Red Butterfly Foundation
Red Butterfly Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, NY. Its stated mission is to safeguard, protect and promote areas that contribute to the diversity of the world, with a focus on animals, arts, and women and girls.
Red Butterfly Foundation at a glance
In short: Red Butterfly Foundation gave $883K across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $42K), top state New York. 14% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $882,500
- -11.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -30.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $42,024
- +25.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $21,142,189
- +5.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (3 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (42% 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 Red Butterfly 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. Its grant limitations say applications for each grant year must be submitted before September 30, and that an organization may receive a grant only once per calendar year; prior recipients are not automatically considered the following year and must resubmit proposals with updated attachments. The website’s U.S. applicant guidelines request a concise proposal, proof of tax-exempt status, the most recent Form 990 and audited financial report, information on recent contributions and foundation grants, and the share of income used to achieve the organization’s mission. The guidelines also state that U.S. applicants must be public charities under Sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1), (2), or (3). The foundation does not support grants to individuals, programs with political, fraternal, sectarian, or religious purposes, or reductions of debt.
- Review Cycle
- Before September 30 for each grant year, according to the grant limitations.
- Deadline
- Before September 30 for each grant year, according to the grant limitations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 437 Madison Ave 35Th Fl, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (203) 363-7668
Website: HTTPS://REDBUTTERFLY.FOUNDATION
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Red Butterfly Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Myriad USA ($150K). Together the top 10 received $730K.
Grant Size Distribution
146 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 106 grants of 146 (73%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grant dollars were distributed among recipients in several states: New York received 42%, Texas 14%, Colorado 11%, and California 8%. The filing also lists 8% under an unspecified state category. The listed 2025 recipients include organizations in New York, Texas, Colorado, Washington, Virginia, and California, as well as recipients whose locations are not specified.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Red Butterfly Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 21 grantees (14%) 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 $82K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $75K first-time, $23K repeat.
- 86% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 81% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $883K (2025) to $1.1M (2021). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $883K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Myriad USA New York, NY | Charity's General Purposes | $150,000 |
| The 19TH News Austin, TX | Charity's General Purposes | $125,000 |
| American Association Royal National Theater New York, NY | Charity's General Purposes | $105,000 |
| Equality Now Inc New York, NY | Charity's General Purposes | $75,000 |
| Global Green Grants Fund Boulder, CO | Charity's General Purposes | $75,000 |
| Marie Stopes International Washington, DC | Charity's General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Rainforest Trust Warrenton, VA | Charity's General Purposes | $50,000 |
| Sierra Club Oakland, CA | Charity's General Purposes | $40,000 |
| Oceanwise Vancouver Aquarium | Charity's General Purpose | $35,000 |
| Lewa Wildlife Conservancy | Charity's General Purposes | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Red Butterfly Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation reported 21 grants in 2025 and 30 in each of 2024 and 2023.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,142,189 | $2,108,557 | $1,014,547 | $882,500 | 21 | $1,003,191 | $2,108,557 | $1,232,870 |
| 2024 | $20,048,179 | $1,367,818 | $1,093,995 | $1,001,995 | 30 | $1,082,465 | $1,364,308 | $1,145,484 |
| 2023 | $19,774,356 | $62,499 | $1,146,470 | $1,045,000 | 30 | $1,143,279 | $548,523 | $1,032,839 |
| 2022 | $20,858,327 | $540,028 | $1,164,321 | $1,079,999 | 34 | $1,164,321 | $540,028 | $1,044,314 |
| 2021 | $21,482,620 | $842,689 | $1,243,510 | $1,108,388 | 31 | $1,127,278 | $758,797 | $1,190,164 |
| 2020 | $21,883,441 | $1,672,594 | $1,073,811 | $1,019,899 | 35 | — | $1,652,594 | $1,054,050 |
| 2019 | $21,284,658 | $553,727 | $995,046 | $939,045 | 15 | — | $553,727 | $1,122,560 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Red Butterfly Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.2M 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
The foundation says it supports animals, arts, and women and girls, and that it especially supports visual and performing arts. Its grant recipients illustrate a range of work: The 19th News describes its mission as producing representative journalism serving women and LGBTQ+ people; Rainforest Trust says it protects wildlife and creates rainforest reserves; and Women Moving Millions says it works to advance women and girls. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not additional statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $882,500. Grants ranged from $7,500 to $150,000, with a median of $25,000. Among the largest were $150,000 to Myriad USA, $125,000 to The 19th News, $105,000 to the American Association Royal National Theater, and $75,000 each to Equality Now and Global Green Grants Fund. The listed purposes for these grants were the recipients’ general purposes.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rafaela Evans as president and director; Carolyn A. Reers as secretary and director; and Vanessa Evans as director and treasurer.
Red Butterfly Foundation is led by Rafaela Evans, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rafaela Evans
President & Director
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn A. Reers
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vanessa Evans
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
20 hrs/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 Red Butterfly Foundation
How much does Red Butterfly Foundation give each year?
Red Butterfly Foundation gave $883K across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.0M across 30 grants.
What is Red Butterfly Foundation's typical grant size?
Red Butterfly Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $42,024, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Red Butterfly Foundation that year got $82K on average.
Where does Red Butterfly Foundation give grants?
Red Butterfly Foundation's top state is New York, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Texas (14%) and Colorado (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (4 grants), Boulder, CO (2 grants), Washington, DC (2 grants) and San Francisco, CA (2 grants).
Does Red Butterfly Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Red Butterfly Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Red Butterfly Foundation's largest grantees?
Red Butterfly Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Myriad USA ($150,000), The 19TH News ($125,000) and American Association Royal National Theater ($105,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Red Butterfly Foundation?
Red Butterfly Foundation reported $21.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Red Butterfly Foundation fund?
The foundation says it supports animals, arts, and women and girls, and that it especially supports visual and performing arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Red Butterfly Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Red Butterfly Foundation's EIN?
Red Butterfly Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1624579. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Red Butterfly 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 14, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS June 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Red Butterfly Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/red-butterfly-foundation-morg_f90cf23f906244b4905d6baaf0e1911c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461624579_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Red Butterfly Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/red-butterfly-foundation-morg_f90cf23f906244b4905d6baaf0e1911c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Red Butterfly 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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