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Chester County Community Foundation
Founded in 1994 by Dr. Henry Alva Jordan, Elizabeth Ranney Moran, and Charles Lukens Huston III, the Chester County Community Foundation functions as a...
Chester County Community Foundation
Founded in 1994 by Dr. Henry Alva Jordan, Elizabeth Ranney Moran, and Charles Lukens Huston III, the Chester County Community Foundation functions as a collective philanthropic vehicle for the region. Rather than managing a single fortune, it aggregates capital from local families, nonprofits, and businesses into a permanent charitable endowment. Karen Simmons, President and CEO since 2001, announced her planned retirement for 2025, marking a generational leadership transition for the organization. The foundation deploys capital across a balanced-plus pool and a pooled investment portfolio, with allocations spanning public equities, fixed income, and direct commercial real estate — including ownership of the historic Lincoln Building in downtown West Chester. Its 430-plus funds cover designated scholarships like the Alice M. Thomas Scholarship, donor-advised vehicles such as the Rigg Family Foundation, and agency endowments for local nonprofits. The foundation serves as fiscal agent for community groups, including the Black Women of Chester County in Action (BWCCA). Geographic focus remains concentrated in Chester County and the Greater Philadelphia region. The organization operates with a volunteer board and a small professional staff. Erik Gudmundson is slated to become Board Chair in 2026, succeeding Zebulun Davenport and Robert Rigg. The foundation manages the Chester County Estate Planning Council (CCEPC) and the Professional Legacy Advisors Network (PLAN), embedding itself as a hub for regional estate planners and professional advisors. It holds memberships in the Council on Foundations and the Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia. The foundation's structural differentiator is its role as a permanent intermediary — neither a single-family office nor a national donor-advised fund sponsor, but a hyperlocal endowment machine. Its deep integration with Chester County's professional advisor community creates a proprietary pipeline for future gifts and bequests that national platforms cannot easily replicate. The planned 2025 CEO succession will test whether that community-rooted model outlasts its long-serving architect.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1994
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
West Chester
Corporate office
West Chester, PA, United States
Principals
Karen Simmons
President and CEO
Erik Gudmundson
Incoming Board Chair
Zebulun Davenport
Outgoing Board Chair
Robert Rigg
Immediate Past-Chair of the Board
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
How is the Chester County Community Foundation structured compared to a single-family office?
It operates as a public charity and community foundation, not a family office. Instead of serving one wealth creator, it pools charitable assets from hundreds of local donors, families, and nonprofits into a unified investment portfolio. The foundation manages over 430 individual funds, including donor-advised funds, scholarship endowments, and designated agency funds, all under the oversight of a volunteer board.
Who oversees investment decisions for the foundation's endowment?
The foundation's Board of Directors holds fiduciary responsibility for the investment portfolio. Specific investment committee members or external OCIO relationships are not publicly disclosed. The foundation maintains a Balanced Plus Pool and a Pooled Investment Portfolio, with both financial assets and direct real estate holdings, including the Lincoln Building at 28 West Market Street in West Chester.
What types of philanthropic vehicles does CCCF offer to donors?
CCCF offers donor-advised funds, designated funds, field-of-interest funds, scholarship funds, and agency endowments. Named examples include the Alice M. Thomas Scholarship, the Rigg Family Foundation donor-advised fund, and the Zelinda LeBoutillier Charitable Foundation. It also serves as the fiscal sponsor for community initiatives such as the Black Women of Chester County in Action.
How is the foundation preparing for the retirement of its long-time CEO, Karen Simmons?
Karen Simmons, who has led CCCF as President and CEO since 2001, announced her retirement for 2025. The foundation has also planned for board leadership changes, with Erik Gudmundson set to become Board Chair in 2026, succeeding Zebulun Davenport. Details of the CEO search or succession plan have not been made public.
Does CCCF manage investment assets beyond its pooled endowment?
Yes, the foundation directly owns the Lincoln Building, a commercial property at 28 West Market Street in West Chester that likely serves as both its headquarters and a real estate asset. The rest of its assets are held in the Balanced Plus Pool and the Pooled Investment Portfolio, which underpin its 430-plus charitable funds.
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