Butler Parklands Inc
Butler Parklands Inc is a private foundation based in Great Neck, New York. It supports environmental conservation and operates parks in North and South America, with work that includes developing public recreation infrastructure on conserved land.
Butler Parklands Inc at a glance
In short: Butler Parklands Inc gave $2.7M across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $137K), mostly in New York. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,739,223
- -29.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $136,961
- -43.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $111,585,516
- +23.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (6 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Butler Parklands Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
Butler Parklands does not accept unsolicited requests. It states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 60 Cutter Mill Road 214, Great Neck, NY 11021
Phone: (212) 303-0200
Website: https://butlerparklands.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Butler Parklands Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Cobscook Shores Inc ($1.7M). Together the top 10 received $2.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 70 grants of 92 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Butler Parklands says it builds and operates parks in North and South America. Its website identifies parklands and projects in New York, Maine, South Carolina, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. In 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York; the filing also reports grants to recipients in Maine, Massachusetts, and South Carolina, among other locations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Butler Parklands Inc open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 20 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $190K. How we count
Medians: $13K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 48% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 138% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $2.7M (2024) to $5.3M (2021). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cobscook Shores Inc Great Neck, NY | Environmental | $1,673,941 |
| Penobscot River Trails Inc Great Neck, NY | Environmental | $777,602 |
| Banco Des Bosques | Environmental | $170,000 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council New York, NY | Environmental | $25,000 |
| Connecticut River Conservancy Greenfield, MA | Environmental | $20,000 |
| Mid-Coast Conservancy Wiscasset, ME | Environmental | $15,000 |
| Maine Coast Heritage Trust Topsham, ME | Environmental | $10,000 |
| Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc New York, NY | Environmental | $10,000 |
| Greenutica Utica, NY | Environmental | $6,000 |
| Friends of Acadia Bar Harbor, ME | Environmental | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $111,585,516 | $9,901,085 | $7,279,710 | $2,739,223 | 20 | $6,537,138 | $6,838,513 | $4,730,130 |
| 2023 | $90,633,990 | $10,142,066 | $9,860,228 | $3,902,290 | 16 | $8,798,053 | $2,655,293 | $4,221,792 |
| 2022 | $83,066,592 | $2,427,280 | $8,310,327 | $2,935,820 | 16 | $7,661,201 | $1,670,210 | $4,110,224 |
| 2021 | $91,513,163 | $9,658,874 | $8,053,556 | $5,316,244 | 17 | $6,264,690 | $7,671,457 | $3,319,030 |
| 2020 | $85,105,566 | $7,150,313 | $8,567,470 | $5,171,022 | 23 | — | $2,031,816 | $3,774,298 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Butler Parklands Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Butler Parklands’ stated direct charitable activity is conducting landscape-scale infrastructure projects that involve owning and managing land and facilities. It says public recreation infrastructure on large tracts of conserved land is intended to foster public access, recreation, education, and non-motorized travel.
Its parks provide activities including hiking, biking, skiing, and paddling. Butler Parklands also runs outdoor education programs in five focus areas, combining outdoor activity with lessons in subjects including ecology, geology, biology, and history. The organization reports that these programs have hosted more than 200,000 student visits.
Its 2024 grants included organizations working on land and water conservation. For example, Midcoast Conservancy describes its mission as protecting vital lands and waters and inspiring action on behalf of all species and the Earth. Maine Coast Heritage Trust says it advances conservation of lands and waters in Maine, while Pee Dee Land Trust says it protects and promotes appreciation of natural, agricultural, and historical resources in South Carolina’s Pee Dee watershed.
Grantmaking
In 2024, Butler Parklands reported 20 grants totaling $2,739,223. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $1,673,941, with a median of $5,000. The listed grants were for environmental purposes.
The largest grants were $1,673,941 to CobsCook Shores Inc and $777,602 to Penobscot River Trails Inc, both listed in Great Neck, New York. Other notable grants included $170,000 to Banco des Bosques; $25,000 to the Natural Resources Defense Council; and $20,000 to Connecticut River Conservancy.
