M Verna Butterer Educational Trust
M Verna Butterer Educational Trust is a private foundation based in Fountainville, Pennsylvania. It supports post-high-school education for needy residents of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, through scholarship-and-loan awards.
M Verna Butterer Educational Trust at a glance
In short: M Verna Butterer Educational Trust gave $187K across 27 grants in 2026 (avg $7K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 15% of 2026 grantees were new. Source: 2026 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2026)
- $187,017
- -24.9% vs 2025
- Grants made (2026)
- 27
- -22.9% vs 2025
- Average grant
- $6,927
- -2.6% vs 2025
- Median grant
- $6,666
- Total assets
- $7,265,072
- +1.5% vs 2025
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (4 of 26, 2026)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (58% of itemized 2026 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2026 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2026; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to M Verna Butterer Educational Trust
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the application form is attached and that an application is available through the trust’s website. It states that awards are restricted to needy Bucks County, Pennsylvania, residents pursuing post-high-school education.
- Review Cycle
- March 15.
- Deadline
- March 15.
- Contact
Application contact: M Verna Butterer Educational Trust
Mailing address: PO Box 273, Fountainville, PA 18923
Phone: (215) 249-0503
Email: information@butterer.org
Website: https://butterer.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who M Verna Butterer Educational Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2026
The largest 2026 recipient was Pennsylvania State University ($31K). Together the top 10 received $109K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,919), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
165 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 164 grants of 165 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The filing restricts awards to needy residents of Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In 2026, 58% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania; other reported recipient states were New York (9%), Florida (7%), Connecticut (6%), and Ohio (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2026 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is M Verna Butterer Educational Trust open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2026
In 2026, 4 of 26 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 73% of 2026 grantees were also funded in 2025. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2023 to 2026 (−17%). Method
- In 2026 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2026). 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 2026, annual grant giving ranged from $125K (2021) to $250K (2024). In 2026 it made 27 grants totaling $187K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA | Scholarship Portion of Award for Education | $30,835 |
| Sacred Heart University Fairfield, CT | Scholarship Portion of Award for Education | $12,000 |
| Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA | Scholarship Portion of Award for Education | $9,713 |
| Temple University Philadelphia, PA | Scholarship Portion of Award for Education | $8,326 |
| University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Scholarship Portion of Award for Education | $8,162 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach, FL | Scholarship Portion of Award for Education | $8,000 |
| Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA | Scholarship Portion of Award for Education | $8,000 |
| Marist College Poughkeepsie, NY | Scholarship Portion of Award for Education | $8,000 |
| Moravian University Bethlehem, PA | Scholarship Portion of Award for Education | $8,000 |
| Ohio State University Columbus, OH | Scholarship Portion of Award for Education | $8,000 |
Ready to take the next step with M Verna Butterer Educational 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $7,265,072 | $396,060 | $292,335 | $187,017 | 27 | $473,752 | $396,060 | $464,968 |
| 2025 | $7,160,433 | $400,080 | $348,007 | $248,933 | 35 | $590,097 | $400,080 | $417,264 |
| 2024 | $7,108,358 | $435,040 | $339,374 | $249,967 | 36 | $586,289 | $434,740 | $441,575 |
| 2023 | $7,012,692 | $380,715 | $320,282 | $225,734 | 33 | $538,034 | $380,715 | $463,529 |
| 2022 | $6,952,258 | $561,868 | $285,266 | $194,582 | 34 | $473,148 | $561,268 | $651,344 |
| 2021 | $6,682,453 | $293,164 | $204,308 | $124,959 | 25 | — | $293,164 | $472,587 |
| 2020 | $6,593,597 | $369,332 | $269,533 | $188,831 | 33 | — | $368,832 | $511,504 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, M Verna Butterer Educational Trust reported a distributable amount of $465K for 2026 — 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 filing describes awards as a combination of a gift and a loan: 50% is a gift, and 50% is a loan to be repaid five years after graduation or funding. The trust’s 2026 grants went to educational institutions, including universities that provide undergraduate and graduate education, professional programs, and research. For example, Sacred Heart University describes its work as preparing students for the future and helping them help others; the University of Pittsburgh describes its work as education, research, and service to its region and the nation. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2026, the trust reported 27 grants totaling $187,017. Grant amounts ranged from $1,050 to $30,835, with a median of $6,666. The largest grants included $30,835 to Pennsylvania State University, $12,000 to Sacred Heart University, $9,713 to Thomas Jefferson University, $8,326 to Temple University, and $8,162 to the University of Pittsburgh. Each was designated as a scholarship portion of an award for education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2026 filing lists Suzanne Barnhurst, Miriam M. Reimel, and Shannon E. Jefferson-Stellato as trustees, and Elissa J. Kirkegard as administrator.
M Verna Butterer Educational Trust's 2026 filing lists 4 officers; all 4 officers listed in 2026 are compensated.
Officers on the 2026 filing
Miriam M. Reimel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2026)
Shannon E. Jefferson-Stellato
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2026)
Suzanne Barnhurst
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$5K (2020) → $5K (2026)
Elissa J. Kirkegard
Administrator
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$54K (2020) → $71K (2026)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2026. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2026 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2026 filing was $71K, to Elissa J Kirkegard (Administrator). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about M Verna Butterer Educational Trust
How much does M Verna Butterer Educational Trust give each year?
M Verna Butterer Educational Trust gave $187K across 27 grants in 2026, according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2025 it gave $249K across 35 grants.
What is M Verna Butterer Educational Trust's typical grant size?
M Verna Butterer Educational Trust's median grant in 2026 was $6,666, and its average grant was $6,927, across 27 grants on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from M Verna Butterer Educational Trust that year got $13K on average.
Where does M Verna Butterer Educational Trust give grants?
M Verna Butterer Educational Trust gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 58% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (9%) and Florida (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (5 grants) and Bethlehem, PA (2 grants).
Does M Verna Butterer Educational Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2026: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on M Verna Butterer Educational Trust's 2026 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship Portion of Award for Education" (27 grants).
Who are M Verna Butterer Educational Trust's largest grantees?
M Verna Butterer Educational Trust's largest 2026 grantees include Pennsylvania State University ($30,835), Sacred Heart University ($12,000) and Thomas Jefferson University ($9,713), according to its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($3,919), which are not listed by name. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2026 grant dollars.
How large is M Verna Butterer Educational Trust?
M Verna Butterer Educational Trust reported $7.3M in total assets on its 2026 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $474K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $465K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does M Verna Butterer Educational Trust fund?
The filing describes awards as a combination of a gift and a loan: 50% is a gift, and 50% is a loan to be repaid five years after graduation or funding. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from M Verna Butterer Educational Trust?
The filing says the application form is attached and that an application is available through the trust’s website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is M Verna Butterer Educational Trust's EIN?
M Verna Butterer Educational Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7751390. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2026.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2026 (received by the IRS May 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). M Verna Butterer Educational Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/m-verna-butterer-educational-trust-morg_943a890300ae4efa89332e911959bf40
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237751390_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{M Verna Butterer Educational Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/m-verna-butterer-educational-trust-morg_943a890300ae4efa89332e911959bf40},
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 M Verna Butterer Educational 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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