York County Bar Association

Mission of Committee
The Grants Committee is charged with recommending policies and procedures for the York County Bar Foundation’s grants program to advance its charitable mission.

Committee Responsibility
The Grants Committee is responsible for implementing the York County Bar Foundation’s competitive grantmaking program which provides grants to charitable organizations and governmental entities for programs and services which focuses on these priorities:

Provision of assistance for legal services to the poor,
Understanding of the legal system in the community,
Improving respect for the law and legal system.

Contact
Carolyn Steinhauser, Chair, Grants Committee
steince@comcast.net
854.2844 (home office)

2009 Committee Members:

Carolyn Steinhauser-Chair

Angie Eveler

Barbara Sardella

Larry Young

York County Bar Foundation

Grants Committee 2008 Year-End Report

Chair: Carolyn Steinhauser

Members:

Carl Anderson Jeff Lobach

Sara Austin Charlie Rausch

The Honorable Penny Blackwell Barbara Sardella

Steve Feldmann Tom Shorb

Suzanne Griest Barbara Stump

Bob Katherman Larry Young

Tom Kearney

I. 2008 Committee Goal

Implement Grants Task Force recommendations to address the Association/Foundation Strategic Plan priorities re: increased community impact and visibility.

II. Status Report

Provided initial funding ($12,000) to advance two Strategic Initiatives approved by the Foundation board:

· $6000 to the Foundation’s Public Service Committee to engage an outside

consultant to help a community collaboration, led by The Honorable John Uhler, build its capacity to reduce truancy in York County schools.

· $6000 to the Bar’s Diversity Committee for initiatives to encourage

minorities to pursue law-related careers and increase minority professionals and paraprofessionals in local law firms.

Launched newly revised community grants program. Approved Community

Impact grants totaling $12,000 for the following organizations:

· $7,500 to PA Immigration Resource Center for operating costs and

technical assistance to develop a more sustainable financial model.

· $1,500 to York County’s Leave A Legacy program to fund a seminar

for professional advisors on planned charitable gifts and purchase a

new computer

· $3,000 to York County Community Against Racism to fund work to

document the case for a York County Human Relations Commission

(contingent upon approval of raising matching funds for project and

approval of final survey content).

Issued grant contracts defining grant expectations, timetable and reporting

requirements re: outcomes.

Requested and received increased funding for Foundation grant programs.

Grants budget increased from $20,000 (2008) to $40,000 (2009). Income from the Foundation endowment provided an additional $4000 in grants funding for

2008 and is anticipated to provide comparable support in 2009.

III. Recommendations for 2009

Work with and support the Foundation’s Public Service and Diversity committees to continue to advance Truancy and Diversity Strategic Initiatives.

Develop templates to evaluate opportunities and measure success of Strategic

Initiatives and Community Impact Grants program.

Work with Community Relations Committee to increase visibility of the Bar’s

charitable activities and investments.