The Butler Foundation
The Butler Foundation is a private foundation based in Covington, Kentucky. It supports public charities based in or serving financially disadvantaged residents of Northern Kentucky, with giving focused on addressing poverty through education and efforts to remove barriers to employment and self-sufficiency.
The Butler Foundation at a glance
In short: The Butler Foundation gave $973K across 57 grants in 2024 (avg $17K), mostly in Kentucky. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $972,507
- -18.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 57
- -17.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,062
- -0.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $13,471,508
- +6.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (16 of 54, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Butler Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit requests online through the application portal. The filing identifies Barbara Schaefer as the contact for applications.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists March 1 and September 15 for charity grant requests. The filing lists March 1 and October 1. These listed 2026 dates have passed.
- Deadline
- The website lists March 1 and September 15 for charity grant requests.
- Contact
Application contact: Barbara Schaefer
Mailing address: 100 E Rivercenter Suite 1100, Covington, KY 41011
Phone: (859) 292-5534
Website: HTTPS://BUTLERFOUNDATIONNKY.ORG
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Butler Foundation
Who The Butler Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Samaritan Car Care Clinic Inc ($105K). Together the top 10 received $468K.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($265,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
268 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 245 grants of 268 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Northern Kentucky as its primary service area and funds public charities based in or serving financially disadvantaged residents there. In 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in Kentucky, 6% to Ohio, and 3% to Washington, DC; the reported share for California was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Butler Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 54 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $22K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+16%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 201% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $842K (2021) to $1.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 57 grants totaling $973K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Samaritan Car Care Clinic Inc Covington, KY | Program Support | $104,500 |
| Alliance for Catholic Urban Educat Covington, KY | Tuition Assistance | $101,000 |
| 4 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $265,000 |
| Notre Dame Academy Covington, KY | Scholarship Support | $50,000 |
| Society of St Vincent Depaul-NKY Crescent Springs, KY | Program Support | $44,977 |
| DCCH Center for Children Covington, KY | Program Support | $35,943 |
| Catholic Charities Covington, KY | Operating & Program Support | $30,000 |
| CASA of the Northern Bluegrass Reg Covington, KY | Operating & Program Support | $26,300 |
| Gateway Community & Tech College Florence, KY | Scholarships/Tuition Assistance | $25,650 |
| Philanthropy Roundtable Washington, DC | Operating Support | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Butler Foundation?
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 | $13,471,508 | $2,088,087 | $1,250,797 | $972,507 | 57 | $1,226,286 | $2,230,541 | $611,095 |
| 2023 | $12,641,378 | $802,171 | $1,507,544 | $1,186,305 | 69 | $1,439,982 | $362,484 | $592,805 |
| 2022 | $13,633,201 | $7,550,635 | $1,201,312 | $923,943 | 38 | $1,186,096 | $1,991,395 | $653,034 |
| 2021 | $7,283,878 | $306,036 | $1,125,594 | $841,731 | 43 | — | $242,266 | $560,735 |
| 2020 | $8,103,436 | $1,089,663 | $1,248,867 | $962,788 | 61 | — | $980,289 | $470,458 |
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 October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to respond directly to neighbors in need by addressing the entanglements of poverty, primarily in Northern Kentucky. It says it does this by identifying and eliminating obstacles to employment and self-sufficiency and by supporting education.
Its priorities include individual dignity, gainful employment, self-sufficiency, education and lifelong learning, long-term outcomes, and efficient use of resources, including through collaborations and challenge grants. Charity grants may provide start-up, operating, or program support to local charities meeting basic needs, including shelter, food, clothing, education, legal representation, rehabilitation, therapy, substance-abuse counseling, and child-abuse prevention. The foundation does not fund event sponsorships or completed projects; it does not prioritize capital projects or endowment requests, though it may consider them case by case.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work among grantees. Samaritan Car Care Clinic says it addresses transportation barriers to self-sufficiency by providing safety-related car repairs to low-income people referred by social-service agencies. GO Pantry says it provides food to hungry school-age children in Northern Kentucky on days they are away from school. Welcome House says it provides services to end homelessness and promote stability.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 57 grants totaling $972,507. Grant amounts ranged from $379 to $104,500, with a median of $5,000. Among the largest reported grants were $104,500 to Samaritan Car Care Clinic for program support; $101,000 to Alliance for Catholic Urban Education for tuition assistance; and $95,000 to Northern Kentucky University Foundation for scholarship support. Other large awards included $60,000 each to an individual recipient High School and an individual recipient High School for scholarship support.
Charity grant requests are submitted online. The foundation’s website says its board considers formal charity requests twice a year, with decisions usually communicated within 10 days of a board meeting. Helping Hands requests may be submitted year-round only by established referral partners; the website says responses are typically made within one business day. The filing lists application materials including a federal tax ID number, proof of public charity status, recent financial statements, the type, amount, and purpose of the request, and a list of current board members. The filing also states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Marty Butler as chair, Bob Klare as vice chair, Christa Butler as secretary, Tom Banta as treasurer, and Barbara Schaefer as executive director. It also lists William P. Butler, Kevin Butler, and Amanda Kolar as trustees.
The Butler Foundation is led by Marty Butler, Chair on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Marty Butler
Chair
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Kolar
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Butler
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William P. Butler
Trustee
Vice Chair → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Barbara Schaefer
Executive Di
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bob Klare
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christa Butler
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tom Banta
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Mary S. Butler (2020–2023) — Secretary · Filing note: Thru 732023
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Butler Foundation
How much does The Butler Foundation give each year?
The Butler Foundation gave $973K across 57 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 69 grants.
What is The Butler Foundation's typical grant size?
The Butler Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $17,062, across 57 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Butler Foundation that year got $9K on average.
Where does The Butler Foundation give grants?
The Butler Foundation gives mostly in Kentucky: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Ohio (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Covington, KY (21 grants), Cincinnati, OH (6 grants), Florence, KY (6 grants) and Newport, KY (5 grants).
Does The Butler Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of The Butler Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 57) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (34 grants) and "Scholarship Support" (5 grants).
Who are The Butler Foundation's largest grantees?
The Butler Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Samaritan Car Care Clinic Inc ($104,500), Alliance for Catholic Urban Educat ($101,000) and Notre Dame Academy ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 4 individual scholarships ($265,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Butler Foundation?
The Butler Foundation reported $13.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $611K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Butler Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to respond directly to neighbors in need by addressing the entanglements of poverty, primarily in Northern Kentucky. It says it does this by identifying and eliminating obstacles to employment and self-sufficiency and by supporting education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Butler Foundation?
Submit requests online through the application portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Butler Foundation's EIN?
The Butler Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-0981683. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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). The Butler Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-butler-foundation-morg_8765310baf0444ee99aa6b53941676c6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_310981683_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Butler Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-butler-foundation-morg_8765310baf0444ee99aa6b53941676c6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 The Butler 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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