(YORK, PA, February 24, 2023) – The York County Community Foundation (YCCF) Board of Directors has stated that President and CEO Jane Conover has announced her retirement, effective November 30, 2023. Conover joined the Foundation in 2010 as Vice President of Community Investment and was promoted to President in 2015.
“We are very grateful for Jane’s leadership and congratulate her on a well-earned retirement after 40 years in the fields of community development and human services,” said Holly Mayer, YCCF Board Chair. “Jane has been a tremendous leader and has broadened YCCF’s relationships in the community, built a strong team of employees and volunteers, and strengthened YCCF’s voice on the important challenges facing York County.”
The Community Foundation has established a search committee headed by Mike Glezer, who serves as a member of the Board’s Executive Committee. The committee is in the process of identifying a search firm and expects to launch the national search for a new President this spring.
There will be a public announcement and the opportunity will be posted at www.yccf.org\about\employmentopportunities.
“It is an honor to work for the York County Community Foundation,” says Jane Conover. “YCCF’s strong and capable staff and volunteer leadership work hard to achieve our mission of engaging donors and supporting organizations that fuel community transformation. “I’m inspired by all those working for a vibrant York County and I will continue to seek out ways to help our community thrive,” she added.
In 2010, Conover pivoted the Foundation’s grantmaking towards strategically focusing discretionary grants on specific community priorities to have greater impact. Since then, YCCF has awarded $63 million in grants to the community. Of those grants, $1.2 million was awarded to assist families struggling during the COVID pandemic thanks to a fundraising initiative launched by the Community Foundation in partnership with the United Way of York County.
Conover also played a critical role in growing YCCF’s community leadership through research and advocacy for accelerating community progress through innovative solutions and cross-sector collaboration.
During her tenure at YCCF assets nearly doubled and surpassed the $200 million mark in 2021. Jane assisted in the establishment of the Memorial Health Fund in 2015, which to date has awarded over $5 million in grants to improve community health.
Conover increased diversity among the board and staff and established an internal diversity, equity, and inclusion committee in 2017 to build the organization’s cultural competence. YCCF also adopted a DEI NorthStar to ensure YCCF is accessible, equitable, and inclusive of diverse perspectives in its work. In 2021, the Foundation established the Racial Equity Fund and has distributed over $125,000 towards racial equity initiatives in York County.
Conover also launched YCCF’s Embracing Aging Initiative in 2013 to help York become a great place to age. Since then, $2.3 million in grants have been awarded to improve lives of older adults and change attitudes on aging. YCCF made the intentional decision to be a convenor and advocate for systems improvement and spearheaded efforts to create an age-friendly plan and receive designation by AARP making York County an age-friendly community.
YCCF is has a robust strategic plan with four primary goals: help people thrive by supporting economic mobility for low-income individuals; be the first choice for donors to achieve their charitable goals and as a place to invest in community transformation; weave diversity, equity and inclusion throughout our work; and, operate as a high-performing team.
Conover will continue to advance these goals as President until her retirement.
“YCCF’s priority is to continue to engage donors in philanthropy, be outstanding stewards of gifts entrusted to us, and expand the impact of YCCF on our community,” states Mayer.
York County Community Foundation creates a vibrant York County by engaging donors, providing community leadership, and investing in high-impact initiatives while building endowment for future generations. York County Community Foundation holds more than 630 endowed funds and assists donors and nonprofits in reaching their charitable goals. The Community Foundation granted $7.1 million in 2022 throughout York County and beyond, and stewards approximately $180 million in assets.
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