PHOTO PROVIDED Last fall, right before the holidays, the Clinton County Community Foundation provided $19,000 in emergency grants to county-based food banks to help children, seniors and families put food on their tables.

LOCK HAVEN — Progress in Clinton County has always been rooted in the simple principle that neighbors care about neighbors.

This year, the Clinton County Community Foundation (CCCF) is building on that spirit with a renewed vision for the future. In December, the foundation Board of Directors formally adopted a new, five-year strategic plan. The plan sets in motion a roadmap designed not only to guide the organization, but also to help move the entire community forward.

The foundation’s new theme: Compassion in Motion.

For foundation leaders, that phrase captures both legacy and momentum.

“We spent a lot of time reflecting on where Clinton County is right now and what it will need in the years ahead,” said Mark Weaver, president of the CCCF Board of Directors. “This plan is about making sure that the Foundation continues to grow with the community and respond thoughtfully to what matters most.”

PHOTO PROVIDED The Clinton County Community Foundation is a primary sponsor of the Clinton County Police Camp Cadet and its affiliated Lacy Day Camp in summer and fall. The program gives youth an opportunity to learn about citizenship, discipline and fun.

For more than 55 years, CCCF has partnered with donors, nonprofits and local organizations to invest in emergency services, the arts, youth programs, education and initiatives that strengthen quality of life throughout the county.

The newly adopted strategic plan builds on that history while positioning the Foundation to lead with greater clarity, visibility and collaboration.

Expanding Awareness, Engagement

One of the plan’s three core priorities, awareness and engagement, focuses on ensuring that residents, donors and partners clearly understand the foundation’s role and the opportunities it creates.

“Philanthropy works best when people feel connected to it,” said Bob Rolley, outreach coordinator for CCCF. “We want our community to see how generosity becomes opportunity and how they can be part of that progress.”

In the coming months, CCCF will increase its storytelling efforts, highlight the impact of donors and grantees and provide more consistent communication about how charitable funds are invested and why those investments matter.

“Compassion has always been part of the foundation’s identity,” said Elizabeth Arnold, founder of Abundance Creative & Consulting, who facilitated the strategic planning process. “What this plan does is move that compassion from intention to action. It creates structure and helps the foundation show up more visibly and more strategically. Putting compassion in motion, that’s progress.”

Strengthening

Collaboration,

Leadership

The second major focus of the plan, collaboration and leadership, reflects the belief that meaningful progress requires shared effort.

Clinton County faces opportunities and challenges in workforce development and youth retention, as well as in housing, mental health and economic vitality. Foundation leaders see CCCF as uniquely positioned to connect people and organizations working toward common goals.

“The foundation has relationships across so many parts of this community,” Weaver said. “We’re in a position to help bring people to the same table and foster productive conversations about what’s possible.”

Future initiatives may include community forums and leadership conversations designed to strengthen partnerships and align resources more effectively. The CCCF aims to support the work of nonprofits and agencies by creating momentum around shared priorities.

Growing

Philanthropy

for Long-Term

Impact

The third pillar of the strategic plan, growth and philanthropy, focuses on sustainability by ensuring that Clinton County has the resources it needs not just today but also for the next generation.

“We want to make sure the foundation remains strong and responsive,” Rolley said. “Progress means thinking long-term and preparing for what’s ahead.”

By broadening its donor base and deepening relationships with existing fundholders, CCCF aims to strengthen its capacity to invest strategically in the county’s evolving needs.

Compassion in Motion

Throughout the planning process, one theme remained constant: The foundation’s work is deeply rooted in Clinton County and guided by a shared belief in caring for one another by supporting the organizations on the front lines of our community’s biggest challenges and opportunities.

The new strategic plan does not promise an overnight transformation. Instead, it outlines a deliberate path forward defined by clear communication, strong collaboration, expanded philanthropy, and intentional leadership.

Over the next five years, the Clinton County Community Foundation is making its commitment to the community visible and putting compassion in motion. To support the Foundation through a donation, visit www.clintoncountyfoundation.org and click on the “GIVE” link and follow the prompts.

Or call 570-220-1038 to learn more about how to establish a fund to honor a loved one and/or support causes close to your heart. All donations are tax deductible.