Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation
The Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Sugar Land, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports 20 grants totaling $541,500, all to recipients in Texas.
Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation gave $542K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $541,500
- +129.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +1900.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $27,075
- -88.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $27,500
- Total assets
- $19,130,321
- +1.9% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Rhett Butler Charitable 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.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1600 Highway 6 South, Sugar Land, TX 77478
Phone: (281) 547-0001
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Special Pals ($60K). Together the top 10 received $401K.
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 28 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Texas. The listed 2024 grantees include organizations in Houston, Richmond, Brookshire, Leakey, and Bellaire.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving grew 11933% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 56% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2021) to $542K (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $542K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Special Pals Houston, TX | Donation | $60,000 |
| Baylor College of Medicine Houston, TX | Donation | $50,000 |
| The Brookwood Community Brookshire, TX | Donation | $50,000 |
| Fort Bend's Womens Center Richmond, TX | Donation | $40,000 |
| Leakey ISD Leakey, TX | Donation | $36,000 |
| Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse Houston, TX | Donation | $35,000 |
| Jewish Community Center Houston, TX | Donation | $35,000 |
| Small Steps Houston, TX | Donation | $35,000 |
| Houston Food Bank Houston, TX | Donation | $30,000 |
| Retina Research Center Houston, TX | Donation | $30,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $19,130,321 | $973,655 | $885,844 | $541,500 | 20 | $541,500 | $749,176 | $961,970 |
| 2023 | $18,775,034 | $19,187,807 | $428,374 | $236,000 | 1 | $236,000 | $518,156 | $780,087 |
| 2022 | $10,980 | — | $205 | — | — | — | — | $549 |
| 2021 | $11,185 | — | $5,597 | $4,500 | 1 | $4,500 | — | $812 |
| 2020 | $16,782 | $30,000 | $58,403 | $58,283 | 6 | — | — | $2,204 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $962K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission statement is provided. In its 2024 filing, the foundation described direct charitable activities involving a Special Pals shelter, improving health through science, scholarship, and innovation at Baylor College of Medicine, and horticulture renovations at The Brookwood Community.
Grantee descriptions provide further examples of the organizations supported. Special Pals says its mission includes affordable pet care, rescuing and rehoming companion animals, and responsible pet-care education. Baylor College of Medicine says it advances human health through patient care, research, education, and community services. The Brookwood Community says it provides an educational environment that creates meaningful work and a sense of belonging for adults with disabilities.
The Houston Food Bank says it provides food and connects people with programs addressing hunger’s root causes. Daya says it supports survivors of domestic and sexual violence through services including counseling, transitional housing, and legal advocacy, and works to educate the community. Justice Forward says it funds programs for people in specialty courts to help break cycles of incarceration.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $541,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $60,000, with a median of $27,500.
Among the 2024 grants, Special Pals received $60,000, Baylor College of Medicine and The Brookwood Community each received $50,000, and Fort Bend’s Women’s Center received $40,000. Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, the Jewish Community Center, and Small Steps each received $35,000. The Houston Food Bank and Retina Research Center each received $30,000. Child Advocates of Fort Bend and Daya each received $25,000. Justice Forward received $25,000, and Texas Children’s Hospital received $10,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Douglas A. Heath as co-trustee and president; Robert L. Frank as co-trustee, assistant secretary, and vice president; and Imtiaz Munshi as co-trustee, secretary, and treasurer.
Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation is led by Douglas A. Heath, Co-Trustee - President since 2023 (on filings since 2021); all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Douglas A. Heath
Co-Trustee - President
Co-Trustee → Co-Trustee - President, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$30K (2023) → $60K (2024)
Imtiaz Munshi
Co-Trustee - Secretary & Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Co-Trustee - Secretary & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$30K (2023) → $60K (2024)
Robert L. Frank
Co-Trustee - Assistant Secretary & Vice President
Assistant Secretary → Co-Trustee - Assistant Secretary, 2021
Co-Trustee - Assistant Secretary → Co-Trustee - Assistant Secretary & Vice President, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$30K (2023) → $60K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Rhett Butler (2020) — President
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $60K, to Imtiaz Munshi (Co-Trustee - Secretary & Treasurer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation
How much does Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation give each year?
Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation gave $542K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $236K across 1 grant.
What is Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $27,500, and its average grant was $27,075, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation give grants?
Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (12 grants), Leakey, TX (3 grants) and Richmond, TX (2 grants).
Does Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 20 grants with a stated purpose on Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Donation" (19 grants).
Who are Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Special Pals ($60,000), Baylor College of Medicine ($50,000) and The Brookwood Community ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation?
Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation reported $19.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $542K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $962K (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 Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rhett Butler Charitable 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 Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0513311. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Rhett Butler Charitable 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 October 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). Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rhett-butler-charitable-foundation-morg_e8edfa64b2d746e7af415b578931fd55
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_270513311_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rhett Butler Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rhett-butler-charitable-foundation-morg_e8edfa64b2d746e7af415b578931fd55},
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 Rhett Butler Charitable 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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