Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation
The Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Newport Beach, California. In its 2025 filing, it reported nine grants totaling $311,691 to organizations in California, Kentucky, Montana, and New York.
Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation gave $312K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $311,691
- -7.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- -35.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $34,632
- +44.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,204
- Total assets
- $2,413,353
- -7.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (76% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Lisa Butler. The filing refers applicants to a sample grant application in PDF Attachment A. It lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- None listed.
- Deadline
- None listed.
- Contact
Application contact: Lisa Butler
Mailing address: 201 Crystal Avenue, Newport Beach, CA 92662
Phone: (435) 640-4556
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Laguna Beach Seniors Inc ($200K). Together the top 9 received $312K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 59 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 20% to Kentucky, 4% to Montana, and less than 1% to New York. The listed grants include recipients in all four states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 53% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 220% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $204K (2022) to $419K (2023). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $312K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Laguna Beach Seniors Inc Laguna Beach, CA | To Further Programs of the Organization. | $200,000 |
| Sanctuary Springs Inc Winchester, KY | To Further Programs of the Organization. | $48,450 |
| Glow Global Santa Ana, CA | To Further Programs of the Organization. | $30,557 |
| Moveable Feast Lexington Inc Lexington, KY | To Further Programs of the Organization. | $13,500 |
| Covellite Presents Butte, MT | To Further Programs of the Organization. | $12,204 |
| Sierra Madre Search & Rescue Team Sierra Madre, CA | To Further Programs of the Organization. | $5,000 |
| Balboa Island Museum Newport Beach Balboa Island, CA | To Further Programs of the Organization. | $1,000 |
| New York Shakespeare Festival- The Public Theater New York, NY | To Further Programs of the Organization. | $500 |
| Share Ourselves Costa Mesa, CA | To Further Programs of the Organization. | $480 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,413,353 | $190,645 | $383,919 | $311,691 | 9 | $330,955 | $145,681 | $150,766 |
| 2024 | $2,602,583 | $475,319 | $403,375 | $335,325 | 14 | $352,637 | $431,161 | $152,734 |
| 2023 | $2,515,479 | $339,164 | $484,756 | $419,341 | 11 | $437,199 | $293,151 | $158,013 |
| 2022 | $2,722,016 | $87,243 | $249,576 | $203,894 | 11 | $210,891 | $62,683 | $175,778 |
| 2021 | $2,822,404 | $96,766 | $377,784 | $315,020 | 14 | $329,195 | $67,238 | $194,301 |
| 2020 | $3,104,984 | $35,435 | $271,533 | $218,140 | 19 | — | $78,165 | $171,210 |
| 2019 | $3,339,520 | $174,889 | $337,366 | $275,829 | 25 | — | $129,106 | $181,938 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $151K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported: Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. says it works to enhance seniors’ lives through programs, services, and advocacy promoting independence, wellness, and community. Moveable Feast Lexington Inc. says it delivers free, nutritious meals to Lexington residents living with AIDS or an HIV-related illness, people in hospice care, and their caregivers and dependents. Covellite Presents says it stages productions ranging from classical to experimental works and provides arts education.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded nine grants totaling $311,691. Grants ranged from $480 to $200,000, with a median of $12,204. The largest awards went to Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. ($200,000), Sanctuary Springs Inc. ($48,450), and Glow Global ($30,557). Other notable grants included $13,500 to Moveable Feast Lexington Inc. and $12,204 to Covellite Presents. The filing describes each listed grant’s purpose as furthering the recipient organization’s programs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists George Lee Butler as Secretary/Treasurer/Director, Lisa Butler as President, and Brett Lee Butler and Patricia Dawn Butler as directors.
Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation is led by Lisa Butler, President-Time As Needed on every filing since 2024; 1 of 4 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lisa Butler
President-Time As Needed
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$28K (2024) → $30K (2025)
Brett Lee Butler
Director- Time As Needed
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Patricia Dawn Butler
Director-Time As Needed
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
George Lee Butler
Secretary, Treasurer & Dir- As Needed
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Lisa Butler Herring (2019–2023) — President-Time As Needed
- Former: Michael Herring (2019–2021) — Director- Time As Needed
- Former: Dorene Nunley Butler (2019–2020) — President & Dir-As Needed to
- Former: Patti Dawn Butler (2019–2020) — Director-Time As Needed
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $30K, to Lisa Butler (President-TIME AS NEEDED).
Frequently asked questions about Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation
How much does Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation give each year?
Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation gave $312K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $335K across 14 grants.
What is Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,204, and its average grant was $34,632, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation give grants?
Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kentucky (20%).
Does Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 9 grants with a stated purpose on Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "To Further Programs of the Organization." (9 grants).
Who are Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Laguna Beach Seniors Inc ($200,000), Sanctuary Springs Inc ($48,450) and Glow Global ($30,557), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 90% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation?
Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation reported $2.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $331K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $151K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported: Laguna Beach Seniors Inc. says it works to enhance seniors’ lives through programs, services, and advocacy promoting independence, wellness, and community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation?
Contact Lisa Butler. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation's EIN?
Dorene and Lee Butler Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-0816345. 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 September 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 August 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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