Butzel Long Charitable Trust
The Butzel Long Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Detroit, Michigan. Established in 1983, it supports charitable organizations and community initiatives, with the Trust describing its work as advancing community impact and supporting efforts that uplift individuals and strengthen neighborhoods.
Butzel Long Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Butzel Long Charitable Trust gave $77K across 54 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Michigan. 56% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $76,507
- +21.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 54
- +31.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,417
- -7.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $35,009
- -34.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (28 of 50, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (81% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Butzel Long Charitable Trust
- How to Apply
-
The filing lists a letter documenting 501(c)(3) qualification, confirmation of the organization’s objective, and the requested amount net of $2,000.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists December 31 each year as the deadline.
- Deadline
- The filing lists December 31 each year as the deadline.
- Contact
Application contact: James E Wynne
Mailing address: 150 West Jefferson Ave Suite 100, Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 225-7000
Email: wynne@butzel.com
Website: https://butzel.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Butzel Long Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Kids in Need Foundation ($10K). Together the top 10 received $37K.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($3,850), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
229 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 229 grants of 229 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust’s website says it primarily focuses on communities where its people live and work and describes its support for the region where Butzel has been located. In 2025, 81% of grant dollars went to Michigan recipients, 13% to Minnesota, 3% to New York, 3% to Florida, and 1% to Illinois. Percentages are as reported.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Butzel Long Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 28 of 50 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $725 first-time, $2K repeat.
- 36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 34% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $45K (2019) to $77K (2025). In 2025 it made 54 grants totaling $77K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Kids in Need Foundation Roseville, MN | A 501 (c) (3) organization which provides school supplies for children in need. A cash donation was made to support the charitable activities of the organization. | $10,000 |
| Yeshiva Beth Yehudah Southfield, MI | A 501 (c) (3) organization which is a religious jewish day school. A cash donation was made to support the charitable activities of the organization. | $5,000 |
| Focus Hope Detroit, MI | Focus hope is a 501 (c) (3) detroit based, non-denominational nonprofit organization whose aim is to overcome racism and poverty by providing education and training for underrepresented minorities and others. A cash donation was made to support the charitable activities of the organization. | $4,708 |
| Detroit Symphony Orchestra Inc Detroit, MI | The detroit symphony orchestra a 501 (c) (3) organization located in detroit, Michigan providing orchestra performances. A cash donation was made to support the charitable activities of tne organization. | $3,500 |
| Catholic Foundation of Michigan Bloomfield Hills, MI | The catholic foundation of Michigan is a 501 (c) (3) organization which inspires charitable giving and assists donors in providing for the long-term needs of the catholic parishes and schools. A cash donation was made to support the charitable activities of the organization. | $3,250 |
| Catholic Charities of Southeast Michigan Southfield, MI | A 501 (c) (3) catholic charity, which patterns it's work after the ministry of jesus christ and serve people of all faiths. A cash donation was made to support the charitable activities of the organization. | $2,500 |
| Love for a Child Oxford, MI | A 501 (c) 3 organization that provides for each child to be visited monthly by a trauma informed volunter that focuses on support, guidance and the creation of positive memories for each child. A cash donation was made to support the charitable activities of the organization. | $2,500 |
| 4 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $3,850 |
| Cohn's and Colitis Foundation Southfield, MI | A 501 (c) (3) organization funding research, raising awareness, and providing education and support to ibd patients. A cash donation was made to support the charitable activities of the organization. | $2,000 |
| Detroit Public Television Wixom, MI | A 501 (c) (3) organization which is viewer supported to provide noncommercial television for southeast Michigan. A cash donation was made to support the charitable activities of the organization. | $2,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Butzel Long Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,009 | $58,004 | $76,638 | $76,507 | 54 | $76,507 | $92 | $1,768 |
| 2024 | $53,643 | $109,966 | $62,880 | $62,880 | 41 | $62,880 | $62 | $1,051 |
| 2023 | $6,557 | $55,840 | $66,330 | $65,830 | 53 | $66,330 | $63 | $977 |
| 2022 | $17,047 | $47,617 | $57,283 | $57,283 | 40 | $57,283 | $14 | $1,062 |
| 2021 | $26,713 | $55,923 | $66,954 | $66,819 | 41 | $66,954 | $3 | $1,512 |
| 2020 | $37,744 | $53,980 | $53,348 | $53,348 | 29 | — | $3 | $1,842 |
| 2019 | $37,112 | $62,863 | $45,351 | $45,351 | 29 | — | — | $1,053 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Butzel Long Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $2K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s website presents its work as rooted in Butzel’s values of excellence, drive, trust, and teamwork, and in the belief that “if you change one life, you’ve changed the world.” The 2024 filing states that grants are made to qualified institutions, with emphasis on legally oriented institutions and bar-related activities.
