About the White Rose Leadership Institute
Mission
The White Rose Leadership Institute strengthens the York County nonprofit sector with empowered and exceptional leaders prepared to transform our community.
Vision
Through the work of The White Rose Leadership Institute, York County will be a model for exceptional nonprofit leadership that drives systemic social innovation and change.
History
The York Federal Foundation, and later the Waypoint York Federal Foundation, was the charitable arm of York Federal Savings & Loan Association and its successor organizations through mergers and acquisitions. During this time, Mr. Robert Pullo, Chairman of the Board and CRO, guided the Founation’s in alignment with the mission and vision of the York Federal and York Financial Corporation.
When the bank finally was eventually acquired by Sovereign BankCorp (later Santander Bank), Mr. Pullo dissolved the Foundation and established an endowment donor advised fund with York County Community Foundation: the York Federal Foundation Fund. He continues to serve as the donor advisor today. From this fund, the York Federal Fellows Program was launched in 2025 to invest in the growth of local nonprofit leadership.
Matriculating its first fellowship class in 2006, the Fellows Program offered outstanding nonprofit executive leaders the opportunity to spend a year developing professionally and personally while expanding their leadership skills. Each Fellow received up to $5,000 to support their growth, complemented by regular workshops and peer networking designed to strengthen leadership across York County’s nonprofit sector.
In 2017, alumni of the York Federal Fellows Program sought to expand their impact by organizing a county-wide day of giving. This resulted in Give Local York, first held on May 4, 2018. In just 24 hours, the event raised $1.47 million for 211 nonprofits - a clear signal of the community’s need for the annual event. Following the success, the Fellows established the White Rose Leadership Institute, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to cultivating leaders and strengthening philanthropy in York County.
Today, more than 70 alumni of the York Federal Fellows Program continue to create lasting change in our community. Through WRLI and Give Local York, they and countless others have helped raise over $30 million in unrestricted funds for local nonprofits. Grounded in its history, yet focused on the future, the White Rose Leadership Institute carries forward its founding vision - building leaders, inspiring generosity, and strengthening York County for generations to come.
Our Core Values
ADVOCACY
We work together with a shared voice to champion innovative and effective solutions to York County’s most pressing social problems and the important role the nonprofit sector plays in those solutions.
BEING A CATALYST
We believe in forecasting and responding to demographic, political and social shifts by acting in creative ways that generate new solutions.
COLLABORATION
We believe in the strength of the collective and empower each other to spark ideas, align strategies, and shape initiatives that unlock the potential of social innovation.
FELLOWSHIP
We convene and engage a diverse community of innovative leaders from across sectors to forge connections for mutual support on our shared journey, side by side.
INCLUSION
We believe leadership is exceptional when it reflects our diverse communities. We listen, learn and work across differences to build the common good.
INTEGRITY
We take our roles as community stewards and trusted advisers seriously.
“Today the White Rose Leadership Institute is here because Bill Wolf had a vision and a dream that the legacy of York Federal Savings & Loan would have a continuing influence of strengthening the nonprofit community, because he knew that their leadership would strengthen the core fiber of our community.”
