The Merle E & Patricia A Butler Family Charitable Foundation concentrates its support on health and human services in the St. Louis region, with a strong emphasis on children's health, hospital systems, and veteran services. Grants are typically general operating gifts to established local institutions and occasionally to elite local education. The foundation favors high-impact, large gifts to a small set of repeat grantees rather than many small awards.
Merle E & Patricia a Butler Family Charitable Foundation’s largest recent grants point to a clear pattern: it backs St. Louis institutions serving children, veterans, and health-related community needs, often with repeated general-support awards over multiple years. The foundation gave $345,000 in 2024 and $300,000 in 2025 to St Louis Children's Hospital Foundation, and $321,000 in 2023 plus $145,000 in 2024 to Veterans Community Project. Those recurring gifts suggest a preference for sustained institutional support rather than one-time project funding. The foundation’s giving also reaches other parts of the local health network. Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation received $130,000 in 2025 and $101,500 in 2024, while Nurses for Newborns received $115,000 in 2024. Its portfolio includes a small number of education and community-based grants as well, including Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School, but the center of gravity remains local health and human services. Across the recent grants list, awards are concentrated in St. Louis-area organizations and are commonly described as general support of charitable purpose.
In pediatric health, the foundation gave $345,000 in 2024 and $300,000 in 2025 to St Louis Children's Hospital Foundation, plus $125,000 in 2023 to St Louis Children's Hospital. That sequence shows sustained backing for children’s care institutions rather than a single campaign. Veteran services are another recurring area. Veterans Community Project received $321,000 in 2023 and $145,000 in 2024, and Honor Flight and Greater St Louis Honor Flight each appear with $20,000 grants in multiple years. The foundation also supports maternal and newborn services. Nurses for Newborns received $115,000 in 2024, and Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation received $130,000 in 2025 and $101,500 in 2024. Beyond health care, it made food-security gifts to Operation Food Search and St Louis Area Food Bank.
Typical awards are in the middle-five-figure range: p25 is $9,500, median grant size is $15,000, and p75 is $20,000. The pattern is not a scatter of one-off microgrants; several recipients appear in multiple years, including St Louis Children's Hospital Foundation, Veterans Community Project, Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation, Operation Food Search, Ronald Mcdonald House Charities, and Honor Flight. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its recent grants are described as general support or general support of charitable purpose, indicating unrestricted or broad-purpose funding.
$605K
$9.8M
$1.1M
$719K
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Concentrated, high-dollar giving: a small number of large, general-support grants with multiple repeat recipients; primarily regional focus on St. Louis-area nonprofits rather than broad national grantmaking.
Notable grantees: St. Louis Children's Hospital Foundation, Veterans Community Project, Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation, Nurses for Newborns, Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School
The foundation gives locally, and 84% of grants go to recipients in Missouri. Most named recipients are in the St. Louis area, especially St Louis, Chesterfield, Bridgeton, and Red Bud. A smaller share reaches across the river into Illinois, including St Peters United Church of Christ and Vfw Post 6632 in Red Bud, IL. Outside the region, one recent grant went to Starlight Children's Foundation in Culver City, CA.
Its recent grants focus on health and human services, especially pediatric hospitals and children’s health, hospital-system support, veteran services, newborn and perinatal support, and some food-security organizations. Several recipients appear more than once across 2023–2025, which suggests ongoing relationships with established local nonprofits.
The foundation’s grant-size distribution centers on larger local gifts: p25 is $9,500, median grant size is $15,000, and p75 is $20,000. The recent grant list also includes several much larger awards, such as $345,000 and $321,000.
No. Most grants go to Missouri recipients, and 84% of grants are to organizations in the HQ state. The recent list also includes grants to organizations in Illinois, such as St Peters United Church of Christ in Red Bud and Vfw Post 6632 in Red Bud.
