Butler Parklands Inc (also known as Butler Conservation Fund) is a private foundation based in Great Neck, New York, dedicated to conservation and environmental protection. The organization operates as both a grantmaker and a direct operator of parklands and recreational facilities across North and South America. Rather than functioning solely as a traditional foundation, Butler Parklands has evolved to conduct landscape-scale infrastructure projects involving ownership and management of land and facilities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$111.6M
+23.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
-29.8% YoY
Grant Count
20
+25.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$137K
-43.8% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
Butler Parklands is dedicated to the conservation and protection of the natural environment and to environmental education and recreation, especially for young people. The organization focuses on creating public recreation infrastructure on large tracts of conserved land to foster and promote public access to and use, enjoyment, education, and non-motorized travel.
The foundation's work is driven by founder Gilbert Butler's personal connections to specific regions, including New York City, the Adirondacks, Maine, and the Alder Creek/Tug Hill Plateau region of upstate New York. Over its history, Butler Parklands has contributed more than $75 million to conservation and historic preservation initiatives.
Grantmaking
Butler Parklands makes grants to environmental organizations and initiatives. Recent grants (2023-2024) include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Butler Parklands operates parks and makes grants across multiple regions:
- New York: Central Park area (through grants to Central Park Conservancy), the Adirondacks, and the Alder Creek/Tug Hill Plateau region
- Maine: Cobscook Bay area and other coastal regions
- North and South America: Including Patagonia National Park in Chilean Patagonia
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $112 million
- Total Distributions: $6.5 million
- Total Contributions: $2.5 million
- Median Grant: $5,000
- Maximum Grant: $1.7 million
- Number of Grants: 20
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $90,633,990
- Total Revenues: $10,142,066
- Total Expenses: $9,860,228
- Total Giving: $3,902,290
The organization has 2 employees and operates with minimal staff compensation, with most board members serving without salary.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $111,585,516 | $90,633,990 | $83,066,592 |
| Revenue | $9,901,085 | $10,142,066 | $2,427,280 |
| Expenses | $7,279,710 | $9,860,228 | $8,310,327 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,537,138 | $8,798,053 | $7,661,201 |
| Net Investment Income | $6,838,513 | $2,655,293 | $1,670,210 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,730,130 | $4,221,792 | $4,110,224 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cobscook Shores Inc ($1,673,941), Penobscot River Trails Inc ($777,602), Banco Des Bosques ($170,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BANCO DES BOSQUES | ENVIRONMENTAL | $170,000 |
| COBSCOOK SHORES INC GREAT NECK, NY | ENVIRONMENTAL | $1,673,941 |
| CONNECTICUT RIVER CONSERVANCY GREENFIELD, MA | ENVIRONMENTAL | $20,000 |
| CONSERVATION VOTERS OF SOUTH CAROLINA COLUMBIA, SC | ENVIRONMENTAL | $1,000 |
| FRIENDS OF ACADIA BAR HARBOR, ME | ENVIRONMENTAL | $5,000 |
| GALVESTON BAY FOUNDATION KEMAH, TX | ENVIRONMENTAL | $5,000 |
| GREENUTICA UTICA, NY | ENVIRONMENTAL | $6,000 |
| HOBCAW BARONY - BELLE W BARUCH FOUNDATION GEORGETOWN, SC | ENVIRONMENTAL | $500 |
| INDIAN RIVER LAND TRUST VERO BEACH, FL | ENVIRONMENTAL | $1,000 |
| LUBEC FIRE DEPARTMENT LUBEC, ME | SOCIAL WELFARE | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Gilbert Butler: Founder, President, CFO, and Director. Butler's conservation ethic developed during childhood in the Adirondack foothills near Utica, New York. He studied at Milton Academy and Harvard University, earned an MBA from Columbia University, and built a career in finance at Morgan Guaranty Trust Company before founding Butler Capital, a private equity firm.
- Anthony P. Grassi: Chairman and Director
- Dana Beach: Director
- Robert Charles Howe: Director of Parklands
- Kristine Tompkins: Director Emerita
- Ildiko Butler: Director
- Carl Carlson: Director
- Lauren Simpson: Secretary/Clerk
- Jennifer McGovern: Controller
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| GILBERT BUTLER | PRESIDENT/CFO/DIRECTOR | 20 | — |
| ANTHONY P GRASSI | CHAIRMAN/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DANA BEACH | DIRECTOR | 13 | $111,375 |
| KRISTINE TOMPKINS | DIRECTOR EMERITA | 0.5 | — |
| ILDIKO BUTLER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CARL CARLSON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| R BRADFORD MALT- RESIGNED 1524 | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| LAUREN SIMPSON | SECRETARY/CLERK | 1 | — |
| ROBERT CHARLES HOWE | DIRECTOR OF PARKLANDS | 24 | $180,000 |
| JOSEPH MANCARI- ELECTED 42624 | TREASURER | 4 | — |
| JENNIFER MCGOVERN | CONTROLLER | 8 | — |
| THOMAS PHILLIPS- ELECTED 61424 | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KIM ELLIMAN- ELECTED 61424 | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | 0.5 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Butler Parklands Inc fund?
Butler Parklands is dedicated to the conservation and protection of the natural environment and to environmental education and recreation, especially for young people. The organization focuses on creating public recreation infrastructure on large tracts of conserved land to foster and promote public access to and use, enjoyment, education, and non-motorized travel. The foundation's work is driven by founder Gilbert Butler's personal connections to specific regions, including New York City, the …
How do I apply for a grant from Butler Parklands Inc?
Butler Parklands makes grants to environmental organizations and initiatives. Recent grants (2023-2024) include: • Cobscook Shores: $2,794,381 • Penobscot River Trails: $887,311 • Black River Environmental Improvement Association: $42,098 The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. According to their website, they are "solely focused on building and operating parks in North and South America" and are committed to supporting park building worldwide by disseminating best practices, case…
Where does Butler Parklands Inc make grants?
Butler Parklands operates parks and makes grants across multiple regions: • **New York**: Central Park area (through grants to Central Park Conservancy), the Adirondacks, and the Alder Creek/Tug Hill Plateau region • **Maine**: Cobscook Bay area and other coastal regions • **North and South America**: Including Patagonia National Park in Chilean Patagonia
What size grants does Butler Parklands Inc award?
In 2024, Butler Parklands Inc awarded 20 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $137K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Butler Parklands Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Butler Parklands Inc reported a distributable amount of $4.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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