Our Approach
We believe philanthropy is for everyone.
Since 1924, the Lancaster County Community Foundation has partnered with ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
Neighbors committed to caring for each other, visionaries dreaming of a better future, and innovators on the front lines of change. All of them intentionally committing to create a stronger community. All of them philanthropists.
Today, we’re strengthening the movement that was started more than 100 years ago and working together to build a resilient, vibrant Lancaster County for everyone.
We steward more than $265 million in community assets that help support Lancaster County every year. Because these dollars are endowed, we are able to activate a small percentage every year while the majority of the funds remain invested to grow in value. These resources give our community the opportunity to make grants to local organizations today and create a chance for people to invest in Lancaster for future generations.
Learn How a Community Endowment Works
Our work is rooted in these values
For the Lancaster County Community Foundation:
Courage means standing firm for the needs of our community even when it’s difficult. It means elevating underserved or underrepresented communities, especially those with limited-to-no visibility or influence. Courage means addressing systemic issues versus symptoms.
Relationships means that how we work together matters because the sum is greater than the parts. We welcome, seek, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. We value and care for the interconnectedness of the varied groups in our community which come together to help us thrive.
Integrity means adhering to strong moral principles and doing what is right, even when it’s unpopular. Integrity means that we are not for sale. We are honest, transparent, and fiscally responsible. Integrity means that we consider all viewpoints.
Equity means we believe everyone deserves fair access to resources and opportunities. We use local data to inform our efforts, seek varied perspectives, and examine our own practices with an aim to create processes that work well for everyone. We recognize that some members of our community need more resources than others to achieve their full potential.
Optimism means viewing challenges as opportunities. We acknowledge the reality of a situation, but choose to believe that the future can be bright. Optimism means we are solutions-oriented and always open to improvement. We seek positive possibilities for the generations to come and engage the power of philanthropy to offer hope.
