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Butler Conservation Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$8.8M
Grant Range
$1K - $2.8M

Butler Conservation Fund Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: ~$8.8 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $90.6 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $2.8 million
  • Typical Grant Size: $5,000 - $25,000 (most grants)
  • Number of Grants: 16 grants (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Maine, New York (Adirondacks), South Carolina/Georgia Lowcountry, British Columbia/Alaska, Patagonia (Chile/Argentina), Eastern Africa
  • Application Status: Does not accept unsolicited applications

Contact Details

Address: 60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 214, Great Neck, NY 11021
Phone: (212) 303-0200
Website: butlerconservationfund.org

Overview

The Butler Conservation Fund (BCF), also known as Butler Conservation, Inc., was established in 1989 by Gilbert Butler, founder of the private equity firm Butler Capital Corporation. When Butler wound down his business in 2005, he dedicated 80 percent of the assets realized from the liquidation to charitable causes, with 80 percent of that devoted to environmental conservation through BCF. Through 2015, BCF invested more than $41 million in environmental programs, more than $14 million in outdoor education programs, and more than $10 million in advocacy.

BCF is distinctive in its approach: rather than solely making grants to established conservation organizations, it has shifted toward directly acquiring land and building recreational infrastructure—trails, boardwalks, pavilions, and visitor facilities. The foundation emphasizes "legacy conservation," focusing its support on grantees and projects in six designated "legacy geographies" to which the founder has deep personal attachment. Gilbert Butler received the 2024 Margaret Douglas Medal from the Garden Club of America for notable service to conservation education.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

BCF operates primarily through long-term partnerships with "legacy organizations" and direct land acquisition/development:

  • Major Infrastructure Grants: Up to $2.8 million for landscape-scale conservation projects
  • Legacy Organization Support: Multi-year commitments to established partners, typically $25,000-$500,000
  • Smaller Conservation Grants: $1,000-$25,000 for regional land trusts and conservation groups

Priority Areas

Land Conservation

  • Acquisition and protection of ecologically significant lands
  • Creation of public parks and recreational infrastructure
  • Trail systems, boat launches, and visitor facilities

Environmental Advocacy

  • Environmental law and policy initiatives
  • Anti-extraction campaigns (opposing logging, mining, oil/gas development)
  • Clean air and public health research

Outdoor Education

  • Programs introducing young people to outdoor recreation
  • Free outdoor education experiences for school-age children
  • Combining outdoor activities with science and history lessons

Legacy Geographies

BCF concentrates funding in six specific regions:

  1. Adirondack Region and Shawangunk Ridge, New York - Protection of Adirondack Park wilderness, Black River Valley, Tug Hill Plateau
  2. Maine Coast and North Woods - Including Cobscook Bay region, Acadia area, and interior wilderness
  3. South Carolina and Georgia Lowcountry - Blackwater rivers, salt-marsh estuaries, barrier islands
  4. British Columbia and Southeast Alaska - Tongass National Forest protection, Great Bear Rainforest
  5. Patagonia (Chile and Argentina) - Expansion of national parks, private preserves for government donation
  6. Eastern Africa - Kenya's Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Mozambique's Niassa Reserve

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations outside their established legacy geography focus
  • Projects unrelated to environmental conservation or outdoor education
  • Unsolicited proposals from organizations without existing relationships
  • Organizations not aligned with their specific conservation philosophy

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Gilbert Butler - Founder, President & CFO
Harvard College and Columbia Business School graduate; pioneer of private equity industry; founded Butler Capital Corporation in 1979; devoted to environmental conservation since 2005.

Anthony P. Grassi - Chairman
Past Chairman of the Nature Conservancy; former Managing Director at Crédit Suisse First Boston; served on boards of TNC Connecticut and Maine chapters; former Chairman of American Rivers.

"This is his aesthetic at work. He wants these places to be beautiful." — Tony Grassi, on Gilbert Butler's approach

Kristine McDivitt Tompkins - Director
Former CEO of Patagonia, Inc.; with her late husband Douglas Tompkins, protected over 2.2 million acres in Chile and Argentina; first conservationist awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy; UN Global Patron for Protected Areas (2018).

Dana Beach - Director
Founder and Director Emeritus of South Carolina's Coastal Conservation League.

Ildiko Butler - Director
Wife of Gilbert Butler; amateur photographer; shares dedication to environmental causes.

Carl Carlson - Director & Chief Operating Officer

R. Bradford Malt - Director

Lauren Simpson - Director

Staff

Robert Charles Howe - Director of Park Lands ($165,000 compensation)
Jennifer McGovern - Controller ($32,500 compensation)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process.

