(York, PA, September 30, 2025) – York County Community Foundation (YCCF) is proud to announce its strategic partnership with The High Center for Nonprofits to support the first members of the York County Peer Learning Cohort. The High Center for Nonprofits, part of Elizabethtown College’s nationally recognized High Center, provides nonprofit leaders with tailored tools and connections to help their organizations grow and succeed. A foundational component of High Center programming for more than 20 years, Executive Peer Groups offer a confidential space to share challenges, solve problems, and brainstorm with a network of peers who understand the unique responsibilities of nonprofit leadership.
The process fosters listening skills, creates new relationships, and offers insights and perspectives to strengthen individual leadership and organizational development. Nonprofit cohorts meet every other month with a High Center nonprofit facilitator. As a result of the nonprofit landscape assessment completed in late 2023 through a partnership of YCCF and other local funders, there was a timely opportunity to support access to those services for members of our local nonprofit sector.
This initiative invests directly in the leadership of local nonprofit executives by providing them with a free one-year membership to The High Center, a premier resource for education and peer support. Through membership in The High Center, these leaders – and their organizations – will gain access to expert-led programming and best practice resources. In addition to the membership, these leaders will have access to and participate in a cohort model that fosters collaboration, strategic and innovative approaches to problem-solving, and leadership development.
The inaugural York County cohort includes:
- Sean Kenny, Executive Director, Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County
- Otto Monroy, President, Logos Works
- Mike Smith, Executive Director, YMCA of York
- Jessica Knapp, Executive Director, Communities in Schools of PA
- Maura Musselman, Director of Development, Leg Up Farm
“York County nonprofits play a vital role in addressing community needs, and strong leadership is the foundation of their impact,” said Natalee C. Gunderson, President & CEO of YCCF. “We are excited to invest in these leaders and connect them with The High Center’s unparalleled and longstanding network of knowledge and support. This partnership will continue to build upon the capacity of these leaders to build upon strategic opportunities for these organizations.”
“I’m honored to be part of the inaugural York County Nonprofit Cohort at the High Center,” shared Sean Kenny, Executive Director of Farm & Natural Lands Trust of York County. “My experiences with Leadership York and the White Rose Leadership Institute were instrumental in shaping my personal and professional growth, and I’ve carried those lessons into my work with FNLT and other organizations. I’m excited to build on that foundation, gain new insights, and bring fresh ideas back to my organization. Many thanks to the York County Community Foundation for offering this valuable opportunity to learn and grow alongside my peers.”
“Nonprofit executives often face unique challenges that require both innovative thinking and a strong support system,” said Julie Larison, Managing Director, Nonprofit Center for The High Center. “We look forward to working with the York County cohort and seeing how this investment in leadership will strengthen the entire community.”
YCCF’s partnership with The High Center reflects its ongoing commitment to building a thriving nonprofit sector in York County. By equipping leaders with the right tools, networks, and knowledge, YCCF helps ensure nonprofits are positioned to achieve lasting impact.
