The Butler Family Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a cold approach is unlikely to be considered, and an existing link or invitation is the realistic route in.
- Its grants span arts and culture, education, youth services, community, health and social services, so a small organisation in one of these fields may fit, though the filing states no overall funding remit.
- About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $250 and $50,000, and the median grant is $5,000, so a modest request is the typical size, though this band is not a ceiling.
- In the filing, 98% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations the foundation had also funded in earlier filings, so relationships matter more than anything else.
- No geographic focus is stated, although the filings show grants mainly in Iowa, Ohio and Illinois, so a group elsewhere should not assume it is excluded.
Overview
The Butler Family Foundation is a US private foundation based in Dubuque, IA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation's grants go to a varied set of charitable organisations, including arts and cultural bodies, schools and universities, youth-serving groups, and community, health and social-service organisations. Recorded purposes include visual arts and opera, university and charter-school education, youth services, community and economic development, individual liberties and public policy, and patient care, research and education. Its grant record also shows support for local community services and for organisations beyond Iowa. The filings do not state an overall funding remit or broader eligibility rules; grants are limited to preselected charitable organisations.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Iowa, Ohio and Illinois.
How to apply
The foundation contributes only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests; the filing gives no application steps.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% 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 196 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 1%
- The largest single recipient received 67% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations The Butler Family Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 14% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 65 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Dubuque Museum of Art · Visual arts$14,817,6302024 tax year
- Lyric Opera of Chicago · Express and promote great opera$500,0002024 tax year
- Dubuque Community YMCA · Domestic violence program & construction match$269,6262024 tax year
- Noble Schools · Support of butler college prep and summer of a lifetime programs$105,0002024 tax year
- Saint Mark Youth Enrichment · Provide healthy and enriching before and after school and summer programs$100,0002024 tax year
- Mississippi Driftless Regional Foundation · Provide financial support for community development projects$100,0002024 tax year
- American Enterprise Institute · Community and economic development$50,0002024 tax year
- Illinois Network of Charter Schools · Charter school education$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Timothy L Berns — Secretary / Treasurer
- Alice L Butler — Vice-Chairperson
- John E Butler — Chairperson
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $4,786,049 | $4,557,416 | $56,801,413 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,956,951 | $1,832,406 | $65,086,680 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $16,737,866 | $16,487,062 | $57,506,508 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to The Butler Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Dubuque, IA
Applying to The Butler Family Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Dubuque, IA