BCF explicitly states it does not consider unsolicited proposals for funding and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. The foundation's grantmaking centers on a select number of long-term partners with proven track records in their legacy geographies.

According to Inside Philanthropy: "This is a tough nut to crack if you're not already a grantee... This is not a funder that likes being contacted about funding opportunities."

Getting on Their Radar

Important: The following information reflects BCF's specific operational model:

  • Board-Driven Identification: BCF is described as a "board-driven entity." Directors like Tony Grassi (former Nature Conservancy Chairman), Kristine Tompkins (Patagonia, Inc. former CEO), and Dana Beach (Coastal Conservation League founder) work within conservation networks and likely identify partners through those connections.

  • Legacy Geography Focus: Organizations must work within one of BCF's six designated legacy geographies to be considered. Projects outside these areas are unlikely to receive support regardless of merit.

  • Demonstrated Track Record: BCF has described its partners as having "demonstrated outstanding expertise and a strong management capacity and have a proven track record of success."

  • Alignment with Direct-Action Model: BCF increasingly acquires land directly and builds infrastructure rather than simply making grants. Organizations partnering with BCF on land acquisition or infrastructure projects in their target regions may have better prospects.

  • Youth Education Component: Gilbert Butler was influenced by Richard Louv's Last Child in the Woods and prioritizes getting young people outdoors. Organizations with strong outdoor youth education programs may align well with this priority.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly documented. Given the invitation-only model, decisions likely occur through ongoing board discussions rather than formal application cycles.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable—BCF does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

What BCF Values in Partners

Geographic Alignment: BCF concentrates nearly all funding in six specific legacy geographies. Organizations outside these regions are extremely unlikely to receive support.

Long-Term Relationships: BCF describes itself as making "long-term commitments with leading organizations" and working with "legacy organizations" that have proven track records over many years.

Measurable Impact: BCF works "intensively with grantees to craft programs and projects with significant impacts" and focuses on "multi-year projects that accomplish measurable, impactful and long-lasting outcomes."

Aesthetic Excellence: Board Chair Tony Grassi noted that Gilbert Butler "wants these places to be beautiful"—suggesting BCF values partners who share high standards for quality in conservation infrastructure.

Public Access Philosophy: BCF prioritizes creating visitor facilities and recreational access rather than preservation purism. Partners should emphasize public engagement with conserved lands.

Youth Engagement: Programs that introduce young people to outdoor recreation align with BCF's Butler Outdoor Education Fund, established in 2011.

Recent Major Grantees (2023)

  • Cobscook Shores Inc. - $2.79 million (Maine coastal park system)
  • Black River Cypress Preserve LLC - $2.42 million
  • Penobscot River Trails Inc. - $887,000
  • Banco des Bosques (Argentina) - $128,000
  • Maine Coast Heritage Trust - smaller grant
  • Trees for Houston - smaller grant
  • Regional land trusts in South Carolina, Florida, Texas

Organizations with Historical BCF Relationships

  • American Rivers
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • Maine Coast Heritage Trust
  • Conservación Patagónica
  • Environmental Defense Fund
  • Open Space Institute
  • Coastal Conservation League (South Carolina)
  • Lewa Wildlife Conservancy (Kenya)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Do not submit unsolicited proposals - BCF explicitly states it does not accept unsolicited requests and discourages direct contact about funding opportunities.

  2. Geographic fit is essential - BCF only funds in six specific "legacy geographies." If your work is outside Maine, Adirondacks/New York, South Carolina/Georgia Lowcountry, British Columbia/Alaska, Patagonia, or Eastern Africa, BCF is not a prospect.

  3. Relationship-based funding model - This is a board-driven organization that identifies partners through its directors' conservation networks. Building relationships with current grantees or serving on boards alongside BCF directors may create entry points.

  4. Emphasis on tangible outcomes - BCF has shifted from pure grantmaking to direct land acquisition and infrastructure development. Partners who can collaborate on creating finished parks, trails, and facilities align with current priorities.

  5. Youth education resonates - Gilbert Butler's focus on getting young people outdoors is a core value. Organizations with strong outdoor education programs for school-age children may have stronger appeal.

  6. Quality and aesthetics matter - BCF invests heavily in beautiful infrastructure and visitor facilities. Partners should demonstrate commitment to high-quality, well-designed projects.

  7. Patience and long-term vision - BCF makes multi-year commitments to proven partners. This is not a funder for quick grants or new organizations seeking startup support.

References

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