The Butler Foundation

COVINGTON, KY EIN: 31-0981683 Website

The Butler Foundation is a private family foundation based in Covington, Kentucky. Established in 1980, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to providing life-enhancing opportunities for individuals and families in need.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$13.5M

+6.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$973K

-18.0% YoY

Grant Count

-17.4% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$17K

-0.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Butler Foundation reported a distributable amount of $611K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Foundation's mission centers on changing lives through life-enhancing opportunities for individuals and families. It gives primarily for the basic needs of the poor in northern Kentucky.

The Foundation's funding priorities reflect its historical commitment to supporting:

Individuals with physical and mental disabilities
Children and families at risk
Victims of abuse and neglect
Frail and elderly individuals

Grantmaking

The Foundation made 69 grants in the most recent reporting year. Grant types include:

Grant Types

include:

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Foundation focuses its grantmaking on northern Kentucky, with particular emphasis on the Covington area and surrounding region.

Grant Distribution by State

Kentucky $4.0M (89%)

Ohio $432K (9%)

District of Columbia $80K (2%)

California $1K (0%)

States

California District of Columbia Kentucky Ohio

Cities

AuburyBellevueCaliforniaCincinnatiCold SpringCold SpringsCovingtonCrescent SpringsCrestview HillsCusco PeruDaytonEdgewoodErlangerFlorenceFt MitchellFt ThomasFt WrightHebronHighland HeightsLakeside Park

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2025:

Total Assets: $13,471,911
Total Revenues: $230,450
Total Expenses: $230,047

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $13.5 million
Total Revenues: $2.09 million
Total Expenses: $1.25 million
Total Liabilities: $0

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$13,471,508	$12,641,378	$13,633,201
Revenue	$2,088,087	$802,171	$7,550,635
Expenses	$1,250,797	$1,507,544	$1,201,312
Qualifying Distributions	$1,226,286	$1,439,982	$1,186,096
Net Investment Income	$2,230,541	$362,484	$1,991,395
Distributable Amount	$611,095	$592,805	$653,034

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Grant Size Distribution

231 grants across all recorded years

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from The Butler Foundation

Foundation

Butler Foundation Charity Grant

THE BUTLER FOUNDATION

Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Samaritan Car Care Clinic Inc ($104,500), Alliance for Catholic Urban Educat ($101,000), Northern Ky University Foundation ($95,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
ADOPT A CLASS CINCINNATI, OH	PROGRAM SUPPORT	$20,000
ALLIANCE FOR CATHOLIC URBAN EDUCAT COVINGTON, KY	TUITION ASSISTANCE	$101,000
BE CONCERNED COVINGTON, KY	OPERATING & PROGRAM SUPPORT	$1,390
BELLEVUE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS BELLEVUE, KY	PROGRAM SUPPORT	$2,500
BRIGHTON CENTER NEWPORT, KY	PROGRAM SUPPORT	$7,273
CARE NET PREGNANCY SERVICES OF N KY COVINGTON, KY	OPERATING SUPPORT	$1,500
CASA OF THE NORTHERN BLUEGRASS REG COVINGTON, KY	OPERATING & PROGRAM SUPPORT	$26,300
CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF THE ASSUMPTIO COVINGTON, KY	CAPITAL SUPPORT	$1,250
CATHOLIC CHARITIES COVINGTON, KY	OPERATING & PROGRAM SUPPORT	$30,000
CHNK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COVINGTON, KY	PROGRAM SUPPORT	$16,578

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
MARTY BUTLER	CHAIR	2	—
BOB KLARE	VICE CHAIR	1	—
CHRISTA BUTLER	SECRETARY	1.5	—
TOM BANTA	TREASURER	1	—
BARBARA SCHAEFER	EXECUTIVE DI	40	—
WILLIAM P BUTLER	TRUSTEE	1	—
KEVIN BUTLER	TRUSTEE	1	—
AMANDA KOLAR	TRUSTEE	2	—

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Butler Foundation fund?

The Foundation's mission centers on changing lives through life-enhancing opportunities for individuals and families. It gives primarily for the basic needs of the poor in northern Kentucky. The Foundation's funding priorities reflect its historical commitment to supporting: • Individuals with physical and mental disabilities • Children and families at risk • Victims of abuse and neglect • Frail and elderly individuals

How do I apply for a grant from The Butler Foundation?

The Foundation made 69 grants in the most recent reporting year. Grant types include: • Program support • Operating support • Scholarship support • Tuition assistance Recent grants include: • United Way of Greater Cincinnati: $50,000 (Program Support) • The Philanthropy Roundtable: $25,000 (Program Support) • Tattoo Removal Ink (TRI): $10,000 (Program Support) Notable grantees have included the Northern Kentucky University Foundation.

Where does The Butler Foundation make grants?

The Foundation focuses its grantmaking on northern Kentucky, with particular emphasis on the Covington area and surrounding region.

What size grants does The Butler Foundation award?

In 2024, The Butler Foundation awarded 57 grants totaling $973K — an average of about $17K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Butler Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Butler Foundation reported a distributable amount of $611K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.