Butterfly Equity Foundation concentrates its giving on community-focused social justice work, as evidenced by a single six-figure grant to a youth-centered social justice organization. The foundation appears to prioritize core, unrestricted support that sustains organizational capacity and operations rather than project-specific funding. Its giving suggests an interest in advancing civic leadership and equity in underserved communities through nonprofit partners.
Butterfly Equity Foundation’s recent grantmaking is anchored by a six-figure award to Social Justice Learning Institute, which received $130,500 in 2023 for general operations. That grant points to a funder that backs community-based organizations with flexible support, rather than narrow project funding. Across the recent grants list, the foundation repeatedly supports nonprofits working on food access, nutrition security, and local food system strengthening in Los Angeles, often through general operating grants that help organizations maintain day-to-day capacity. The foundation’s pattern is visible in repeated support for groups such as Food Forward, Hollywood Food Coalition, Alma Backyard Farm, and Venice Family Clinic. Several of those recipients appear in more than one year, which suggests continuing relationships rather than isolated awards. The grant purposes also show a preference for unrestricted or broad operational support, including general operations for local food access organizations and community partners. Butterfly Equity Foundation also funds intermediaries such as Community Partners for the LA Food Policy Council and Special Service for Groups for API Forward Movement, indicating that it sometimes channels support through backbone organizations serving broader local networks.
Butterfly Equity Foundation supports organizations working at the intersection of food access and community health. Food Forward received $72,025 in 2025 for general operations, alongside prior support of $70,500 in 2023 and $66,000 in 2024, reflecting repeated backing for a local food rescue and distribution organization. Hollywood Food Coalition also received general operating support in multiple years, including $71,716 in 2025 and $56,000 in 2024. The foundation also funds local food system infrastructure. Community Partners received $68,500 in 2025, designated for the LA Food Policy Council, after earlier grants of $66,000 in 2024 and $55,500 in 2023. Farm-linked food access work appears as well: Alma Backyard Farm received $69,000 in 2025 and $56,000 in 2024 for general operations, while Farm2people received $41,500 in 2025 and $31,000 in 2024. Health and community service organizations are part of the mix too. Venice Family Clinic received $58,500 in 2025 for general operations, and Special Service for Groups received $51,500 in 2025 for API Forward Movement.
$622K
$232K
$809K
$999K
Most grants fall between $3K and $56K, with a median of $31K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$31K
75th Percentile
$56K
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Highly concentrated: one large, single grant providing general operating support rather than multiple or project-restricted awards; suggests focused, potentially strategic support to a core grantee.
Notable grantees: Social Justice Learning Institute
Butterfly Equity Foundation’s typical grant size is $3,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,500 at the median, and $55,625 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows a clear tilt toward operating support, with many awards labeled general operations or general operating support rather than project grants. Recipients also appear across multiple years, including Food Forward, Hollywood Food Coalition, Alma Backyard Farm, Venice Family Clinic, and Special Service for Groups, which points to recurring relationships. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and the active program descriptions say it accepts unsolicited requests from qualified 501(c)(3) organizations.
Butterfly Equity Foundation gives almost entirely in California: 95% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top state by grant count is CA. Recent grants are concentrated in Los Angeles-area cities such as Los Angeles, North Hollywood, Inglewood, Venice, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood. One recent award also went outside California to Portland, Oregon, through Foodcorps Inc. The country distribution is entirely domestic, with 56 grants in the US.
The foundation funds qualified 501(c)(3) organizations working on nutrition security, food as medicine, healthy, affordable food retail, and local food system strengthening. Recent grants also show support for social justice and community organizing organizations, including awards for general operations and for backbone entities such as the LA Food Policy Council and API Forward Movement.
Yes. General operations and general operating support appear repeatedly in the recent grants list. Examples include awards to Food Forward, Hollywood Food Coalition, Alma Backyard Farm, Venice Family Clinic, and Community Partners, showing that unrestricted operational support is a consistent part of the foundation’s approach.
Typical grant size ranges from $3,000 at the 25th percentile to $30,500 at the median and $55,625 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes larger awards such as $130,500 to Social Justice Learning Institute, showing that the foundation makes both mid-sized and larger operating grants.
The foundation’s giving is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in California, with 95% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Most recent grants are to Los Angeles-area organizations, though one recent grant went to Foodcorps Inc in Portland, Oregon.
Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Food Forward, Hollywood Food Coalition, Alma Backyard Farm, Venice Family Clinic, Special Service for Groups, Community Partners, Proyecto Pastoral, and Social Justice Learning Institute. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-time awards.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Butterfly Equity Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working in Los Angeles and aligned with the foundation's priorities in nutrition security, food as medicine, and healthy, affordable food retail in neighborhoods with limited access.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FOOD FORWARD | NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA | $72,025 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOLLYWOOD FOOD COALITION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $71,716 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ALMA BACKYARD FARM | LOS ANGELES, CA | $69,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $68,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS - FOR LA FOOD POLICY COUNCIL |
| SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING INSTITUTE | INGLEWOOD, CA | $68,184 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| VENICE FAMILY CLINIC | VENICE, CA | $58,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SPECIAL SERVICE FOR GROUPS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $51,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS - FOR API FORWARD MOVEMENT |
| FARM2PEOPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $41,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PROYECTO PASTORAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $39,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| URBAN FOOD INITIATIVE | DORCHESTER, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FOODCORPS INC | PORTLAND, CA | $21,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| WITH LOVE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SUSTAINABLE AG AND FOOD SYSTEM FUNDERS | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2025 MEMBERSHIP |
| SUSTAINABLE AG AND FOOD SYSTEM FUNDERS | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | 2025 FORUM SPONSORSHIP |
| SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENTREPRENEURS | CALABASAS, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS - FOR LONG BEACH FRESH |
| SIMA STUDIOS | WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS - FOR PROSPERITY MARKET |
| PROJECT ANGEL FOOD | LOS ANGELES, CA | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GRANTMAKERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,600 | 2025 | 2025 MEMBERSHIP |
| LA COMPOST | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,525 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH | VENICE, CA | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GROWING COMMUNITIES INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GRANTMAKERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | 2024 LA FOOD FUNDERS MEMBERSHIP |
| GARDEN SCHOOL FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $66,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS - FOR LA FOOD POLICY COUNCIL |
| FOOD FORWARD | NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA | $66,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOLLYWOOD FOOD COALITION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $56,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| VENICE FAMILY CLINIC | VENICE, CA | $56,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING INSTITUTE | INGLEWOOD, CA | $56,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ALMA BACKYARD FARM | LOS ANGELES, CA | $56,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SPECIAL SERVICE FOR GROUPS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $46,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS - FOR API FORWARD MOVEMENT |
| GROWING COMMUNITIES INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $36,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| PROYECTO PASTORAL | LOS ANGELES, CA | $36,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FOODCORPS INC | PORTLAND, OR | $35,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FARM2PEOPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $31,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOLLYWOOD FOOD COALITION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SACRAMENTO REGION COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SACRAMENTO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CAFF CALIFORNIA FAMILY FARMER EMERGENCY FUND |
| SUSTAINABLE AG AND FOOD SYSTEM FUNDERS | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SUSTAINABLE AG AND FOOD SYSTEM FUNDERS | SANTA BARBARA, CA | $2,500 | 2024 | VIRGINIA CLARKE LEGACY FUND |
| SPECIAL SERVICE FOR GROUPS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| LA COMPOST | LOS ANGELES, CA | $258 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SOCIAL JUSTICE LEARNING INSTITUTE | INGLEWOOD, CA | $130,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FOOD FORWARD | NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA | $70,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $55,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| VENICE FAMILY CLINIC | VENICE, CA | $50,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SPECIAL SERVICE FOR GROUPS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $40,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOLLYWOOD FOOD COALITION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $35,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| GROWING COMMUNITIES INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $35,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| ALMA BACKYARD FARM | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FOODCORPS INC | PORTLAND, OR | $30,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| FARM2PEOPLE | LOS ANGELES, CA | $25,500 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
FOOD FORWARD
$72,025GENERAL OPERATIONS
GENERAL OPERATIONS
FARM2PEOPLE
$41,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
WITH LOVE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
$5,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GENERAL OPERATIONS - FOR LONG BEACH FRESH
SIMA STUDIOS
$3,000GENERAL OPERATIONS - FOR PROSPERITY MARKET
GROWING COMMUNITIES INC
$1,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
GARDEN SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
GROWING COMMUNITIES INC
$36,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FARM2PEOPLE
$31,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
CAFF CALIFORNIA FAMILY FARMER EMERGENCY FUND
GROWING COMMUNITIES INC
$35,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
FARM2PEOPLE
$25,500GENERAL OPERATIONS