The 2025 recipients show support for a range of organizations. For example, Focus: HOPE describes its work as addressing racism, poverty, and injustice in metropolitan Detroit; the Detroit Symphony Orchestra describes its role in serving people through performances, community initiatives, and music education; and an individual recipient says it provides care, treatment, and education for vulnerable youth and families. These are recipient organizations’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Trust reported 54 grants totaling $76,507. Grant amounts ranged from $219 to $10,000, with a median of $1,000. Among the largest reported grants were $10,000 to Kids in Need Foundation, $5,000 to Yeshiva Beth Yehudah, $4,708 to Focus: HOPE, $3,500 to Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and $3,250 to Catholic Foundation of Michigan. The Trust’s website separately reports that it served 55 charitable organizations in 2025.
The 2024 filing states that the Trust does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists an application process requiring a letter indicating that the entity qualifies under Section 501(c)(3), confirmation of its objective, and the requested amount net of $2,000. The filing names James E. Wynne as the contact for requests and says grants are made to qualified institutions, with emphasis on legally oriented institutions and bar-related activities.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard E. Rassel, James E. Wynne, and Paul M. Mersino as trustees. The Trust’s website identifies Mersino as Butzel’s president and CEO.
Butzel Long Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
James E. Wynne
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul M. Mersino
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard E. Rassel
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Butzel Long Charitable Trust
How much does Butzel Long Charitable Trust give each year?
Butzel Long Charitable Trust gave $77K across 54 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $63K across 41 grants.
What is Butzel Long Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Butzel Long Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,417, across 54 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Butzel Long Charitable Trust that year got $1K on average.
Where does Butzel Long Charitable Trust give grants?
Butzel Long Charitable Trust gives mostly in Michigan: 81% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Detroit, MI (15 grants), Southfield, MI (5 grants), Pontiac, MI (2 grants) and Troy, MI (2 grants).
Does Butzel Long Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 54 grants with a stated purpose on Butzel Long Charitable Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Butzel Long Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Butzel Long Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Kids in Need Foundation ($10,000), Yeshiva Beth Yehudah ($5,000) and Focus Hope ($4,708), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($3,850), which are not listed by name. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Butzel Long Charitable Trust?
Butzel Long Charitable Trust reported $35K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $77K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Butzel Long Charitable Trust fund?
The Trust’s website presents its work as rooted in Butzel’s values of excellence, drive, trust, and teamwork, and in the belief that “if you change one life, you’ve changed the world.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Butzel Long Charitable Trust?
The filing lists a letter documenting 501(c)(3) qualification, confirmation of the organization’s objective, and the requested amount net of $2,000. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Butzel Long Charitable Trust's EIN?
Butzel Long Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2510263. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 25, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 3, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Butzel Long Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/butzel-long-charitable-trust-morg_74c0025c9b3142358ff704fcb0eb16a2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_382510263_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Butzel Long Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/butzel-long-charitable-trust-morg_74c0025c9b3142358ff704fcb0eb16a2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Butzel Long Charitable Trust'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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