Appleman Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• EIN: 136154978
• Annual Giving: $2,084,934 (2024)
• Total Assets: $31.6 million (2023)
• Grant Range: $4 - $800,000
• Number of Grants: 134 awards (2024)
• Geographic Focus: Primarily New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts (with some national reach)
• Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: c/o Bessemer Trust Company
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

Phone: (212) 708-9100

Note: The foundation is administered through Bessemer Trust Company. All inquiries should be directed through this address.

Overview

The Appleman Foundation Inc was established in March 1953 by Nathan Appleman, an oilman and philanthropist who died in 1992, and members of the Appleman family. The foundation has grown to hold assets of approximately $31.6 million and distributes over $2 million annually in grants. Nathan Appleman was active in the American Jewish Committee, which named its Nathan Appleman Institute for the Advancement of Christian-Jewish Understanding in his honor. Today, the foundation is led by his daughters, Susan Unterberg (President) and Ellen Unterberg Celli (Vice President), who continue their father's philanthropic legacy. The foundation focuses primarily on Jewish organizations, while also supporting hospitals, the arts, education, and human services. The foundation operates as a family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking rather than accepting public applications.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs or application cycles. All grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees based on their philanthropic interests and established relationships.

Grant Amounts: Range from $4 to $800,000, with significant variation based on the organization and purpose. The average grant size is approximately $25,285.

Recent Grant Activity:

• 2024: 134 grants totaling $2,084,934
• 2023: 102 grants totaling $782,850
• 2022: 97 grants
• 2021: 85 grants

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

• Jewish Organizations: This is the foundation's primary focus area, reflecting the family's commitment to Jewish causes and continuing Nathan Appleman's legacy with the American Jewish Committee
• Arts and Culture: Including support for visual arts, performing arts, and cultural institutions
• Education: Supporting educational institutions and programs
• Hospitals and Health: Healthcare institutions and health-related services
• Human Services: Organizations providing social services and community support

Geographic Emphasis:

• Primary focus on New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts
• Also funds initiatives in other major U.S. cities including Boston, Seattle, and various locations in California, Texas, and Washington

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but as an invitation-only foundation, they do not consider unsolicited requests from organizations outside their established network of grantees.

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel

Susan Unterberg, President
Susan Unterberg is a photographer and the daughter of Nathan Appleman. She is well-known in the arts community as the founder and sole funder of the "Anonymous Was A Woman" award program, which she funded through her inheritance from the Appleman Foundation. Between 1996 and 2024, this program awarded more than 300 underrecognized female artists over the age of 40 with grants totaling more than $6.5 million. She revealed her identity as the anonymous benefactor in 2018 and has since been honored with the Marian MacDowell Arts Advocacy Award for her work supporting female artists.

Ellen Unterberg Celli, Vice President
Ellen Unterberg Celli is also a daughter of Nathan Appleman and serves as Vice President of the foundation, continuing the family's philanthropic work.

James Satloff, Secretary and Treasurer
James Satloff handles the administrative and financial aspects of the foundation.

All officers serve without compensation, reflecting the family foundation's structure and values.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Appleman Foundation does not respond to unsolicited applications for funding. All grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the board's identified priorities and existing relationships.

This is a private family foundation that makes grants to organizations that the trustees have identified through their own networks, interests, and philanthropic activities. Organizations cannot submit applications or proposals unless specifically invited to do so by the foundation.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, understanding their funding patterns and interests may be valuable:

Trustee Connections: Given that Susan Unterberg is deeply involved in the arts community, particularly in supporting female artists, organizations working in visual arts and supporting women artists may align with her interests. Her work with "Anonymous Was A Woman" demonstrates a commitment to supporting underrecognized artists, particularly women over 40.

Jewish Community Networks: With the foundation's primary focus on Jewish organizations, being visible and active within Jewish community networks in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts may be beneficial. The foundation's connection to the American Jewish Committee through Nathan Appleman's legacy suggests alignment with organizations focused on interfaith understanding and Jewish community development.

Arts and Cultural Institutions: The foundation's support for arts and culture, combined with Susan Unterberg's personal involvement in the arts world, suggests that established arts institutions may be of interest to the trustees.

Existing Grantee Networks: Organizations similar to those that have previously received funding may come to the trustees' attention through sector networks and peer recommendations.

Important Note: Even with connections in these areas, there is no guarantee of funding consideration, as all grantmaking decisions rest entirely with the trustees based on invitation only.

Application Success Factors

Since this is an invitation-only foundation, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding what the foundation values based on its grantmaking patterns can be instructive:

Alignment with Trustee Values

Jewish Heritage and Community: The foundation's primary focus reflects the Appleman family's commitment to Jewish causes. Organizations that preserve and strengthen Jewish life, culture, and interfaith understanding align with the foundation's core mission.

Support for Women and Underrecognized Artists: Susan Unterberg's decades-long commitment to supporting female artists over 40 through "Anonymous Was A Woman" reveals a deep interest in addressing gender disparities in the arts and supporting artists who may be overlooked by traditional funding sources.

Quality Arts and Cultural Programming: The foundation supports established arts and cultural institutions, suggesting an appreciation for organizations with strong track records and significant community impact.

Healthcare and Human Services: Support for hospitals and human services organizations indicates interest in addressing fundamental community needs, particularly in the foundation's geographic focus areas.

What the Foundation's Giving Patterns Reveal

Wide Range of Grant Sizes: With grants ranging from $4 to $800,000, the foundation supports organizations of varying sizes and for different purposes, from small targeted gifts to substantial institutional support.

Consistent Grantmaking: The foundation has shown steady growth in its number of grants, from 85 in 2021 to 134 in 2024, indicating an expanding portfolio of support.

Geographic Concentration with National Reach: While focused primarily on New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, the foundation does make grants nationally, particularly to major cities and significant institutions.

Long-term Relationships: As a family foundation operating since 1953, many grants likely reflect long-standing relationships and commitments to organizations the family has supported over generations.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Invitation Only: This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. Do not submit proposals unless specifically invited by the trustees.

• Family Foundation Values: Grantmaking reflects the personal interests and values of the Appleman family, particularly the daughters of founder Nathan Appleman who currently lead the foundation.

• Primary Focus on Jewish Causes: Organizations serving Jewish communities or promoting interfaith understanding are the foundation's primary interest, honoring Nathan Appleman's legacy with the American Jewish Committee.

• Strong Arts Support: Susan Unterberg's prominence in the arts world and her decades of supporting female artists suggest that arts organizations, particularly those supporting women artists, align with trustee interests.

• No Success Rate Data: Because applications are not accepted, there is no success rate or competitive process to analyze.

• Network-Based Grantmaking: Grants appear to flow through the trustees' professional networks, community connections, and established institutional relationships.

• Not a Funding Prospect for Most Organizations: Unless your organization has existing relationships with the Appleman family, trustees, or their close associates, this foundation should not be considered a viable funding prospect.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Appleman Foundation Inc (EIN 136154978). Available at: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/136154978

• Instrumentl 990 Report: Appleman Foundation Inc. Available at: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/appleman-foundation-inc

• Cause IQ Organization Profile: Appleman Foundation. Available at: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/appleman-foundation,136154978/

• Foundation Directory Online (Candid): Appleman Foundation Inc. Available at: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=APPL004

• Philanthropy New York: The Appleman Foundation, Inc. c/o Bessemer Trust Co. Available at: https://philanthropynewyork.org/redhen/org/811

• Sun Sentinel (November 30, 1992): "N. Appleman, Philanthropist." Obituary of Nathan Appleman. Available at: https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1992/11/30/n-appleman-philanthropist/

• Inside Philanthropy (January 11, 2019): "Anonymous No More: A Closer Look at an Intriguing Arts Funder." Available at: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2019-1-11-anonymous-no-more-a-closer-look-at-an-intriguing-arts-funder

• W Magazine: "This Photographer Has Anonymously Donated Millions to Female Artists for Decades." Profile of Susan Unterberg and Anonymous Was A Woman. Available at: https://www.wmagazine.com/story/susan-unterberg-anonymous-was-a-woman-donations

• Wikipedia: Susan Unterberg. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Unterberg

• FoundationSearch: Appleman Foundation Inc Summary. Available at: https://www.foundationsearch.com/topsp/1/appleman-foundation-inc-136154978.html

All sources accessed March 2026.