Apple Pickers Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $468,500 - $575,000
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $150,000
• Geographic Focus: Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York

Contact Details

• Administrative Address: Foundation Source, 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available
• Website: None
• Application Support: Not applicable - invitation only

Overview

The Apple Pickers Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2006 by the Warburg family. With total assets of approximately $13 million as of 2024, the foundation distributes $468,500 to $575,000 annually to 15-21 carefully selected charitable organizations. Originally based in Connecticut and now administratively headquartered in Delaware through Foundation Source, the foundation maintains strong ties to New England communities. The foundation operates as a traditional family philanthropy vehicle focused on education, human services, and public health initiatives, with particular attention to underserved populations and youth development.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate specific grant programs but makes discretionary grants in the following ranges:

• General Support Grants: $1,000 - $150,000 (average grant approximately $25,000-30,000)
• Grants are made through trustee discretion on an invitation-only basis

Priority Areas

• Education: Primary focus area, supporting educational institutions and programs
• Human Services: Programs serving vulnerable populations
• Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking: Supporting charitable infrastructure
• Public Health Education: Notably Lyme disease awareness and prevention
• Target Populations: Children and youth, students, economically disadvantaged individuals, low-income populations

What They Don't Fund

• Individual grants or scholarships
• Unsolicited proposals
• Organizations outside their geographic focus area
• For-profit entities

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• John Warburg - Trustee
• Michael Warburg - Trustee (1996 graduate with master's in accounting)
• George S. Warburg - Original trustee/donor who established the foundation

Michael Warburg has been quoted regarding the foundation's interest in Lyme disease prevention: "We observed a critical lack of focus on awareness and public health education in this field," explaining the foundation's $100,000 grant to the University of Rhode Island for tick-bite protection research and outreach.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The Apple Pickers Foundation explicitly states that they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and "do not accept unsolicited requests for funds." All grants are made at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to organizations they have identified through their networks and community connections.

Getting on Their Radar

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations cannot directly apply. Based on their grant-making patterns, the foundation appears to identify beneficiaries through:

• Existing relationships within Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire communities where the Warburg family has established ties
• Organizations serving children, youth, and economically disadvantaged populations in their focus regions
• Institutions and programs with demonstrated impact in education and human services

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without a formal application process

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation only

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation only

Application Success Factors

Since the Apple Pickers Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that align with their demonstrated funding patterns share these characteristics:

• Geographic alignment: Based in or serving Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, with some presence in Massachusetts and New York
• Mission alignment: Clear focus on education, human services, or public health education
• Target population match: Programs specifically serving children, youth, students, or economically disadvantaged populations
• Established track record: The foundation's grant recipients tend to be established organizations with proven impact
• Regional presence: Many recipients are well-known institutions in their local communities

Notable past grant example: University of Rhode Island received $100,000 for Lyme disease prevention research and outreach, demonstrating the foundation's interest in innovative public health education initiatives with regional impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No direct application possible: This is a pure invitation-only funder with no public application process
• Geographic focus is critical: Organizations must operate in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, or neighboring states
• Family foundation model: All decisions made by Warburg family trustees based on their personal interests and networks
• Consistent annual giving: The foundation reliably distributes $468,500-$575,000 annually to 15-21 organizations
• Education is primary focus: Educational institutions and programs receive priority consideration
• Size and scope: With $13 million in assets, this is a mid-sized family foundation making grants ranging from $1,000 to $150,000

References

• Foundation Directory Online, Candid (accessed February 2026) - Apple Pickers Foundation profile, EIN 20-7196513
• IRS Form 990-PF filings for Apple Pickers Foundation (2022, 2023, 2024)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Apple Pickers Foundation tax filings and financial data
• Foundation Source administrative records showing Wilmington, DE address
• University of Rhode Island grant announcement (2007) regarding Lyme disease prevention grant