Over many decades, The Steinman Foundation, one of the most prominent grant-making charitable organizations in Lancaster County, has supported programs that provide opportunities for Franklin & Marshall students and benefit the broader community. In 2022, those opportunities expanded with the Diplomat Leadership program. 

That program provides a scholarship and funding assistance for four years of co-curricular programming for student leaders, including workshops, community events and off-campus programs. The students examine various leadership models, especially the Social Change Model of Leadership Development, to determine their own leadership style. They also engage with the City of Lancaster, through local businesses and nonprofits such as Leadership Lancaster, and provide community service through F&M’s Ware Institute for Civic Engagement. 

“The Diplomat Leadership program has taught me that leadership is a dynamic skill that can be adapted according to the environment,” said Michael Poruban, a rising sophomore from Collegeville, Pa. “Different types of leadership are more efficient depending upon the organization and scenario. I hope to learn how leadership can be applied in different situations and how my individual strengths can be used to better unify and motivate others.” 

"The Diplomat Leadership program has taught me that leadership is a dynamic skill that can be adapted according to the environment."

Michael Poruban '27

“The Steinman Foundation’s longtime support for Franklin & Marshall is inspiring,” said F&M President Barbara K. Altmann. “Not only have several members of the Steinman family served on our Board of Trustees, but the foundation they lead continues to invest in our students’ intellectual curiosity and passion for civic engagement, support the development of their own leadership abilities, meet the needs of the Lancaster community, and serve the missions of the nonprofit partners with which they work.” 

Previous gifts from the Steinman Foundation include one of $100,000 that established a pilot program in 2012 called F&M Works. The Ware Institute program enables selected sophomores, juniors and seniors to participate in paid internships with local nonprofit organizations in Lancaster. The Foundation awarded the College $500,000 to deepen F&M Works’ impact in 2017. More than 300 students have participated in the program, serving thousands of hours with more than 100 community organizations.

“Our family and foundation want to help F&M solidify a sustainable, long-term connection with the Lancaster community,” said Bob Krasne, The Steinman Foundation’s co-chair and an F&M trustee. “We appreciate opportunities to partner with the College, particularly when both F&M students and the community benefit. Students have opportunities to gain experience and learn about leadership at local nonprofits and the organizations have students working on issues important to all of us in the community.” 

The Steinman Foundation was created in 2014 by the merger of the John Frederick Steinman and James Hale Steinman foundations, which were established in 1951 to support citizens and organizations of Lancaster County. James Hale Steinman was the first family member to serve on F&M’s Board of Trustees, from 1947 to 1962. He was followed by Carrie Steinman Nunan, Peggy Steinman and Hale Krasne. 

The family and foundation have provided generous support to F&M through the years, including gifts for the Steinman College Center, the Ann & Richard Barshinger Life Sciences & Philosophy Building, the Carrie Steinman Nunan Arboretum, the Shirley Watkins Steinman Endowed Professorship of Classics and support for the Franklin & Marshall Fund.

This article originally appeared in F&M’s 2022-2023 Annual Report of Giving.

Bob Krasne, Steinman Foundation co-chair and F&M trustee, addresses Diplomat Leadership Scholars at an evening event.

 

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