The Butler Family Foundation seeks to foster safety, opportunity, and growth for individuals and families by supporting effective nonprofit organizations in the arts, environment, and human services.
A defining thread in Patrick and Aimee Butler Family grantmaking is the mix of housing, youth services, and capital support tied to Minnesota nonprofits. Recent awards include $150,000 to Avenues for Youth for a new youth housing facility in North Minneapolis and $125,000 to Tubman for the Great Dreams campaign, showing how the foundation backs both direct services and facility-driven projects. The same pattern appears across human services, arts, and environmental work, with grants used for operating support, facility improvements, and special campaigns rather than only one-off program expenses. The foundation also supports organizations working with families and community-specific populations. Recent grants went to Clues Comunidades Latinas Unidas E for culturally specific early childhood work and to Familywise Services for co-designing with families, alongside funding for organizations serving survivors of domestic violence, LGBTQ+ communities, and at-risk youth. Environmental funding is present as well, including peatland restoration and river stewardship, which places conservation alongside social services in the foundation’s portfolio. Its giving reflects a local, Minnesota-centered approach with a broad set of nonprofit partners, from direct-service providers to cultural institutions and regranting intermediaries. The result is a portfolio that combines immediate human services with long-term community infrastructure and place-based environmental work.
In youth housing and homelessness, the foundation supported Avenues for Youth with $150,000 for a new youth housing facility in North Minneapolis and Agate Housing & Services with $100,000 for technology and transportation upgrades. Those grants point to interest in both shelter capacity and the operational pieces that help people access housing. For early childhood and family support, it gave $150,000 to Clues Comunidades Latinas Unidas E for culturally specific early childhood work and $55,000 to Familywise Services for general operating support after a $125,000 grant the prior year for co-designing with families. The pattern suggests support for culturally grounded services and family-centered program design. Environmental grants include $120,000 to The Nature Conservancy Mn-sd-nd Ch for restoration of peatlands in Minnesota and $100,000 to Friends of the Mississippi River for the Our River campaign. The portfolio also includes support for domestic violence and victim services through Tubman and for chemical dependency treatment through Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
$4.2M
$102.3M
$6.7M
$5.4M
Most grants fall between $15K and $50K, with a median of $30K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$30K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Typical grants cluster around $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile, with larger awards reserved for capital and special-project work. The foundation uses both unsolicited and invitation-only pathways: Community Grants accept new LOIs and renewal applications, General Grantmaking accepts unsolicited requests, and Invited Grants are by invitation. Special Projects Grants run in two annual LOI rounds. Recent grantmaking shows repeat support for organizations such as Familywise Services, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Minnesota Historical Society, and Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards.
Grantmaking is concentrated in Minnesota, with 82% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent awards are especially visible in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, including grants to Clues Comunidades Latinas Unidas E, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, and Minnesota Historical Society in Saint Paul, plus Avenues for Youth, Familywise Services, Tubman, and Catholic Charities of St Paul And in Minneapolis. Outside Minnesota, recent grants also reached Worcester, Massachusetts, and Boston, Massachusetts.
The foundation supports effective nonprofit organizations in arts, environment, and human services. Its recent grants also show support for youth housing, culturally specific early childhood programs, domestic violence services, chemical dependency treatment, nonprofit technical assistance, and capital campaigns.
It uses multiple entry points. Community Grants accept a Letter of Inquiry from new applicants and renewal applications from existing grantees. General Grantmaking accepts unsolicited requests. Special Projects Grants also accept unsolicited LOIs in two annual rounds. Invited Grants are by invitation only.
The typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $30,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger grants such as $150,000, $125,000, and $120,000 for capital and special projects.
Giving is concentrated in Minnesota. The top state by grant count is MN, and 82% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent recipient cities include Minneapolis and Saint Paul, with smaller numbers elsewhere.
Yes. Recent grants show repeat support for several organizations, including Familywise Services, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, Minnesota Historical Society, and Women’s Foundation of Minnesota. Some of those organizations received both general operating support and earlier project- or campaign-related funding.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Patrick and Aimee Butler Family that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Only organizations with a current active grant from the Community Grants Program, the Petersham Fund, or the Regranting & Nonprofit Technical Assistance Fund are eligible to apply.
Deadline: The second 2026 Letter of Intent round is open from October 1, 2026 through December 1, 2026.
