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
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
No grants recorded for .
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
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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