serves as a comprehensive philanthropic hub connecting donors with community needs. The foundation awarded grants to 424 nonprofit organizations in 2023 and has maintained a consistent focus on transformational impact through collaborative systems change. In 2024, YCCF awarded $10.8 million in grants, and by mid-2025 had already distributed $5.7 million to local nonprofits. The foundation earned a 4/4 Star rating from Charity Navigator with a score of 97%, reflecting strong financial health and commitment to transparency. Under the leadership of President & CEO Natalee Colón Gunderson, who joined in March 2024, YCCF emphasizes data-driven decision-making and equitable practices across all grantmaking, donor services, and community initiatives.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

THRIVE Grants (Fund for York County)
Focus on building economic mobility for low-income individuals through programs addressing housing, career development, transportation, childcare, and financial education. Grants over $10,000 are awarded through a committee process with YCCF Board approval. Recent examples include $10,000 to Bell Socialization Services for rental assistance for homeless families.

Embracing Aging Grants
Support programs serving York County residents age 50 and older, with emphasis on reducing social isolation. Four projects totaling $86,300 served more than 2,400 older adults.

Memorial Health Fund
A supporting organization with its own board of directors that funds programs addressing compelling health issues and improving the complete physical, mental, and social well-being of York County residents.

Racial Equity Fund
Awards grants addressing equity gaps for communities of color. Recent awards include $25,135 to four local organizations.

Environmental Fund
Supports projects creating positive environmental impact in York County.

Directed Funds
Various donor-advised and designated funds supporting specific causes important to individual donors. Seventeen different funds awarded over $907,000 to thirty-one organizations in one recent grant cycle.

Priority Areas

  • Economic mobility (housing, career development, transportation, childcare, financial literacy)
  • Education and youth development (over 28,000 children and youth benefited from 10 projects totaling $243,000)
  • Health and wellness
  • Older adult services
  • Racial equity
  • Environmental sustainability
  • Community development and social services

What They Don't Fund

  • Endowments, capital campaigns, budget shortfalls, normal operations, debt retirement, or association dues
  • Sectarian religious programs
  • Organizations with discriminatory employment or program practices
  • Reimbursement for programs or items purchased before a grant is authorized
  • Individual applicants (grants only to organizations)

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Natalee Colón Gunderson, President & CEO - Joined YCCF March 1, 2024, after twelve years with York Water Company. Gunderson has stated: "York County nonprofits play a vital role in addressing community needs, and strong leadership is the foundation of their impact." On aging populations: "Aging is not a problem to fix—it is a journey we are all on."

Michele Mummert, Vice President Grants and Community Engagement - Joined July 2024

Donna Jones, Director of Finance - 30 years of service to YCCF

Philip Woods, Gift Planning Officer

Board of Directors

The Board is responsible for governance, strategic direction, financial and investment oversight, setting policy, and approving all grantmaking activities and charitable distributions. Board members are chosen for their strategic thinking, vision, and commitment to York County's future.

Board Officers:

  • Harold N. Myers, Jr., Chair - Area Manager 3PL/Maintenance at Harley-Davidson Motor Company
  • Michael Glezer, First Vice Chair - Chief Executive Officer at Wagman, Inc.
  • Patrick Brubaker, Treasurer - Principal at Hammer Creek Enterprises
  • Elizabeth J. Dellinger, Secretary - Treasury Management Officer at Traditions Bank, A Division of ACNB Bank
  • Natalee C. Gunderson, ex-officio - President and Chief Executive Officer

Additional Board Members include: Holly A. Mayer (Mayer Wealth Advisory), Cindy Fruitrail (WellSpan Health), David Sivel (Collective Family Office, LLC), Heather Maxfield (Fulton Bank), Jennifer Stetter (Barley Snyder LLP), Jody Leighty (Stock and Leader), and Lisa Kennedy.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

All grant requests begin with a Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which allows YCCF staff to review project ideas and match them to the best available funding sources. Applications are submitted through the Grant Interface online portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=yorkcounty.

Two-Step Process:

  1. Submit Letter of Inquiry by the deadline
  2. If approved, receive invitation to complete full application (typically due the following month)

Application Schedule (Three Annual Cycles):

  • January 1 deadline → Decisions by April 1
  • May 1 deadline → Decisions by August 1
  • August 1 deadline → Decisions by November 1

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a nonprofit entity with 501(c)(3) status for at least one year, government agency, or public school district
  • Must provide services directly to York County
  • Must have a board-approved Anti-Discrimination Policy
  • Must have a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy

Decision Timeline

From Letter of Inquiry submission to final decision: approximately 2-3 months. Organizations are encouraged to plan ahead and submit inquiries well in advance of project start dates.

Review Process:

  • Grants up to $10,000: Selected by volunteer Community Grant Readers
  • Grants over $10,000: Awarded through committee process with YCCF Board approval
  • All grants: Final approval by YCCF Board of Directors

Success Rates

While specific success rate percentages are not published, YCCF awarded 424 grants in 2023 and 192 awards in a recent cycle, demonstrating substantial funding capacity. The foundation emphasizes matching applicants to appropriate funding sources during the LOI stage, which helps increase success rates.

Application Success Factors

Strategic Alignment is Critical
YCCF staff actively help match project requests to the best funding sources during the LOI stage. The foundation relies on data to determine priorities and seeks projects offering "the best opportunities and outcomes for the community," as noted in their review criteria.

Demonstrate Transformational Impact
President Gunderson has praised "the innovative solutions offered by nonprofits and their unwavering dedication to this important work." Focus on how your project creates lasting change rather than temporary fixes.

Address Current Funding Priorities
Recent grants reflect emphases on financial literacy (e.g., $10,000 to Junior Achievement for 20,000 students in Title 1 schools), housing stability (e.g., Bell Family Shelter rental assistance), and community inclusion (e.g., $5,000 to Downtown Inc. for Welcoming Communities Program).

Early Engagement for Major Projects
For partnership grants involving large-scale projects that create systemic change, YCCF encourages potential applicants to engage them in the early stages of concept development.

Demonstrate High Impact
Organizations seeking grants over $50,000 "would have to demonstrate significantly high impact and high need for large funding," according to YCCF guidelines. Most grants range from $5,000-$20,000.

Required Policies
Ensure you have board-approved Anti-Discrimination and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies in place before applying—these are mandatory.

Use Available Resources
YCCF offers Grant Information Sessions and staff are available to answer questions. Taking advantage of these resources demonstrates seriousness and helps ensure alignment.

Geographic Focus
Services must directly benefit York County residents. Be explicit about how your project serves the local community.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Start with the LOI: All applications begin with a Letter of Inquiry that allows YCCF to match you to the best funding stream—invest time in this critical first step
  • Plan ahead: Submit inquiries well before project start dates to accommodate the 2-3 month review timeline
  • Most grants are modest: Typical awards range $5,000-$20,000, with grants rarely exceeding $50,000
  • Demonstrate community impact: Use data and specific metrics showing how your project benefits York County residents
  • Emphasize economic mobility: Projects addressing housing, career development, transportation, childcare, or financial education are strongly aligned with current priorities
  • Engage early for major projects: If seeking significant funding or partnership grants, contact YCCF during concept development phase
  • Leverage volunteer reviewers: Understanding that Community Grant Readers evaluate smaller grants (under $10,000) can help you tailor applications to this audience
  • Highlight equity: YCCF makes all decisions "mindful of equitable practices and diversity"—show how your project advances these values

References

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