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVENUES FOR YOUTH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | NEW YOUTH HOUSING FACILITY IN NORTH |
| HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION | SAINT PAUL, MN | $150,000 | 2025 | ALTERNATIVE ADMISSION PATHWAYS PROGR |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY MN-SD-ND CH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $120,000 | 2025 | RESTORATION OF PEATLANDS IN MINNESOT |
| LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOT | SAINT PAUL, MN | $120,000 | 2025 | CENTER FOR CHANGING LIVES: FROGTOWN- |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ST PAUL AND | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $110,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NORTHSID |
| WOMEN'S FOUNDATION OF MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $100,000 | 2025 | MN FEMINIST GIVING DAY |
| HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION | SAINT PAUL, MN | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY LA | SAINT PAUL, MN | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE TRUSTEES OF RESERVATIONS | BOSTON, MA | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COLLEGEVILLE INSTITUTE | COLLEGEVILLE, MN | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ST PAUL AND | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | SAINT PAUL, MN | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WORCESTER ART MUSEUM | WORCESTER, MA | $55,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WILDERNESS INQUIRY | BLOOMINGTON, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER | SAINT PAUL, MN | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DING DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY | SANIBEL, FL | $45,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF NCW | WENATCHEE, WA | $40,000 | 2025 | GIVE METHOW CAMPAIGN |
| SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA | SAINT PAUL, MN | $40,000 | 2025 | ACCESS PROGRAMS |
| THE CONSERVATION FUND | SHOREVIEW, MN | $37,500 | 2025 | MINNESOTA OFFICE OPERATIONS |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY MN-SD-ND CH | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $37,500 | 2025 | FOREST STRATEGY AND STEWARDSHIP |
| MINNESOTA LAND TRUST | SAINT PAUL, MN | $37,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LOFT LITERARY CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMPAS | SAINT PAUL, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| GREAT RIVER GREENING | SAINT PAUL, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MINNESOTA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL | SAINT PAUL, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA | SAINT PAUL, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WALKER WEST MUSIC ACADEMY | SAINT PAUL, MN | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NORTHERN CLAY CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $32,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MINNESOTA CENTER FOR BOOK ARTS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $32,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HIGHPOINT CENTER FOR PRINTMAKING | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $32,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EAGLE BLUFF ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING | LANESBORO, MN | $32,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| TEXTILE CENTER OF MINNESOTA | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $32,500 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| JUXTAPOSITION ARTS | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WOLF RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING C | FINLAND, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| INSTALLATION GALLERY (DBA INSITE) | SAN DIEGO, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LAND (LOS ANGELES NOMADIC DIVISION) | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SPRINGBOARD FOR THE ARTS | SAINT PAUL, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DODGE NATURE CENTER | SAINT PAUL, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MACPHAIL CENTER FOR MUSIC | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | NORTH MINNEAPOLIS MUSIC EDUCATION CO |
| THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND | SAINT PAUL, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WALKER ART CENTER | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, LEARNING, AND IMP |
| THE FOOD GROUP | NEW HOPE, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MISSISSIPPI PARK CONNECTION | SAINT PAUL, MN | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT AND THE NO |
| MISERICORDIA FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BRIDGING | BLOOMINGTON, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE AMERICAN IRELAND FUND | BOSTON, MA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| METHOW CONSERVANCY | WINTHROP, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MINNESOTA ZOO FOUNDATION | APPLE VALLEY, MN | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY MN-SD-ND CH
$120,000RESTORATION OF PEATLANDS IN MINNESOT
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOT
$120,000CENTER FOR CHANGING LIVES: FROGTOWN-
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ST PAUL AND
$110,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NORTHSID
MN FEMINIST GIVING DAY
RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY LA
$55,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MINNEAPOLIS INSTITUTE OF ART
$55,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COLLEGEVILLE INSTITUTE
$55,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ST PAUL AND
$55,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE CONSERVATION FUND
$37,500MINNESOTA OFFICE OPERATIONS
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY MN-SD-ND CH
$37,500FOREST STRATEGY AND STEWARDSHIP
LOFT LITERARY CENTER
$35,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
MINNESOTA CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
$35,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA
$35,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NORTHERN CLAY CENTER
$32,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
EAGLE BLUFF ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING
$32,500GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
JUXTAPOSITION ARTS
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WOLF RIDGE ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING C
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
INSTALLATION GALLERY (DBA INSITE)
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LAND (LOS ANGELES NOMADIC DIVISION)
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WALKER ART CENTER
$30,000PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, LEARNING, AND IMP
THE FOOD GROUP
$30,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT