York County Bar Foundation Impact and Lenz Fund Grant

Impact Grants Program:

The York County Bar Foundation (YCBF) funds interested organizations for innovative law-related programs/projects which serve the York County community by:

• Increasing access to justice for all people, particularly those struggling with poverty and abuse;
• Improve the administration of justice;
• Promote public understanding of and respect for the law;
• Encourage careers and diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession;
• Improve the quality of life for York Countians through support for law-related community initiatives.

YCBF is interested in proposals for early-stage programs/projects with the potential for real impact or proposals which seek to improve the effectiveness of existing programs/projects.

In special cases, consideration may be given to community quality of life initiatives of particular interest to the Bar and operating support for start-up costs for new programs provided the program meets the grant criteria. YCBF will not consider proposals for annual operating expenses.

Henry Lenz Memorial Fund Grants Program: 

The York County Bar Foundation (YCBF) is funds proposals from interested organizations for innovative law-related programs/projects which serve to improve the circumstances of children who become subject to the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system of York County. YCBF is interested in proposals for early stage programs/projects with the potential for real impact or proposals which seek to improve the effectiveness of existing programs/projects proposals dealing with juveniles or juvenile delinquency.  Such programs may include but are not limited to:

• The provision of items of social and cultural benefit beyond the necessaries required to be supplied by the County for children under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court of the York County Court of Common Pleas
• Provide for special needs of children of York County who are under commitment by the Juvenile Court of the York County Court of Common Pleas for treatment, supervision, or rehabilitation that would not be the responsibility of the County and are beyond the ability of the parent or other person responsible for the child’s maintenance to provide;
• Support for children who have demonstrated desire and reasonable ability for education beyond high school.
  
  

NOTE: “Children” shall include all children who have been or shall be referred to the Juvenile Probation Office or York County Children and Families having been found delinquent, neglected or dependent children, until they be discharged from the jurisdiction of the Court, or shall no longer be subject thereto by reason of having attained the age of 21 years, whichever is earlier. In special cases, consideration may be given to community quality of life initiatives of particular interest to the Bar and operating support for start-up costs for new programs provided the program meets the grant criteria. YCBF will not consider proposals for annual operating expenses.

What is the process to apply for funding? Proposals may be submitted for early consideration at any time through June 20, 2025. For consideration in 2026 the deadline is 12:00 Noon on Friday, June 20, 2025 at York County Bar Foundation, 137 East Market Street, York PA 17401 or by e-mail to victoria.connor@yorkbar.com. The YCBF may also invite additional submissions throughout the year.

Following review of proposals by the YCBF Lenz Fund Advisory and Grants Committees, those submitting proposals will be notified by August 2 of our decision to invite full grant applications. Full grant applications are due no later than August 29.

How much funding is available? YCBF anticipates that up to approximately $69,000 will be available for programs/projects not otherwise receiving YCBF funding. Selected grants will be funded from the total allotment available.

Proposals (no more than 2 pages) should include:

• A summary of the program / project and how it addresses YCBF's funding interests
• Program / project leadership and partners
• Estimated cost and other funders
• How the program / project will be sustained after initial funding

Questions? Contact Victoria Connor, CEO, York County Bar Foundation, at 717.854.8755 (ext. 206) or Victoria.Connor@yorkbar.com.

The Bar Foundation’s commitment to supporting law-related investments in 2024 throughout the community resulted in over $364,520.39 in funding for the following purposes:

 Impact Grants ($41,534): David Fyfe Consulting received $8,000 to facilitate the Intercultural Development Inventory^® (IDI)^® program for York County Bar members and staff. The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) is a widely used and effective cross-culturally valid assessment for building cultural competence. Thirty individuals  participated in the program. The Resource for Great Programs received $26,534 for the update of the Economic Impact Study regarding the investment in civil legal aid in York County. NAMI of York and Adams Counties  received $5,000 for the expansion of its PAUSE program in partnership with WellSpan Phil Haven to deliver an evidence-based program to York County schools during the 2025/2026 school year. $500 was granted to the Cultural Alliance of York County to support Make Music Day. And $1,500 was granted to Brick by Brick for the attorneys assisting businesses.

Henry Lenz Memorial Fund ($56,900)is a charitable fund whose principal and income are to be used for charitable purposes involving dependent and delinquent juveniles. The County of York Probation Services received $10,000 from the Henry Lenz Memorial Fund for a service dog for the provision of support for juveniles in the court system and their families. Creative York received $1,900 for art and life skills curriculum to support at-risk youth. Bro2Go was awarded $45,000 towards the purchase of a van to remove the barrier of transportation for the youth involved in its activities.

Legal aid and ongoing interests ($237,066): MidPenn Legal Services received the lion’s share of the available assistance, with grants and alternative pro bono service funding in the amount of $94,250; to support pro bono services and to preserve their critically needed family-law attorney position in the York office. PIRC also received $45,000 to retain staff and support its operations in providing free legal services to indigent, vulnerable immigrants in the York community. PIRC’s work includes direct representation in York County of immigrant victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and for partial support for its office manager position to coordinate activities that meet the growing education and direct services needs of immigrants/immigrant families, and leverage PIRC’s legal staff, programs, community partnerships, and experience to grow and reach additional immigrants who would otherwise go unserved. The Children Aid Society received $10,000 to support the delivery of the York Court Alliance program in partnership with participating high schools. $85,816 supported YCBF’s efforts related to the delivery of Pro Bono and Legal Services to the York County community. With this funding, the Pardon Project of York County provided expungement/pardon clinics were held along with free CLE trainings, PFA “service days,” and participation in other free to the public community information events. Leave A Legacy® York County, a program of the York County Bar Foundation, received $2,000 to promote charitable and legacy giving in York County.

Scholarships and special awards $29,020:

The Clarence “Chuck” N. Patterson Diversity Internship for the Summer of 2024 in the amount of $13,170 was awarded for a position at the Public Defender’s Office to Isaac Praseedom and Christie Page at the District Attorney’s Office. Isaac and Christie are 2L students at the Penn State Dickenson School of Law. The Richard Noll Scholarship Committee awarded two $1,200 scholarships to “deserving, needy law student(s) from the greater York area.” The recipients were Madison Bulter of The Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University and Hunter Hazen of the Marquette University School of Law. New Birth of Freedom Council received $750 for the York Distinguished Citizen Celebration honoring Past YCBF President Michael Kochenour. $100 was donated to the York County Community Foundation in memory of Past Bar President and Legacy Society Member Attorney  John J. Shorb. $500 was donated to the Dickinson College Scholarship Fund in honor of Law Day speaker The Honorable John E. Jones III. Beam Consulting LLC was awarded $10,000 toward a feasibility study that will assist in the growth of the YCBF’s operating endowment. The Herbert B. Cohen Chapter of the American Inns of Court was awarded $2,100 for its operations from the YCBF’s Ethics and Professionalism Fund.