Powder Mill Foundation
Powder Mill Foundation is a private foundation based in York, Pennsylvania. Established in 1993 by Louis J. Appell, Jr. and Josephine Appell, it supports local nonprofits and community initiatives, with the stated aim of benefiting residents of the City of York and, secondarily, York County.
Powder Mill Foundation at a glance
In short: Powder Mill Foundation gave $11.4M across 87 grants in 2024 (avg $131K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $11,393,994
- +63.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 87
- -23.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $130,965
- +112.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $146,692,942
- +4.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (23 of 68, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Powder Mill Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website provides an application through its grants portal; the 2024 filing describes submitting a letter outlining need. The board makes decisions about organizations, purposes, amounts, and payment timing.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists quarterly application deadlines of February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. The 2024 filing states that there are no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The website lists quarterly application deadlines of February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael H Hady Iii
Mailing address: 140 E Market Street, York, PA 17401
Phone: (717) 848-5500
Website: https://powdermillfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Powder Mill Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Communty Connections for Children ($3.0M). Together the top 10 received $9.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
469 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 327 grants of 469 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated priority is to benefit residents of York City and, secondarily, York County. Its website identifies York County-headquartered nonprofits serving those communities, York College of Pennsylvania, and Harvard University as eligible recipients. In 2024, all reported grant dollars went to Pennsylvania recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 87 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Powder Mill Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 23 of 68 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $302K; repeat grants $98K. How we count
Medians: $35K first-time, $19K repeat.
- 56% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 314% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 133% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.6M (2020) to $11.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 87 grants totaling $11.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Communty Connections for Children York, PA | Pledge Payment | $3,000,000 |
| Crispis Attucks Association Lancaster, PA | Pledge Payment | $1,250,000 |
| Harrisburg University Harrisburg, PA | Pledge Payment | $1,000,000 |
| York College of Pennsylvania York, PA | Pledge Payment | $890,459 |
| York County Rail Trail Authority Seven Valleys, PA | Pledge Payment | $600,000 |
| Northern Central Railway of York New Freedom, PA | Pledge Payment | $500,000 |
| Susquehanna National Heritage Wrightsville, PA | Pledge Payment | $500,000 |
| York Country Day York, PA | Pledge Payment | $500,000 |
| Yorktowne Hotel York, PA | Support | $496,172 |
| United Way of York County York, PA | Building at 138 E Market Street | $315,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $146,692,942 | $26,919,404 | $13,684,804 | $11,393,994 | 87 | $14,154,187 | $162,194 | $10,615,309 |
| 2023 | $141,067,855 | $3,894,847 | $12,624,431 | $6,979,684 | 113 | $12,903,124 | $3,193,381 | $8,740,892 |
| 2022 | $143,961,751 | $1,742,389 | $8,368,086 | $5,201,714 | 91 | $13,049,405 | $1,007,804 | $6,764,097 |
| 2021 | $154,772,326 | $19,933,203 | $13,367,490 | $2,752,750 | 92 | $11,274,791 | $18,772,330 | $9,299,848 |
| 2020 | $147,181,195 | $3,651,780 | $9,530,207 | $2,566,803 | 86 | — | $3,107,569 | $8,601,642 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support local nonprofits through funding for capital improvements and expenditures, new programs, collaborative efforts, and community development initiatives.
Its website says grants are generally made to nonprofit organizations headquartered in York County whose activities benefit York City and, secondarily, York County, as well as York College of Pennsylvania and Harvard University. The foundation also identifies charitable, religious, scientific, literary, and educational purposes as its charitable scope.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of supported work. United Way of York County says it works collaboratively to reduce barriers to financial stability for working households. Community Progress Council describes its work as helping individuals and families move toward self-sufficiency and advocating for community growth. Accountability for Life says it mentors at-risk adolescents through an athletics-based platform. Cultural Alliance of York County describes its role as fostering community creativity and vibrancy through leadership, collaboration, and sustainability; Rainbow Rose Center says it works to foster inclusion, equity, and health for LGBTQIA+ community members in York County.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 87 grants totaling $11,393,994. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $3,000,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest awards included $3,000,000 to Community Connections for Children and $1,250,000 to Crispus Attucks Association, both described as pledge payments; $1,000,000 to Harrisburg University, also a pledge payment; and $890,459 to York College of Pennsylvania, a pledge payment. Other notable awards included $600,000 to York County Rail Trail Authority, $500,000 each to Northern Central Railway of York, Susquehanna National Heritage, and York Country Day, and $496,172 to Yorktowne Hotel for support. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania.
The foundation’s website says applications are generally considered every two years. It describes an online process: create or access an account in the grants portal, complete the application, and submit it by the applicable deadline. The foundation requests an evaluation form at the end of each approved project. The 2024 filing describes the application materials as a letter outlining need and states that awards are primarily restricted to charitable organizations benefiting York, Pennsylvania.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2024 filing were Dave Kennedy, chairman; Josephine S. Appell, vice-chair and trustee; Mary Stetler, secretary; Helen F. Appell II, trustee; Louis J. Appell III, trustee; George Hodges, trustee; Michael H. Hady III, president/CEO; Beverly Mackereth, trustee; and Suzanne McConky, trustee.
Powder Mill Foundation is led by Michael H. Hady III, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael H. Hady III
President & CEO
Executive Director → President & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$272K (2020) → $312K (2024)
Dave Kennedy
Chairman
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
George Hodges
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Helen F. Appell II
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Josephine S. Appell
Vice Chair & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Louis J. Appell III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beverly Mackereth
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne McConky
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Stetler
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: John L. Finlayson (2020–2021) — Treasurer & Trustee
- Former: Sally Dixon (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $312K, to Michael H Hady III (President/CEO).
Frequently asked questions about Powder Mill Foundation
How much does Powder Mill Foundation give each year?
Powder Mill Foundation gave $11.4M across 87 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.0M across 113 grants.
What is Powder Mill Foundation's typical grant size?
Powder Mill Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $130,965, across 87 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Powder Mill Foundation that year got $302K on average.
Where does Powder Mill Foundation give grants?
Powder Mill Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were York, PA (69 grants), Harrisburg, PA (4 grants), Wrightsville, PA (2 grants) and New Freedom, PA (2 grants).
Does Powder Mill Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 87 grants with a stated purpose on Powder Mill Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Pledge Payment" (14 grants), "Support" (3 grants) and "New Flooring" (3 grants).
Who are Powder Mill Foundation's largest grantees?
Powder Mill Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Communty Connections for Children ($3,000,000), Crispis Attucks Association ($1,250,000) and Harrisburg University ($1,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Powder Mill Foundation?
Powder Mill Foundation reported $146.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $14.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Powder Mill Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support local nonprofits through funding for capital improvements and expenditures, new programs, collaborative efforts, and community development initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Powder Mill Foundation?
The foundation’s website provides an application through its grants portal; the 2024 filing describes submitting a letter outlining need. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Powder Mill Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/powder-mill-foundation-morg_cbd50f191b9447279ee478c98dca285b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237751589_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Powder Mill Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/powder-mill-foundation-morg_cbd50f191b9447279ee478c98dca285b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Powder Mill Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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