YWCA of Lancaster

What YWCA of Lancaster does

YWCA of Lancaster is a private nonprofit social services organization founded in 1889 and headquartered at 110 N Lime St, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The organization operates four core program areas: the Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center (SAPCC), which provides 24/7 crisis support and no-cost counseling; Child Enrichment, an award-winning affordable childcare program operating across two school districts including Pre-K Counts; Kepler Hall Residence Program, the longest-running affordable housing program for women and families in Lancaster County; and the Center for Racial and Gender Equity (CRGE), an advocacy and education arm. Supplementary programs include Mama La Lechera (postpartum and lactation support), Workplace Excellence and Belonging (WEB, a tiered DEI training curriculum), Justice Now (monthly equity education sessions), and arts initiatives such as the Black Artist Waystation fellowship and Black Art Across Lancaster showcases. The organization does not operate a technology platform; service delivery is primarily in-person at Lancaster facilities with select virtual programming.

Revenue is generated through three principal streams: donations and fundraising (including the multi-year YForward capital campaign targeting $22 million, of which over $13 million has been raised), fee-for-service childcare enrollment, and tiered training fees for the WEB program (Spark, Ignite, Empower, Transform tiers delivered on multi-year contracts). The go-to-market is community-led: services are delivered directly through facilities and through partnerships with regional organizations such as Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, the Lancaster County Community Foundation, and the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy. Customer segments are predominantly individuals and families in Lancaster County — survivors of sexual assault, working families needing childcare, women and families seeking affordable housing, and organizations contracting for DEI training. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors; CEO Stacie Blake is completing a seven-year tenure with her resignation effective December 2026, prompting an active CEO search led by Board Chair Dr. Gretchel Hathaway and Vice Chair Karen King.

In 2023, YWCA Lancaster reported 5,500+ survivors served through SAPCC, 3,000+ children enrolled in childcare, and 100+ community members completing anti-bias training, providing one of the few comprehensive, integrated social service portfolios in the county under a single brand since 1889.

Name

YWCA of Lancaster

Legal name

YWCA Lancaster

Website

https://ywcalancaster.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Short description

YWCA of Lancaster is a 501(c)-equivalent nonprofit (founded 1889) providing sexual assault counseling, affordable childcare, affordable housing, postpartum support, and DEI training to Lancaster County residents and organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child Care Services (624410), Community Housing Services (62422), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Gender Equality, Inclusion & Social Protection Programs (BPADABAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

Keywords

• Social services
• Sexual assault counseling
• Affordable childcare
• Affordable housing
• Workplace DEI training

Headquarters

HQ city

Lancaster

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual and corporate donations constitute primary funding, including membership contributions, event fundraising (Race Against Racism), and capital campaign (YForward). Donations are processed through secure online platforms.
2. Childcare Enrollment Fees: Childcare services include enrollment opportunities for low-income families, with some fee-based programming. Emergency care options available for families with immediate needs.
3. Training and Workshop Fees: The Workplace Excellence and Belonging (WEB) program offers customized training packages (Spark, Ignite, Empower, Transform) to organizations, generating fee-for-service revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

YWCA Lancaster delivers direct social services and community programs centered on eliminating racism and empowering women. Core offerings include no-cost sexual assault counseling and a 24-hour hotline, quality affordable childcare across two school districts, the longest-running affordable housing program in Lancaster County (Kepler Hall), and racial and gender equity education through the Center for Racial and Gender Equity.

Product overview

YWCA Lancaster is a non-profit social services organization (established 1889) offering a portfolio of direct-service programs focused on eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity. The core offerings include: the Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center (crisis counseling and advocacy); Child Enrichment (award-winning childcare); Kepler Hall Residence (affordable housing); and the Center for Racial and Gender Equity (advocacy and education). Supplementary programs include Mama La Lechera (postpartum support), Workplace Excellence and Belonging (WEB, a customizable workplace training program with certificate), and Justice Now (monthly equity education). Arts initiatives include the Black Artist Waystation fellowship and Black Art Across Lancaster county-wide showcase. The organization does not operate a technology product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center
• Child Enrichment
• Kepler Hall Residence Program
• Center for Racial and Gender Equity (CRGE)
• Workplace Excellence and Belonging (WEB)
• Justice Now
• Mama La Lechera Postpartum Support Group
• Black Artist Waystation
• Black Art Across Lancaster

Quantifiable outcome

• 5,500+ survivors received services from Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center in 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Penn Medicine Lancaster General HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNorma Vazquez serves as Lactation Counselor at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health while also operating Mama La Lechera postpartum support program at YWCA Lancaster. Partnership provides integrated maternal health and breastfeeding support services to the Lancaster community regardless of ability to pay.
• Lancaster County Community FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupports Black Art Across Lancaster program through funding and collaboration. Program showcases Black artists in community hubs through exhibitions, performances, and creative collaborations.
• Commonwealth Monument ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLenwood Sloan served as executive director. Campaign 'Look Up, Look Out' honors Harrisburg's Old 8th Ward multicultural neighborhood. YWCA Lancaster connection through Lenwood's dual involvement.
• Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and DemocracyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLenwood Sloan co-chaired capital campaign 2018-2024. Organization focuses on preserving Lancaster's history. Connection through board leadership and shared mission of equity.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Family Service of Lancaster County: Lancaster County-based social services nonprofit providing counseling, case management, and family support. Comparable as a peer for individual and family services delivery, donor base, and community partnership strategy in the same geographic market.
• Water Street Mission: Lancaster County-based nonprofit providing housing, shelter, and recovery services - directly comparable to YWCA Lancaster's Kepler Hall affordable housing program and broader community services delivery in the same geographic market.
• YWCA USA: National umbrella organization of the YWCA movement to which YWCA Lancaster belongs. Directly comparable as the coordinating body for affiliated YWCAs delivering the same integrated mission of racial justice, women's empowerment, childcare, housing, and survivor services.
• YWCA Philadelphia: Same-state YWCA affiliate offering a comparable integrated suite of services (childcare, sexual violence support, housing, racial justice, workforce development) to a regional Pennsylvania market. Closest functional peer for benchmarking service line mix and operational scale.
• Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County: Local Lancaster County peer organization delivering sexual assault and domestic violence crisis counseling and advocacy - directly comparable to YWCA's Sexual Assault Prevention and Counseling Center, the largest single service line by client volume (5,500+ annually).
• YWCA Greater Harrisburg: Regional Pennsylvania YWCA affiliate delivering similar programming (childcare, crisis services, equity education, housing) to the Harrisburg/Central PA market. Strong comparator for program pricing, donor development, and capital campaign tactics.

Regional players

• Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster: Lancaster County youth services nonprofit offering after-school programming and youth development. Comparable as a regional peer in the youth/family services space, though focused on school-age programming versus YWCA's broader age range including Pre-K.

Broad incumbents

• Lancaster County Community Foundation: Regional community foundation that supports YWCA Lancaster through grant funding (e.g., Black Art Across Lancaster). Comparable as a peer in the regional nonprofit ecosystem and as a potential funding source rather than a direct competitor.
• United Way of Lancaster County: Regional United Way affiliate funding and convening Lancaster County social services. Comparable as a peer in the regional donor mobilization and social services funding ecosystem, with overlapping donor base and grant-making relationship.
• YWCA Greater Los Angeles: Larger YWCA affiliate operating a much broader portfolio including workforce development, housing, and early childhood education across the LA region. Comparable as a scaled version of the YWCA integrated service model, useful for understanding upper-bound scale potential.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ywcalancaster
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ywca-of-lancaster

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YWCA of Lancaster