The Edward H. Butler Foundation focuses on Buffalo-area institutions, concentrating support on independent education and local cultural and community organizations. Its largest, recurring investment is in Elmwood Franklin School, and it also provides major general operating support to performing arts (One Symphony Circle), conservation/education venues (Buffalo Zoo), neighborhood human services, and local environmental initiatives. Grants tend to be unrestricted or for general support, indicating trust in grantees' core budgets and operations.
The Edward H Butler Foundation’s recent grantmaking is anchored by repeated support for Elmwood Franklin School and One Symphony Circle, both in Buffalo. Those two organizations each received $50,000 in 2024 and again in 2025, and Elmwood Franklin School also appeared with a $46,000 grant in 2023. That pattern points to a funder that stays close to a small set of Buffalo institutions rather than moving across many different beneficiaries. The foundation also backs other local organizations at a meaningful scale, including Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, West Side Community Services, and Buffalo Zoological Gardens. Its grants reach education, the arts, conservation, neighborhood services, and specialized community programs. Several awards are listed as general support, while others are tied to named projects such as capital campaigns, renovations, and program work. Across the recent grants list, the foundation shows a preference for recurring relationships and practical support. Buffalo-based grantees dominate the record, with a small number of awards extending beyond the city to nearby New York communities and a few regional or out-of-state nonprofits.
Education is a clear priority. Elmwood Franklin School received $50,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025, following a $46,000 grant in 2023, while Nardin Academy - Montessori Early Childhood Program received $25,000 for construction of an outdoor Montessori education facility. The foundation also funds arts and cultural institutions. One Symphony Circle received $50,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2025, and the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens received $20,000 in 2023, $20,000 in 2024, and $20,000 in 2025 for its capital campaign expansion project. Community services and special populations appear in the portfolio as well. West Side Community Services received $26,000 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2025, Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center received $16,000 in 2024 and $15,000 in 2025, and Danceability received $8,000 to complete and facilitate new curriculum in its special needs dance studio.
Typical awards cluster tightly around the middle of the distribution: p25 is $5,000, median is $5,000, and p75 is $10,000. The recent record also includes larger recurring grants of $50,000 and a long tail of project-specific gifts in the $20,000 to $30,000 range. The pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-time grants. Elmwood Franklin School, One Symphony Circle, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, Grassroots Garden Wny, and West Side Community Services each appear in multiple years. Grants are made by the foundation itself, and the recent list includes general fund support alongside education, capital, and program-specific awards.
$270K
$2.8M
$847K
$315K
Most grants fall between $5K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
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Concentrated, local giving with a few relatively large grants; repeat multi-year support to a flagship education grantee (Elmwood Franklin) and sizable unrestricted/general operating gifts to cultural and community institutions rather than many small, program-specific awards.
Notable grantees: Elmwood Franklin School, One Symphony Circle, Buffalo Zoological Gardens, Water Compass, West Side Community Services
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in New York. Buffalo appears most often, including repeated awards to Elmwood Franklin School, One Symphony Circle, Buffalo Zoological Gardens, West Side Community Services, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, and Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center. Nearby New York recipients also include Depew, Getzville, Amherst, Old Forge, and Blue Mountain Lake. Outside New York, the recent list includes Water Compass in Boston, Massachusetts. Every grant in the country distribution goes to US recipients.
The recent grants point to education, the arts, conservation and environmental work, neighborhood services, and specialized community programs. Examples include an independent school, a symphony organization, the Buffalo Zoo, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, West Side Community Services, and Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Elmwood Franklin School, One Symphony Circle, Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens, Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center, Grassroots Garden Wny, and West Side Community Services. Some of these organizations received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The distribution is centered at $5,000, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $5,000, and a p75 of $10,000. The recent list also includes larger awards such as $20,000, $25,000, $30,000, and $50,000.
Most grants go to New York recipients, and the great majority land in Buffalo. The recipient country distribution is entirely US-based, and 92% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, New York.