Additional 2024 grants included $15,000 to Midcoast Conservancy, $10,000 each to Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc, and $5,000 each to Friends of Acadia, Galveston Bay Foundation, Pee Dee Land Trust, and Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust. Open Space Institute Land Trust Inc describes its work as supporting land protection for clean drinking water, public recreation, healthy communities, and wildlife habitat. Friends of Acadia describes its mission as preserving and promoting stewardship of Acadia National Park’s natural beauty and cultural resources.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Gilbert Butler as president, CFO, and director; Anthony P. Grassi as chairman and director; Dana Beach, Ildiko Butler, and Carl Carlson as directors; Kristine Tompkins as director emerita; and Robert Charles Howe as director of parklands. Lauren Simpson is listed as secretary/clerk, and Joseph Mancari as treasurer.
Butler Parklands Inc is led by Gilbert Butler, President, CFO & Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 2 of 11 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gilbert Butler
President, CFO & Director
President & Treasurer → President, CFO & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony P. Grassi
Chairman & Director
Chairman → Chairman & Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dana Beach
Director
Director → Vice Chair Planning, Org. Development & Director, 2021
Vice Chair Planning, Org. Development & Director → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
13 hrs/week
$74K (2020) → $111K (2024)
Robert Charles Howe
Director of Parklands
Director of Park Lands → Director of Parklands, 2024
On filings since 2023
24 hrs/week
$165K (2023) → $180K (2024)
Ildiko Butler
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Phillips- Elected
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristine Tompkins
Director Emerita
Director → Director Emerita, 2024
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Simpson
Secretary & Clerk
Secretary → Secretary & Clerk, 2023
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Mancari- Elected
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer McGovern
Controller
New on the 2024 filing
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Elliman- Elected
Director Emeritus
New on the 2024 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Carl Carlson (2020–2024) — Director · Filing note: Resigned 4-29-22
- Former: R. Bradford Malt (2020–2024) — Director · Filing note: Resigned 1524
- Former: Carl Carlson- Elected (2023) — Director
- Former: Jennifer McGovern- Elected (2023) — Controller
- Former: Joseph Mancari (2023) — Assistant Treasurer · Filing note: Resigned 8-3-23
- Former: Gregory Galgano (2020–2022) — Controller & Chief Administrator Officer · Filing note: Resigned 3-11-22
- Former: Robert Charles Howe- Elected (2022) — Director of Park Lands
- Former: Tomer Inbar (2020–2021) — Secretary · Filing note: Resigned 42221
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $180K, to Robert Charles Howe (Director of Parklands). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Butler Parklands Inc
How much does Butler Parklands Inc give each year?
Butler Parklands Inc gave $2.7M across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.9M across 16 grants.
What is Butler Parklands Inc's typical grant size?
Butler Parklands Inc's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $136,961, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Butler Parklands Inc that year got $13K on average.
Where does Butler Parklands Inc give grants?
Butler Parklands Inc gives mostly in New York: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants), Great Neck, NY (2 grants) and Lubec, ME (2 grants).
Does Butler Parklands Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Butler Parklands Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Environmental" (18 grants).
Who are Butler Parklands Inc's largest grantees?
Butler Parklands Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Cobscook Shores Inc ($1,673,941), Penobscot River Trails Inc ($777,602) and Banco Des Bosques ($170,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Butler Parklands Inc?
Butler Parklands Inc reported $111.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Butler Parklands Inc fund?
Butler Parklands’ stated direct charitable activity is conducting landscape-scale infrastructure projects that involve owning and managing land and facilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Butler Parklands Inc?
Butler Parklands does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Butler Parklands Inc's EIN?
Butler Parklands Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3032409. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Butler Parklands Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Butler Parklands Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/butler-parklands-inc-morg_6bd5f209b2264f44b1618bfd0acbdea6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043032409_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Butler Parklands Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/butler-parklands-inc-morg_6bd5f209b2264f44b1618bfd0acbdea6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Butler Parklands Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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