The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler

GREAT NECK, NY EIN: 27-0141384

The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler Family Foundation is a private philanthropic organization established in 2006 in Massachusetts and currently based in Great Neck, New York. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting nonprofit initiatives across the United States.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$12.0M

+22.4% YoY

Annual Giving

$211K

+48.9% YoY

Grant Count

44

+15.8% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5K

+28.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler reported a distributable amount of $521K 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 supports nonprofit organizations involved with arts and education. The foundation's grantmaking priorities include historic preservation and related cultural initiatives.

Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities throughout the United States, including:

States: Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas

Cities: Albany, Bar Harbor, Boonville, Bronx, Cambridge, Charleston, Chicago, Durham, Forestport, Great Neck, Hagerstown, Houston, Ketchum, London, Milton, Mount Desert, New Hartford, New York, Northeast Harbor, Old Westbury, Philadelphia, Saint Paul, Seal Harbor, St. Paul, and Utica

Grant Distribution by State

11states
+3 more states

Cities

AlbanyBar HarborBoonvilleBronxCambridgeCharlestonChicagoDurhamForestportGreat NeckHagerstownHoustonKetchumLocust ValleyMiltonMount DesertNew HartfordNew YorkNortheast HarborOld Westbury

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Total Assets: $9.8 million to $12.0 million (varies by reporting year)

Annual Revenue: $147,347 (2023)

Annual Expenses: $238,969 to $239,000 (recent years)

Tax-Exempt Status: May 2006

EIN: 27-0141384

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$154K$308K$462K$617K20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$12,035,787$9,833,782$9,183,868
Revenue$472,517$147,347$259,640
Expenses$338,727$238,969$239,273
Qualifying Distributions$261,311$196,830$164,085
Net Investment Income$407,321$322,132$223,545
Distributable Amount$520,792$448,733$447,407

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$65K$131K$196K$262K30 grants202050 grants202133 grants202238 grants202344 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

PRESERVATION LEAGUE OF N…$52KTHE NEW YORK SOCIETY LIB…$36KTHE FRICK COLLECTION$29KAMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME$10KBEATRIX FARRAND SOCIETY$10KCHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF…$10KFRIENDS OF UPPER EAST SI…$8KMETROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART$6KMETROPOLITAN OPERA$6KMEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING…$5K

Grant Size Distribution

195 grants across all recorded years

192<$50K3$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Preservation League of New York State ($51,650), The New York Society Library ($35,500), The Frick Collection ($28,862).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ABBE MUSEUM BAR HARBOR, MECULTURAL$500
AFHLE HUNGARIAN HOUSE NEW YORK, NYCULTURAL$2,000
AMERICAN ACADEMY IN ROME NEW YORK, NYCULTURAL$10,000
BEATRIX FARRAND SOCIETY MOUNT DESERT, MECULTURAL$10,000
BLUE HILL TROUPE NEW YORK, NYCULTURAL$1,000
BOONVILLE FIRE COMPANY INC BOONVILLE, NYSOCIAL WELFARE$1,000
BREAKTHROUGH TD1 (FORMERLY JDRF) HAGERSTOWN, MDMEDICAL$500
CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY NEW YORK, NYENVIRONMENTAL$2,500
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF UTICA UTICA, NYCULTURAL$10,000
FORESTPORT FIRE FIGHTERS INC FORESTPORT, NYSOCIAL WELFARE$1,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Gilbert Butler – President
  • Ildiko Butler – Director
  • Winthrop Rutherfurd Jr. – Director/Clerk (receives compensation for his role)

Additional directors and officers serve on the foundation, most without compensation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
GILBERT BUTLERPRESIDENT/TREAS./DIR.1
ILDIKO BUTLERDIRECTOR0.5
EMILY RAFFERTYDIRECTOR0.5
WINTHROP RUTHERFURD JRESQDIRECTOR/CLERK0.5
MELISSA TUCKERMANDIRECTOR0.5
FREDERICK J C BUTLERDIRECTOR0.5
JOSEPH MANCARICONTROLLER1
OLIVER TUCKERMANDIRECTOR0.5
LAURENCE BIRDSEYDIRECTOR0.5
DAPHNE BIRDSEYDIRECTOR1

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has supported cultural and educational institutions, including:

A gift to Fordham University supporting art students and the university's gallery

Alumna\u2019s Gift Supports Fordham Art Students and Gallery Alike

The establishment of the Ildiko Butler Travel Grant for Visual Arts at Fordham University

The 2022 Ildiko Butler Travel Grant \u2013 Visual Arts

Support for cultural institutions including The Frick Collection

[PDF] 2023 Annual Report - The Frick Collection

Involvement in community development initiatives, including support related to Munson Park in downtown Utica as part of a State DRI (Downtown Revitalization Initiative) award

Munson Park opens in downtown Utica as part of State DRI award

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler fund?

The foundation supports nonprofit organizations involved with **arts and education**. The foundation's grantmaking priorities include historic preservation and related cultural initiatives.

How do I apply for a grant from The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler?

**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $120 to $51,650. **Annual Giving:** The foundation reported total giving of $211,062 in recent filings, with annual expenses ranging from approximately $142,000 to $239,000. **Grant Focus Areas:** Historic buildings preservation and grants for historic preservation represent key funding focus areas.

Where does The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler make grants?

The foundation supports organizations across multiple states and cities throughout the United States, including: **States:** Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Minnesota, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas **Cities:** Albany, Bar Harbor, Boonville, Bronx, Cambridge, Charleston, Chicago, Durham, Forestport, Great Neck, Hagerstown, Houston, Ketchum, London, Milton, Mount Desert, New Hartford, New York, Northeast Harbor, Old Westbury, Philadelphia, Sain…

What size grants does The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler award?

In 2024, The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler awarded 44 grants totaling $211K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler reported a distributable amount of $521K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler's EIN?

The Gilbert and Ildiko Butler's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0141384. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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