Private foundation · EIN 36-6101775 · Lake Forest, Illinois · Philanthropy & grantmaking

Butler Family Foundation

Should you approach them?

Yes, approach them if your work fits its grantee list. The foundation accepts applications (There are no submission deadlines.) and its median grant is $10K.

From the 2025 Form 990-PF: 63 grants paid, $1.8M total, median $10K. 44% of grants stayed in Illinois. Stated restrictions: Organizations must be educational, religious, or charitable as defined under irc section 170(c).

Accepts applications
Yes
per 990-PF Part XV
Grants paid, 2025
63
$1.8M
Median grant
$10K
Stays in IL
44%
of grants
Deadline
See below
There are no submission deadlines.
Assets
$18M

How to apply

There are no standard application forms. A letter requesting a contribution is sufficient. Contact: Karen B Connell, 825 S Waukegan Rd Suite A8 Pmb 218, Lake Forest, Il, 9176019652 Deadlines: There are no submission deadlines. Restrictions: Organizations must be educational, religious, or charitable as defined under irc section 170(c).

Quoted from Part XV of the foundation's 2025 Form 990-PF; the full text is in the filing. Confirm on the foundation's website before you write.

Grants paid in 2025

Top 60 of 63 grants by amount · from Form 990-PF Part XV

RecipientPurposeAmount
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Inc - Metro Ny Region Now Blood Care UnitedRye Brook, NYGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$452K
Ravinia Festival AssociationHighland Park, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$160K
Jackson LaboratoryBar Harbor, MEGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$158K
The Church of the Holy SpiritLake Forest, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$157K
Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$116K
Great Lakes Adaptive Sports AssocLake Forest, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$54K
Brooks SchoolNorth Andover, MAGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$38K
Colgate UniversityHamilton, NYGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$30K
Make a Wish Foundation of AmericaPhoenix, AZGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$30K
Southwestern Heights High SchoolKismet, KSGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$30K
Groton SchoolGroton, MAGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$25K
Phoenix Symphony AssociationPhoenix, AZGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$25K
Way of the Rain IncSanta Fe, NMGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$25K
Villanova UniversityVillanova, PAGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$25K
Elawa Farm FoundationLake Forest, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$24K
American National Red CrossChicago, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$20K
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsNew York, NYGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$20K
Brushwood Center at Ryerson WoodsRiverwoods, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$20K
Caney Creek Community Center - Alice Lloyd CollegePippa Passes, KYGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$20K
The Posse Foundation Inc - ChicagoChicago, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$20K
Chicago Symphony OrchestraChicago, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$15K
Family Action NetworkEvanston, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$15K
Lake Forest CollegeLake Forest, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$15K
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Inc - NYC ChapterNew York, NYGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$15K
The Salvation Army - Metropolitan DivisionChicago, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$15K
Trustees of Westminster School IncSimsbury, CTGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$15K
Lake Forest Open Lands AssociationLake Forest, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$13K
Field Musuem of Natural HistoryChicago, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$13K
Arizona Arts Circle LtdPhoenix, AZGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Blessed Stephen Bellesini Osa Academy IncLawrence, MAGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Child Crisis ArizonaMesa, AZGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Glenwood AcademyGlenwood, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Christ Church of the AscensionParadise Valley, AZGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
International Chamber ArtistsLake Bluff, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art IncIndianapolis, INGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Northern Illinois Food BankGeneva, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Fourth Presbyterian ChurchChicago, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Lake County HavenLibertyville, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
St Stephen S & St Agnes Schoold FoundationAlexandria, VAGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Mothers Tr FoundationLake Forest, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Orchard School Foundation IncIndianapolis, INGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Phoenix Childrens HospitalPhoenix, AZGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Rhode Island Schoool of DesignProvidence, RIGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Young Masterminds InitiativeBrooklyn, NYGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
St Marys Food Bank AlliancePhoenix, AZGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
University of Virginia School of ArchitectureCharlottesville, VAGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Urban Rivers IncChicago, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$10K
Ability 360 IncPhoenix, AZGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
Arizona Science CenterPhoenix, AZGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
American Brain Tumor AssociationChicago, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
Gasparilla Island Conservation & Improvement Association IncBoca Grande, FLGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
Cancer Wellness CenterNorthbrook, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
History Center of Lake Forest Lake BluffLake Forest, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
Panhellenic Scholarship FoundationChicago, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation of the United States IncWinston Salem, NCGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
Lake Forest Country Day SchoolLake Forest, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
Lake Forest High School FoundationLake Forest, ILGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
Stonington Village Improvement Association IncStonington, CTGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
Triangle IncMalden, MAGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000
Sandra Day Oconnor InstitutePhoenix, AZGeneral charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization$5,000

By state: Illinois 28 · New York 5 · Maine 1 · Arizona 10 · Massachusetts 5 · Kansas 1

About this foundation

Butler Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation in Lake Forest, Illinois, tax-exempt since 1956. Private foundations must pay out roughly 5% of their assets each year, mostly as grants to 501(c)(3) public charities.

All filings on ProPublica

Does Butler Family Foundation accept grant applications?

Yes. On its 2025 Form 990-PF the foundation indicates it accepts applications. There are no standard application forms. A letter requesting a contribution is sufficient. Deadlines: There are no submission deadlines..

How much does Butler Family Foundation give each year?

In tax year 2025 it paid $1.8M across 63 grants, a median of $10K.

Where does Butler Family Foundation give?

Illinois (28 grants), New York (5 grants), Maine (1 grants) and elsewhere, per its latest filing.

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