The Charles Butt Foundation
The Charles Butt Foundation is a private foundation based in San Antonio, Texas. Its 2019 filing lists grants for purposes including training-center construction, research, teaching practices, and education-related programs.
The Charles Butt Foundation at a glance
In short: The Charles Butt Foundation gave $24.1M across 44 grants in 2019 (avg $548K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2019 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2019)
- $24,111,475
- Grants made (2019)
- 44
- Average grant
- $547,988
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $7,229,103
- Primary geography
- Texas (68% of itemized 2019 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2019 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2019; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Charles Butt 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. This policy is from its 2019 filing and is not presented as current application guidance.
- Contact
Mailing address: 200 E Basse Rd Ste 201, San Antonio, TX 78209-4490
Phone: (210) 462-9991
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Charles Butt Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2019
The largest 2019 recipient was Holdsworth Center ($13.0M). Together the top 10 received $22.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
44 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 44 (45%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2019 filing reports that 68% of grant dollars went to recipients in Texas and 25% to recipients in New York. It lists 6% for recipients with an unspecified state and 0% for New Jersey and Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2019 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2019 it made 44 grants totaling $24.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Holdsworth Center San Antonio, TX | Training Center Construction | $13,000,000 |
| University of Cambridge New York, NY | Research Grant | $4,400,000 |
| Columbia University New York, NY | Vagelos College of Physicians/Surgeons, Dept of Orthopedics | $1,500,000 |
| Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development | Global Video Library of Effective Teaching Practices | $1,500,000 |
| Cast San Antonio, TX | Start up Grant for Construction Costs | $1,000,000 |
| University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX | The Essential for School Success-Sponsorship | $344,500 |
| Cast San Antonio, TX | General Expenses | $300,000 |
| Texas A&M San Antonio Foundation San Antonio, TX | Autisim rise center 4 yr grant - 1st installment | $250,000 |
| Hidalgo Foundation of Bexar County Inc San Antonio, TX | Houston GPS-Sponsorship | $200,000 |
| Teach for America San Antonio, TX | 5 Yr Grant - 2ND Installment | $200,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $7,229,103 | $6,060,986 | $25,034,676 | $24,111,475 | 44 | $997,999 | $1,131,789 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Charles Butt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M for 2019 — 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 available grant records show support for education, research, health-related work, media, and community organizations. For example, the foundation funded construction of a training center and a global video library of effective teaching practices, as well as university research and education-related programs.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms. The Texas A&M San Antonio Foundation says it provides financial support to help students succeed in college and contribute to their communities. Texas Public Radio describes its mission as engaging, inspiring, and informing people to better understand their community and world. The Menninger Clinic Foundation says it supports psychiatric research, instruction for health and education professionals, and patient care.
Grantmaking
In 2019, the foundation made 44 grants totaling $24,111,475. Grant sizes ranged from $103 to $13,000,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest grants included $13,000,000 to the Holdsworth Center for training-center construction, $4,400,000 to the University of Cambridge for a research grant, and $1,500,000 each to Columbia University for its Department of Orthopedics and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development for a global video library of effective teaching practices. Other grants included $1,000,000 to CAST for construction start-up costs and $344,500 to the University of Texas at San Antonio for “The Essential for School Success-Sponsorship.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2019 filing lists Charles C Butt as chairman and director; Charles H Clines as president, treasurer, and director; Elizabeth Lorenz as vice president and director; Debra Salge as secretary and director; and Judith A Lindquist as director.
The Charles Butt Foundation is led by Charles H. Clines - See Stmt, President, Treasurer & Director on the 2019 filing; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2019 is compensated.
Officers on the 2019 filing
Charles H. Clines - See Stmt
President, Treasurer & Director
New on the 2019 filing
1 hr/week
$11K (2019)
Charles C. Butt
Chairman, Director & Member
New on the 2019 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Debra Salge
Secretary & Director
New on the 2019 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Lorenz
Vice President & Director
New on the 2019 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judith A. Lindquist
Director
New on the 2019 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2019 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2019 filing was $11K, to Charles H Clines - See STMT 10 (President, Treasurer, Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Charles Butt Foundation
How much does The Charles Butt Foundation give each year?
The Charles Butt Foundation gave $24.1M across 44 grants in 2019, according to its 2019 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The Charles Butt Foundation's typical grant size?
The Charles Butt Foundation's median grant in 2019 was $50,000, and its average grant was $547,988, across 44 grants on its 2019 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Charles Butt Foundation give grants?
The Charles Butt Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2019 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (25%). The most frequent recipient cities were San Antonio, TX (28 grants), Austin, TX (5 grants), New York, NY (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does The Charles Butt Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of The Charles Butt Foundation's 2019 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 44) were for general or operating support, per its 2019 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Sponsorship" (7 grants).
Who are The Charles Butt Foundation's largest grantees?
The Charles Butt Foundation's largest 2019 grantees include Holdsworth Center ($13,000,000), University of Cambridge ($4,400,000) and Columbia University ($1,500,000), according to its 2019 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2019 grant dollars.
How large is The Charles Butt Foundation?
The Charles Butt Foundation reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2019 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $6.1M.
What does The Charles Butt Foundation fund?
The available grant records show support for education, research, health-related work, media, and community organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Charles Butt 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 ↑
How much is The Charles Butt Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2019, The Charles Butt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Charles Butt Foundation's EIN?
The Charles Butt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-6674532. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019.
Does The Charles Butt 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS September 5, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2019
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