The Burpee Foundation is a private, independent foundation established in 2002 and based in Lenox, Massachusetts. The foundation was created by George Ball when he became the sole owner of W. Atlee Burpee Company, the historic American horticultural company known for its mail-order seed catalogues. The foundation is committed to reducing hunger and promoting well-being through investment in horticultural and agricultural projects.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$11.0M
+7.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$998K
+230.5% YoY
Grant Count
25
+78.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$40K
+85.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Burpee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $512K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Burpee Foundation's mission is to reduce hunger and promoting well-being through horticultural and agricultural means in the US and worldwide. The foundation supports:
- School-age and adult educational programs in horticulture
- Horticultural programs serving incarcerated and released prisoner populations
- Public botanical gardens and museums enhancing services to senior citizens and those with disabilities
- Horticultural job training and vocational skills development
- Healthy eating through community gardens and urban farms
- Horticultural therapy
- Community building through gardening initiatives
- Programs serving formerly homeless populations and those suffering from mental illness in underserved communities
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Burpee Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations primarily in the United States, with recent grants awarded to organizations in New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Initial Endowment: $5 million at establishment in 2002
- Additional Contributions: George Ball contributed an additional $1.5 million to the endowment
- Current Assets: Approximately $8.5 million (as stated in foundation materials); $10,971,423 (per most recent IRS filing for 2024)
- Total Annual Giving: $997,547 (based on 2024 IRS filing)
- Tax-Exempt Status: Since July 2002
- EIN: 74-3047509
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $10,971,423 | $10,207,734 | $9,245,299 |
| Revenue | $521,940 | $1,214,991 | $620,301 |
| Expenses | $1,129,116 | $490,494 | $456,695 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,098,446 | $413,744 | $390,431 |
| Net Investment Income | $501,348 | $638,241 | $554,037 |
| Distributable Amount | $511,535 | $610,126 | $469,072 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Horticultural Society of New Yo ($275,000), Bard College ($250,000), The Bridge Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIES INC HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ | RESTRICTED TO HORTICULTURAL PROGRAMS | $15,000 |
| ANDALUSIA FOUNDATION ANDALUSIA, PA | RESTRICTED GRANTS | $7,500 |
| BACKYARD GROWERS INC GLOUCESTER, MA | RESTRICTED TO SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY | $15,000 |
| BARD COLLEGE HUDSON VALLEY, NY | RESTRICTED GRANTS | $250,000 |
| BARTLETT ARBORETUM ASSOCIATION STAMFORD, CT | RESTRICTED GRANTS | $25,000 |
| CITY PARKS FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | RESTRICTED GRANTS | $15,000 |
| COLUMBIA CENTER FOR URBAN COLUMBIA, MO | RESTRSICTED TO THE CONSCTRUCTION | $18,000 |
| CROWN COMMUNITY GARDEN NEW ORLEANS, LA | RESTRICTED TO THE HIRING PART TIME | $15,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERS ORG PALO ALTO, CA | RESTRICTED GRANTS | $20,000 |
| GARDEN TIME INC QUEENSBURY, NY | RESTRICTED GRANTS | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
George Ball is the founder and primary contributor to the foundation. He became the sole owner of W. Atlee Burpee Company in 2002, which prompted the establishment of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEL P BARKAN | EXECUTIVE DI | 10 | $72,000 |
| GEORGE C BALL JR | PRESIDENT AN | 5 | $20,000 |
| DAVID A BRAUNER | SECRETARY | 5 | $12,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In June 2024, Bard College received a $1 million grant from the Burpee Foundation to support the creation of the Burpee Trial Garden at the Montgomery Place Campus. This represents one of the foundation's significant recent grants and demonstrates its continued commitment to horticultural education at the college level.
Bard College gets $1 million for trial garden at Montgomery ...The foundation has also supported the Smithsonian Institution in releasing a free e-book titled "The Burpee Seed Company: Planting U.S. History since the Nineteenth Century," based on company and family archives donated to the Smithsonian's Archives of American Gardens by the Burpee family in 2016.
Bard College Receives $1 Million Grant from Burpee Foundation to SupportContact Information
Mailing Address: The Burpee Foundation PO Box 1763 Lenox, MA 01240
Phone: 212-237-1000
Email: info@theburpeefoundation.org
Website: theburpeefoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Burpee Foundation fund?
The Burpee Foundation's mission is to reduce hunger and promoting well-being through horticultural and agricultural means in the US and worldwide. The foundation supports: • School-age and adult educational programs in horticulture • Horticultural programs serving incarcerated and released prisoner populations • Public botanical gardens and museums enhancing services to senior citizens and those with disabilities • Horticultural job training and vocational skills development • Healthy eating th…
How do I apply for a grant from Burpee Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $4,380 to $275,000 • Since inception through the end of 2025, the foundation will have made over $8.5 million in gifts to approximately 100 charitable organizations • As of recent filings, the foundation has awarded approximately $6.5 million to more than 75 charitable organizations **Application Process:** • Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed quarterly by the board • The foundation uses the NY/NJ Area Common Applicati…
Where does Burpee Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations primarily in the United States, with recent grants awarded to organizations in New York, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
What size grants does Burpee Foundation award?
In 2024, Burpee Foundation awarded 25 grants totaling $998K — an average of about $40K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Burpee Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Burpee Foundation reported a distributable amount of $512K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Burpee Foundation's EIN?
Burpee Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 74-3047509. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Burpee Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Conservation Food and Health Foundation
BOSTON, MA
Assets
$14.6M
Grants
49
Total Given
$2.2M
Charles J Tasker Memorial Scholarship Fund
HANOVER, MA
Assets
$98K
Grants
1
Total Given
$8K
The Bulens Family Foundation
WELLESLEY, MA
Assets
$3.0M
Grants
68
Total Given
$956K
Marshall M & Barbara J Sloane Pvt Found
CHESTNUT HILL, MA
Assets
$1.2M
Grants
11
Total Given
$75K
John J Mcardle Iii & Joan C Mcardle
ANDOVER, MA
Assets
$1.8M
Grants
13
Total Given
$205K
Massachusetts Association of Realtors
FOXBOROUGH, MA
Assets
$18.1M
Grants
2
Total Given
$71K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Burpee Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching Burpee Foundation to a real strategy.