The recent grants include general fund support, education support, capital campaign support, renovation funding, and project-specific awards. Examples in the record include capital campaign expansion funding, playground surface replacement, an outdoor Montessori facility, and curriculum support for a special-needs dance studio.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELMWOOD FRANKLIN SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION |
| ONE SYMPHONY CIRCLE | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| BUFFALO CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY | BUFFALO, NY | $40,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN REACH CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| WATER COMPASS | BOSTON, MA | $30,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BUFFALO | BUFFALO, NY | $15,000 | 2026 | BUTLER MITCHELL HOUSE RENOVATION |
| WEST SIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT OF WESTERN NY CHAPTER |
| ASSEMBLY HOUSE 150 | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | TO SUPPORT THE MODERN CITY BUILDERS PROGRAM |
| THE TOOL LIBRARY | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | DESIGNATION - TO SUPPORT CAPACITY-BUILDING PROJECTS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY |
| GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| GRASSROOTS GARDEN WNY | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | AID FOR FOOD INSECURITY |
| OLD FORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT | OLD FORGE, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| OLD FORGE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS | OLD FORGE, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| SPCA OF ERIE COUNTY | WEST SENECA, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| 716 SQUASH INC | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL FUND |
| ONE SYMPHONY CIRCLE | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ELMWOOD FRANKLIN SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY BOTANICAL GARDENS | BUFFALO, NY | $20,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - EXPANSION PROJECT |
| BUFFALO THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER | BUFFALO, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ASSEMBLY HOUSE 150 | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE MODERN CITY BUILDERS PROGRAM |
| THE TOOL LIBRARY | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | DESIGNATION - TO SUPPORT CAPACITY-BUILDING PROJECTS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BUFFALO | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | BUTLER MITCHELL HOUSE RENOVATION |
| WEST SIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| GRASSROOTS GARDEN WNY | BUFFALO, NY | $10,000 | 2025 | AID FOR FOOD INSECURITY |
| DANCEABILITY | DEPEW, NY | $8,000 | 2025 | TO COMPLETE AND FACILITATE NEW CURRICULUM IN THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS DANCE STUDIO |
| ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE | BUFFALO, NY | $6,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE SUMMIT CENTER | GETZVILLE, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO ASSIST THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THEIR PLAYGROUND RUBBER SURFACE |
| 716 SQUASH INC | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| OLD FORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT | OLD FORGE, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| BUFFALO CITY MISSION | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT RESCUE AND RESTORATIVE PROGRAMMING |
| OLD FORGE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS | OLD FORGE, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| ADIRONDACK HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION | BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE, NY | $5,000 | 2025 | SPECIAL EXHIBIT DESIGNATION |
| CARDIGAN MOUNTAIN SCHOOL | CANAAN, NH | $4,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FUND |
| SALVATION ARMY | BUFFALO, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF |
| ONE SYMPHONY CIRCLE | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| ELMWOOD FRANKLIN SCHOOL | BUFFALO, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| WATER COMPASS | BOSTON, MA | $30,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| WEST SIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES | BUFFALO, NY | $26,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY BOTANICAL GARDENS | BUFFALO, NY | $20,000 | 2024 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - EXPANSION PROJECT |
| BUFFALO THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER | BUFFALO, NY | $16,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| TOWN OF WEBB HEALTH CENTER FUND INC | OLD FORGE, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| ADIRONDACK HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION | BLUE MOUNTAIN LAKE, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | SPECIAL EXHIBIT DESIGNATION |
| THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE BUTLER LIBRARY | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | EDUCATION |
| OLD FORGE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS | OLD FORGE, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| HAUPTMAN-WOODWARD MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| BUFFALO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE | BUFFALO, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
| OLD FORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT | OLD FORGE, NY | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL FUND |
ONE SYMPHONY CIRCLE
$50,000GENERAL FUND
BUFFALO CENTER FOR ARTS & TECHNOLOGY
$40,000TO SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN REACH CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
WATER COMPASS
$30,000GENERAL FUND
WEST SIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES
$10,000GENERAL FUND
THE TOOL LIBRARY
$10,000DESIGNATION - TO SUPPORT CAPACITY-BUILDING PROJECTS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
GIGI'S PLAYHOUSE
$10,000GENERAL FUND
GRASSROOTS GARDEN WNY
$10,000AID FOR FOOD INSECURITY
OLD FORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT
$5,000GENERAL FUND
OLD FORGE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS
$5,000GENERAL FUND
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC
$5,000GENERAL FUND
716 SQUASH INC
$5,000GENERAL FUND
ONE SYMPHONY CIRCLE
$50,000GENERAL FUND
BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY BOTANICAL GARDENS
$20,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - EXPANSION PROJECT
BUFFALO THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER
$15,000GENERAL FUND
THE TOOL LIBRARY
$10,000DESIGNATION - TO SUPPORT CAPACITY-BUILDING PROJECTS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BUFFALO
$10,000BUTLER MITCHELL HOUSE RENOVATION
WEST SIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES
$10,000GENERAL FUND
GRASSROOTS GARDEN WNY
$10,000AID FOR FOOD INSECURITY
DANCEABILITY
$8,000TO COMPLETE AND FACILITATE NEW CURRICULUM IN THEIR SPECIAL NEEDS DANCE STUDIO
ROSWELL PARK CANCER INSTITUTE
$6,000GENERAL FUND
THE SUMMIT CENTER
$5,000TO ASSIST THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT OF THEIR PLAYGROUND RUBBER SURFACE
716 SQUASH INC
$5,000GENERAL FUND
OLD FORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT
$5,000GENERAL FUND
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC
$5,000GENERAL FUND
BUFFALO CITY MISSION
$5,000TO SUPPORT RESCUE AND RESTORATIVE PROGRAMMING
OLD FORGE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS
$5,000GENERAL FUND
CARDIGAN MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
$4,000GENERAL FUND
SALVATION ARMY
$2,500TO SUPPORT HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF
ONE SYMPHONY CIRCLE
$50,000GENERAL FUND
WATER COMPASS
$30,000GENERAL FUND
WEST SIDE COMMUNITY SERVICES
$26,000GENERAL FUND
BUFFALO AND ERIE COUNTY BOTANICAL GARDENS
$20,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN - EXPANSION PROJECT
BUFFALO THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER
$16,000GENERAL FUND
TOWN OF WEBB HEALTH CENTER FUND INC
$5,000GENERAL FUND
THE ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF BUFFALO FOUNDATION INC
$5,000GENERAL FUND
BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE BUTLER LIBRARY
$5,000EDUCATION
OLD FORGE VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE CORPS
$5,000GENERAL FUND
BUFFALO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE
$5,000GENERAL FUND
OLD FORGE FIRE DEPARTMENT
$5,000GENERAL FUND