J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The Butler Foundation funds disability-inclusion work—after-school, summer, vacation and work-readiness programmes including educational support, social and recreational activities, leadership development and mentoring—for organisations with programmes in the New York metropolitan and Boston areas, so check your work fits before applying.
- Most grants to organisations fall between $15,000 and $80,000, with a median of $48,000, so pitch a request in that range rather than aiming for the $340,000 largest grant.
- Start with a two-page letter of inquiry covering your organisation, project, goals, other potential funders and a preliminary budget, timed to one of the fixed deadlines of 15 March, 15 August or 15 November.
- With 95% of grant dollars going to organisations it has also funded in prior filings, this looks like a relationship-led funder, so expect ongoing engagement rather than a one-off approach.
- It does not fund capital campaigns, endowments or research projects, individuals, annual giving programs, educational institutions or religious organizations, so do not apply if your request falls into any of these categories.
Overview
J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Butler Foundation funds innovative, inclusive programmes in which people of all abilities can learn from one another and respect each person’s unique abilities. Its priority is to provide resources for people with physical, developmental and learning disabilities to engage in meaningful endeavours that build engagement, self-esteem, self-advocacy and competencies. It focuses on after-school, summer, vacation and work-readiness programmes, including educational support, social and recreational activities, leadership development, mentoring, community involvement and employment opportunities. Staff development and collaboration among community organisations are important to this work. Eligible applicants are tax-exempt organisations with programmes in the New York metropolitan and Boston areas; direct-service programmes offering personal growth are integral to its mission.
Themes
- Disability inclusion
- Educational support
- Social and recreation
- Leadership development
- Mentoring
- Work readiness
- Staff development
Geographic Focus
New York Metropolitan; Boston Areas.
What They Don't Fund
- Grants to capital campaigns, endowments and research projects are generally not considered
- Individuals
- Annual giving programs
- Educational institutions
- Religious organizations
How to apply
Organisations submit an initial letter of inquiry (LOI), no longer than two pages, with a description of the organisation and project, its goals and objectives, other potential funders and a preliminary budget before a formal application is considered.
Deadlines: Each cycle has a deadline of 15 March, 15 August and 15 November.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 95% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 275 grants to organisations were $48,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It favours innovative, inclusive programming in which people of all abilities learn from one another and respect each person’s unique abilities.
- Direct-service programmes offering opportunities for personal growth are integral to its mission.
- It values creative, interactive engagement with its funding partners.
- Projects meeting its criteria receive a site visit before the organisation may be invited to submit a formal proposal.
- It encourages grantees to build on successful projects by seeking additional funders to support their long-term viability.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 4% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to organisations J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 2% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 85 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst · Youth m' power$150,0002024 tax year
- YM & YWHA of Washington Heights and Inwood · Inclusion coordinator special needs services$128,8002024 tax year
- Mosholu Montefiore Community Center · Forward! life and workforce readiness program$125,0002024 tax year
- Massachusetts Advocates for Children · Latino lawyer special education advocacy project$125,0002024 tax year
- Ramapo for Children · Advanced classp$114,5752024 tax year
- Montefiore Medical Center · School health program$100,0002024 tax year
- UJA-Federation · Day camp scholarships for youth with disabilities$100,0002024 tax year
- Mid Island Y JCC · Butler service coordination - long island$95,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Rebecca Parrish Snowdon — Director
- Nicole Doniger — Director
- Patricia Goldman — VP / Secretary / Treasurer
- Carol Parrish — VP
- Bruce Doniger — President / CFO
- Pamela Macaffer — Director
- Debora Isdale — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,903,176 | $4,809,129 | $101,248,864 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $6,045,002 | $4,138,143 | $111,162,068 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $7,271,517 | $4,360,760 | $118,398,760 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation?
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Applying to J.E. & Z.B. Butler Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required