Repeated support is common. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including St Louis Children's Hospital Foundation, Veterans Community Project, Missouri Baptist Healthcare Foundation, Operation Food Search, Ronald Mcdonald House Charities, and Honor Flight. Many awards are described as general support of charitable purpose.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST LOUIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MISSOURI BAPTIST HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $130,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GREATER ST LOUIS HONOR FLIGHT | CHESTERFIELD, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ASTHMA & ALLERGY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST PETERS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | RED BUD, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST LOUIS AREA FOOD BANK | BRIDGETON, MO | $17,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| OPERATION FOOD SEARCH | ST LOUIS, MO | $17,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MARY INSTITUTE AND SAINT LOUIS COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| TOYS FOR TOTS | TRIANGLE, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| CROSSROADS CLINICS | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ROSSMAN SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST JOHN UCC MISSION TEAM | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| CHURCHILL SCHOOL | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ORCHARD FARM HIGH SCHOOL | ST CHARLES, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST LOUIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $345,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| VETERANS COMMUNITY PROJECT | ST LOUIS, MO | $145,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| NURSES FOR NEWBORNS | ST LOUIS, MO | $115,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MISSOURI BAPTIST HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $101,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STARLIGHT CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | CULVER CITY, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MARY INSTITUTE AND SAINT LOUIS COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $85,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ASTHMA AND ALLERGY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA | ST LOUIS, MO | $45,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| OPERATION FOOD SEARCH | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| GREATER ST LOUIS HONOR FLIGHT | CHESTERFIELD, MO | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ASTHMA & ALLERGY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| HONOR FLIGHT | CHESTERFIELD, MO | $20,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| VFW POST 6632 | RED BUD, IL | $15,300 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST PETERS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | RED BUD, IL | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST LOUIS FOOD BANK | BRIDGETON, MO | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST LOUIS AREA FOOD BANK | BRIDGETON, MO | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| OPERATION FOOD SEARCH | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST JOHN UCC MISSION TEAM | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ROSSMAN SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ROSSMAN SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| CROSSROAD CLINICS | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| TOYS FOR TOTS | TRIANGLE, VA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| CROSSROADS CLINICS | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| MARY INSTITUTE AND COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST PETERS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | RED BUD, IL | $9,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ORCHARD FARM HIGH SCHOOL | ST CHARLES, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| CHURCHILL CENTER | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ORCHARD FARM HIGH SCHOOL | ST CHARLES, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| CHURCHILL SCHOOL | SAINT LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST JOHN UCC MISSION TEAM | ST LOUIS, MO | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| TOYS FOR TOTS | TRIANGLE, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| PATRIOT TRAINING FOUNDATION | DES PERES, MO | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| VETERANS COMMUNITY PROJECT | ST LOUIS, MO | $321,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
| ST LOUIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | ST LOUIS, MO | $125,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE |
GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
MISSOURI BAPTIST HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
$130,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GREATER ST LOUIS HONOR FLIGHT
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ASTHMA & ALLERGY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ST PETERS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
TOYS FOR TOTS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CROSSROADS CLINICS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ST JOHN UCC MISSION TEAM
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CHURCHILL SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ORCHARD FARM HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
MISSOURI BAPTIST HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION
$101,500GENERAL SUPPORT
GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ASTHMA AND ALLERGY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
$45,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
GREATER ST LOUIS HONOR FLIGHT
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ASTHMA & ALLERGY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
HONOR FLIGHT
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
VFW POST 6632
$15,300GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ST PETERS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
$15,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ST JOHN UCC MISSION TEAM
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CROSSROAD CLINICS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
TOYS FOR TOTS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CROSSROADS CLINICS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ST PETERS UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
$9,500GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ORCHARD FARM HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CHURCHILL CENTER
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ORCHARD FARM HIGH SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
CHURCHILL SCHOOL
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ST JOHN UCC MISSION TEAM
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
TOYS FOR TOTS
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
PATRIOT TRAINING FOUNDATION
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE
ST LOUIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$125,000GENERAL SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE