The Cestra Butner Family Foundation concentrates large, targeted grants to cultural and youth-serving organizations in Oakland, with an emphasis on sustaining flagship local institutions (especially performing arts and children’s attractions) and supporting education and youth opportunity programs. While most funding is highly local and recurrent, the foundation also makes selective larger gifts to national service-oriented groups.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants (few large gifts) with repeat funding to established local cultural and youth organizations; primarily local focus with occasional national-level grants.
Repeated general-support grants to Children’s Fairyland and Oakland Symphony show how Cestra Butner Family Foundation favors sustained backing for Oakland institutions rather than one-time gifts. The foundation’s recent giving also includes several multi-year commitments to youth development and education organizations in the city, alongside support for a small set of national service and scholarship recipients. That mix points to a funder that uses larger, targeted awards to help keep core programs operating. Oakland’s children’s attraction and performing arts ecosystem appear as central anchors in the grant record. Children’s Fairyland received $375,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general support, while Oakland Symphony received $175,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Other Oakland recipients, including Oakland Promise, Eoydc, Hidden Genius Project, Ok Program of Oakland, and Oakland Zoo, received grants at similar levels of general support, suggesting a pattern of institutional funding rather than project-specific microgrants. The foundation also made scholarships to 100 Black Men of America Inc and provided general support to Peace Corps Foundation.
In children’s enrichment, the foundation gave $375,000 in 2025 to Children’s Fairyland for general support, matching the same amount it gave in 2024. That repeated award is one of the clearest signs of how it funds long-running local institutions. For performing arts, Oakland Symphony received $175,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025, all labeled general support. The pattern suggests ongoing operating support rather than episodic project funding. Youth opportunity and college-readiness organizations also appear repeatedly. Oakland Promise received $220,000 in 2023 for general support, while Eoydc, Hidden Genius Project, and Ok Program of Oakland each received six-figure general-support grants across multiple years. The foundation also made scholarship grants to 100 Black Men of America Inc.
Typical grants cluster at the upper end of the foundation’s size range: p25 is $25,000, median is $30,000, and p75 is $125,000. Recent awards also show larger recurring grants, including several $125,000 and $175,000 general-support gifts and a pair of $375,000 grants. The record includes repeated recipients across multiple years, which points to ongoing support rather than one-time transactions. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. The grant list shows a mix of general support and scholarships.
$3.5M
$12.8M
$857K
$1.3M
Most grants fall between $25K and $125K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$125K
About 76% of grants go to recipients in GA.
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Notable grantees: Oakland Symphony, Children's Fairyland, Oakland Promise, Peace Corps Foundation
Grantmaking is heavily concentrated in California, with 76% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Oakland is the clearest center of activity, with many grants landing there across arts, youth, and community organizations. Outside California, the foundation has given to Atlanta-based groups including 100 Black Men of America Inc and Boule Foundation, and to Washington, DC’s Peace Corps Foundation. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based.
The recent grants center on Oakland institutions in children’s enrichment, performing arts, and youth opportunity. Examples include Children’s Fairyland for general support, Oakland Symphony for general support, and Oakland Promise for general support. The foundation also supports some national service and scholarship-oriented organizations.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Children’s Fairyland in 2024 and 2025, Oakland Symphony in 2023 through 2025, and Oral Lee Brown Foundation in 2023 through 2025. That pattern suggests sustained support rather than one-off giving.
The posted distribution shows p25 at $25,000, median at $30,000, and p75 at $125,000. Recent awards include smaller $25,000 grants as well as larger $175,000 and $375,000 grants, so the foundation gives across a fairly wide range.
California receives most of the grants, with 76% going to recipients in the HQ state. Oakland is especially prominent, and the recent list also includes recipients in Berkeley, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and Watertown, MA.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND | OAKLAND, CA | $375,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PEACE CORPS FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND SYMPHONY | OAKLAND, CA | $175,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OK PROGRAM OF OAKLAND | OAKLAND, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND ZOO | OAKLAND, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HIDDEN GENIUS PROJECT | OAKLAND, CA | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ORAL LEE BROWN FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| 100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| KIDS FOR THE BAY | BERKELEY, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALS THERAPY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE | WATERTOWN, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOULE FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALPHA GAMMA BOULE FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEND A HAND FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND ROTARY ENDOWMENT | OAKLAND, CA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL | EVANSTON, IL | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDRENS FAIRYLAND | OAKLAND, CA | $375,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND SYMPHONY | OAKLAND, CA | $175,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OK PROGRAM OF OAKLAND | OAKLAND, CA | $125,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HIDDEN GENIUS PROJECT | OAKLAND, CA | $125,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EOYDC | OAKLAND, CA | $125,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ORAL LEE BROWN FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND ROTARY ENDOWMENT | OAKLAND, CA | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KIDS FOR THE BAY | BERKELEY, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALPHA GAMMA BOULE FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| 100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| BOULE FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEND A HAND FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL | EVANSTON, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND PROMISE | OAKLAND, CA | $220,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAKLAND SYMPHONY | OAKLAND, CA | $175,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OK PROGRAM OF OAKLAND | OAKLAND, CA | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EOYDC | OAKLAND, CA | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HIDDEN GENIUS PROJECT | OAKLAND, CA | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ORAL LEE BROWN FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $50,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROTARY CLUB OF OAKLAND | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOULE FOUNDATION | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALPHA GAMMA BOULE FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| 100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICA INC | ATLANTA, GA | $25,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| THE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL | EVANSTON, IL | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LEND A HAND FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
$375,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PEACE CORPS FOUNDATION
$250,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OAKLAND SYMPHONY
$175,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OK PROGRAM OF OAKLAND
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OAKLAND ZOO
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HIDDEN GENIUS PROJECT
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ORAL LEE BROWN FOUNDATION
GENERAL SUPPORT
100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICA INC
$25,000SCHOLARSHIPS
KIDS FOR THE BAY
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALS THERAPY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BOULE FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALPHA GAMMA BOULE FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LEND A HAND FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OAKLAND ROTARY ENDOWMENT
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CHILDRENS FAIRYLAND
$375,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OAKLAND SYMPHONY
$175,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OK PROGRAM OF OAKLAND
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HIDDEN GENIUS PROJECT
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EOYDC
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ORAL LEE BROWN FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OAKLAND ROTARY ENDOWMENT
$30,000GENERAL SUPPORT
KIDS FOR THE BAY
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALPHA GAMMA BOULE FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICA INC
$25,000SCHOLARSHIPS
BOULE FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LEND A HAND FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OAKLAND PROMISE
$220,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OAKLAND SYMPHONY
$175,000GENERAL SUPPORT
OK PROGRAM OF OAKLAND
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
EOYDC
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HIDDEN GENIUS PROJECT
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ORAL LEE BROWN FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ROTARY CLUB OF OAKLAND
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BOULE FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ALPHA GAMMA BOULE FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
100 BLACK MEN OF AMERICA INC
$25,000SCHOLARSHIPS
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
LEND A HAND FOUNDATION
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT