The Lionel and Cathlene Butler
The Lionel and Cathlene Butler is a private foundation, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $101K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $11K. Net investment income was $4K.
The Lionel and Cathlene Butler at a glance
In short: The Lionel and Cathlene Butler gave $11K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Louisiana. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $10,750
- +65.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +75.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,536
- -5.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $750
- Total assets
- $100,508
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (60% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Lionel and Cathlene Butler funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Southern Univ Foundation ($7K). Together the top 7 received $11K.
Grant Size Distribution
14 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 14 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Lionel and Cathlene Butler gives
- Giving grew 79% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2023 it paid out 150% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $500 (2019) to $11K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $11K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Univ Foundation Baton Rouge, LA | Scholarship | $6,500 |
| Morehouse College Atlanta, GA | Scholarship - Jordan Gaddis | $1,000 |
| Univ of CA Irvine, CA | Scholarship-Kai Tregre | $1,000 |
| Houston Community College Houston, TX | Gabrielle Johnson | $750 |
| Texas College Tyler, TX | Scholarship-Brayland Howard | $500 |
| Univ of Oklahoma Norman, OK | Scholarship- Madyson Campbell | $500 |
| Alvin Community College Alvin, TX | Scholarship- Jermaine Moore | $500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $100,508 | $4,274 | $11,088 | $10,750 | 7 | $10,750 | $4,274 | — |
| 2024 | $106,494 | $6,352 | $6,797 | $6,500 | 4 | $6,500 | $6,352 | — |
| 2023 | $105,976 | $3,374 | $1,979 | $7,000 | 1 | $7,000 | $3,374 | $4,669 |
| 2022 | $118,113 | $3,212 | $1,450 | $6,000 | 1 | — | $2,625 | $5,505 |
| 2021 | $106,920 | $1,637 | $3,276 | $3,000 | 1 | $3,000 | $1,718 | $4,976 |
| 2020 | $96,123 | $1,861 | $662 | — | — | — | $1,861 | $4,957 |
| 2019 | $106,229 | $53,820 | $1,624 | $500 | 1 | — | $2,668 | — |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Lionel and Cathlene Butler is led by Lionel Butler, Chairman since 2025 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lionel Butler
Chairman
Trustee Board C → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$1K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Maurice L Butler
Trustee
Trustee Member → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stanley R McClendon
Trustee
Trustee Member → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Cathlene Butler (2019–2024) — Trustee Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
Frequently asked questions about The Lionel and Cathlene Butler
How much does The Lionel and Cathlene Butler give each year?
The Lionel and Cathlene Butler gave $11K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $7K across 4 grants.
What is The Lionel and Cathlene Butler's typical grant size?
The Lionel and Cathlene Butler's median grant in 2025 was $750, and its average grant was $1,536, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Lionel and Cathlene Butler give grants?
The Lionel and Cathlene Butler gives mostly in Louisiana: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (16%) and Georgia (9%).
Does The Lionel and Cathlene Butler give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on The Lionel and Cathlene Butler's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Lionel and Cathlene Butler's largest grantees?
The Lionel and Cathlene Butler's largest 2025 grantees include Southern Univ Foundation ($6,500), Morehouse College ($1,000) and Univ of CA ($1,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Lionel and Cathlene Butler?
The Lionel and Cathlene Butler reported $101K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $4K.
What is The Lionel and Cathlene Butler's EIN?
The Lionel and Cathlene Butler's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-2313158. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
Live grants for the work The Lionel and Cathlene Butler funds
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