Butterfly Equity Foundation
Based in Beverly Hills, California, Butterfly Equity Foundation is a Form 990-PF (a private foundation) focused on food justice. Its website says it supports qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofits working in nutrition security, food as medicine, and healthy, affordable food retail in neighborhoods with limited access, and that its work is focused on Los Angeles.
Butterfly Equity Foundation at a glance
In short: Butterfly Equity Foundation gave $622K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in California. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $621,550
- +10.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- +35.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $27,024
- -18.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $231,971
- -20.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (7 of 21, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (96% 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 Butterfly Equity Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website says it is not expanding its grantee cohort and cannot schedule exploratory meetings due to limited staff capacity; it welcomes a one-paragraph introduction from organizations that believe they align with its priorities.
- Contact
Mailing address: 9595 Wilshire Boulevard Suite 510, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: (310) 492-3743
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Butterfly Equity Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Food Forward ($72K). Together the top 10 received $565K.
Grant Size Distribution
74 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 74 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it is focused on organizations working in Los Angeles. In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 4% to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Butterfly Equity Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 21 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $41K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $47K repeat.
- 62% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 82% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $288K (2020) to $622K (2024). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $622K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Food Forward North Hollywood, CA | General Operations | $72,025 |
| Hollywood Food Coalition Los Angeles, CA | General Operations | $71,716 |
| Alma Backyard Farm Los Angeles, CA | General Operations | $69,000 |
| Community Partners Los Angeles, CA | General Operations - for La Food Policy Council | $68,500 |
| Social Justice Learning Institute Inglewood, CA | General Operations | $68,184 |
| Venice Family Clinic Venice, CA | General Operations | $58,500 |
| Special Service for Groups Los Angeles, CA | General Operations - for API Forward Movement | $51,500 |
| FARM2PEOPLE Los Angeles, CA | General Operations | $41,500 |
| Proyecto Pastoral Los Angeles, CA | General Operations | $39,000 |
| Urban Food Initiative Dorchester, MA | General Operations | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Butterfly Equity Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $231,971 | $809,100 | $998,712 | $621,550 | 23 | $867,278 | $8,040 |
| 2023 | $290,931 | $897,656 | $794,695 | $560,758 | 17 | $793,261 | $7,636 |
| 2022 | $187,860 | $580,203 | $736,446 | $526,900 | 16 | $735,012 | $10,526 |
| 2021 | $344,103 | $42,200 | $532,196 | $341,000 | 11 | $552,983 | $36,087 |
| 2020 | $815,256 | $77,950 | $321,149 | $287,950 | 7 | — | $48,938 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Butterfly Equity Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8K 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
The foundation’s mission is to empower community partners to strengthen the local food system and improve healthy food access for all. Its stated vision is a world where everyone has equitable access to nourishing food that promotes well-being. The foundation says it prioritizes general operating support so nonprofit partners can direct funds toward their own missions.
Grantees’ stated missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Food Forward says it fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing surplus produce and connecting it with people experiencing food insecurity. Hollywood Food Coalition says it welcomes people to dinner, redistributes rescued food, and supports its community through wellness programming and partnerships. Alma Backyard Farm says it produces and distributes healthy food, with an emphasis on at-risk children, formerly incarcerated people, and food-insecure communities. Social Justice Learning Institute says it works to improve the education, health, and well-being of youth and communities of color. Venice Family Clinic says it provides primary health care to people in need. Farm2People says it secures local harvests and fights hunger in Greater Los Angeles. Proyecto Pastoral says it empowers Boyle Heights through grassroots projects in education, leadership, and service.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation gave $621,550 through 23 grants. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $72,025, with a median of $5,000.
Its largest 2024 grants included Food Forward ($72,025), Hollywood Food Coalition ($71,716), Alma Backyard Farm ($69,000), Community Partners ($68,500 for the LA Food Policy Council), Social Justice Learning Institute ($68,184), Venice Family Clinic ($58,500), Special Service for Groups ($51,500 for API Forward Movement), Farm2People ($41,500), Proyecto Pastoral ($39,000), and Urban Food Initiative ($25,000).
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Adam Waglay and Dustin Beck as co-presidents and directors, Peter Tang as treasurer and director, and Bill Levisay as a board member beginning in January 2024.
The foundation’s website identifies Emily Parker as its executive director. It says she oversees foundation administration, including identifying and vetting potential grantee partners, proposal evaluation, fundraising, and impact strategy and analysis.
Butterfly Equity Foundation is led by Adam Waglay, Co-President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Adam Waglay
Co-President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dustin Beck
Co-President & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter Tang
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bill Levisay
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Nestor Olmo (2020–2023) — Treasurer & Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about Butterfly Equity Foundation
How much does Butterfly Equity Foundation give each year?
Butterfly Equity Foundation gave $622K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $561K across 17 grants.
What is Butterfly Equity Foundation's typical grant size?
Butterfly Equity Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $27,024, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Butterfly Equity Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does Butterfly Equity Foundation give grants?
Butterfly Equity Foundation gives mostly in California: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (13 grants), Venice, CA (2 grants) and Santa Barbara, CA (2 grants).
Does Butterfly Equity Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 83% of Butterfly Equity Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (19 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Butterfly Equity Foundation's largest grantees?
Butterfly Equity Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Food Forward ($72,025), Hollywood Food Coalition ($71,716) and Alma Backyard Farm ($69,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Butterfly Equity Foundation?
Butterfly Equity Foundation reported $232K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $867K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Butterfly Equity Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to empower community partners to strengthen the local food system and improve healthy food access for all. Its stated vision is a world where everyone has equitable access to nourishing food that promotes well-being. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Butterfly Equity Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Butterfly Equity Foundation's EIN?
Butterfly Equity Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 81-4015045. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Butterfly Equity Foundation 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). Butterfly Equity Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/butterfly-equity-foundation-morg_34fea6e8b6864511906c154cd0ec0512
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_814015045_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Butterfly Equity Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/butterfly-equity-foundation-morg_34fea6e8b6864511906c154cd0ec0512},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Butterfly Equity Foundation'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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