Powder Mill Foundation
The Powder Mill Foundation is a private foundation headquartered in York, Pennsylvania. Established by the Appell family, the foundation focuses on philanthropic initiatives that strengthen the York community and support local organizations addressing education, early childhood development, disability services, and community revitalization.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$146.7M
+4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$11.4M
+63.2% YoY
Grant Count
87
-23.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$131K
+112.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Powder Mill Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's work reflects the legacy of Louis Appell Jr., who believed in investing in York's citizens and community. The foundation prioritizes:
- Education: Supporting K-12 and higher education initiatives
- Early Childhood Education: Funding childcare and early learning programs
- Disability Services: Supporting services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Community Development: Funding projects that enhance York's neighborhoods and public spaces
- Horticulture & Public Gardens: Supporting horticultural education and the development of public garden spaces
Grantmaking
The foundation provides funding to support capital campaigns, facility improvements, program expansion, and operational needs of recipient organizations. Recent grantmaking has included:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in York, Pennsylvania and York County, with a particular emphasis on York City and its surrounding neighborhoods.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $146,692,942 | $141,067,855 | $143,961,751 |
| Revenue | $26,919,404 | $3,894,847 | $1,742,389 |
| Expenses | $13,684,804 | $12,624,431 | $8,368,086 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $14,154,187 | $12,903,124 | $13,049,405 |
| Net Investment Income | $162,194 | $3,193,381 | $1,007,804 |
| Distributable Amount | $10,615,309 | $8,740,892 | $6,764,097 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Communty Connections for Children ($3,000,000), Crispis Attucks Association ($1,250,000), Harrisburg University ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| APPELL CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS YORK, PA | GALAVANT SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| ACCOUNTABILITY FOR LIFE YORK, PA | VEHICLE PURCHASE | $150,000 |
| BETTER YORK YORK, PA | PLEDGE PAYMENT | $1,000 |
| CITY OF YORK YORK, PA | YORK CITY POLICE SMOKE DETECTOR PURCHASES | $5,000 |
| COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS HARRISBURG, PA | YORK CITY SCHOOL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| COMMUNITY PROGRESS COUNCIL YORK, PA | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS | $150,000 |
| COMMUNTY CONNECTIONS FOR CHILDREN YORK, PA | PLEDGE PAYMENT | $3,000,000 |
| CRISPIS ATTUCKS ASSOCIATION LANCASTER, PA | PLEDGE PAYMENT | $1,250,000 |
| CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF YORK COUNTY YORK, PA | ANNUAL SUPPORT | $70,000 |
| CULTURAL ALLIANCE OF YORK COUNTY YORK, PA | STRATEGIC PLAN AND MARKETING | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Louis Appell Jr. (deceased) — Founder and primary visionary behind the foundation's mission. A prominent businessman who was instrumental in supporting education, community development, and social change initiatives in York.
Josephine Appell (deceased at age 100) — Family member associated with the foundation.
Louis Appell III — Family member involved with the foundation's work.
The foundation operates with a small staff of 2 employees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAVE KENNEDY | CHAIRMAN | 15 | — |
| JOSEPHINE S APPELL | VICE-CHAIR, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MARY STETLER | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| HELEN F APPELL II | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LOUIS J APPELL III | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| GEORGE HODGES | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL H HADY III | PRESIDENT/CEO | 40 | $312,072 |
| BEVERLY MACKERETH | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SUZANNE MCCONKY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation is funding a major project to transform the Millbourne estate (50 acres in York Township) into a public garden, with plans to welcome visitors in 2027. The project will add accessible trails, a visitors' center, and other amenities to the property, which already features classic English gardens, a carriage house, and chapel.
The foundation continues to support Logos Academy, a private K-12 school founded in 1998 that serves over 270 students, with two-thirds of classroom seats reserved for students living below or near the federal poverty line.
The foundation has contributed to early childhood education funding initiatives in York County, participating in grant announcements totaling over $950,000 in early childhood education grants.
Over $950K in Early Childhood Education Grants Announced in ...Contact Information
Address: 140 East Market Street, York, PA 17401
Phone: (717) 852-2309
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Powder Mill Foundation fund?
The foundation's work reflects the legacy of Louis Appell Jr., who believed in investing in York's citizens and community. The foundation prioritizes: • **Education**: Supporting K-12 and higher education initiatives • **Early Childhood Education**: Funding childcare and early learning programs • **Disability Services**: Supporting services for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities • **Community Development**: Funding projects that enhance York's neighborhoods and public spaces
How do I apply for a grant from Powder Mill Foundation?
The foundation provides funding to support capital campaigns, facility improvements, program expansion, and operational needs of recipient organizations. Recent grantmaking has included: • Support for Logos Academy's operations and programs • Funding for York Day Nursery's facility and programming • Support for Penn-Mar Human Services' Far Hills location renovation and centralization project • Contributions to early childhood education initiatives across York County • Funding for the Millbourne…
Where does Powder Mill Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives in York, Pennsylvania and York County, with a particular emphasis on York City and its surrounding neighborhoods.
What size grants does Powder Mill Foundation award?
In 2024, Powder Mill Foundation awarded 87 grants totaling $11.4M — an average of about $131K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Powder Mill Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Powder Mill Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Powder Mill Foundation's EIN?
Powder Mill Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7751589. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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