The Butler Family Foundation
Invitation OnlyDubuque, Iowa · EIN 42-1429940 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2025)$2.4M
Organizations funded69
Typical grant$5,000
Total assets$66.1M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $1,000 and $10,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2025 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
37% of grants went outside Iowa.
Grants paid in tax year 2025
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque Museum of Art | Dubuque, IA | Visual arts matching pledge | $1,062,365 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago | Chicago, IL | Sponsor ship of maestro enrique mazzola | $500,000 |
| Dubuque Community YMCA | Dubuque, IA | Capital campaign | $355,866 |
| American Enterprise Institute | Washington, DC | Community and economic development | $50,000 |
| Illinois Network of Charter Schools | Chicago, IL | Charter school education | $50,000 |
| Dubuque Dream Center | Dubuque, IA | Sustaining services for seven students | $26,000 |
| Babson College | Babson Park, MA | John e and alice l butler launch pad | $25,000 |
| Clarke University | Dubuque, IA | Clarke fund | $25,000 |
| Institute for Justice | Arlington, VA | Support their continuing defense of the constitution and the liberties it guarantees for all americans | $25,000 |
| Judicial Watch | Washington, DC | Fight government corruption | $25,000 |
| Liberty Justice Center | Austin, TX | Support attorneys as they work to fight government overreach and protect americans' rights | $25,000 |
| Mayo Foundation | Rochester, MN | Patient care, research and education | $25,000 |
| National Trust for Historic Preservation | Washington, DC | Preserve, protect, and celebrate historic places | $25,000 |
| The Leadership Institute | Arlington, VA | Identify, recruit, train, and place the next generation of conservative leaders | $25,000 |
| Friends of Homacho | Dubuque, IA | Provide water, floors for schools, and medical assistance around the village of homacho, ethiopia | $15,000 |
| Dubuque Museum of Art | Dubuque, IA | Visual arts | $12,000 |
| Hillsdale College | Hillsdale, MI | University education | $10,000 |
| Little Heroes League | Chicago, IL | Provide free, life-changing care coordination for medically complex babies, ensuring better outcomes and assisting with the transition from… | $10,000 |
| University of Dubuque | Dubuque, IA | Momentum campaign | $10,000 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA | The wellesley fund | $10,000 |
| Dubuque Symphony Orchestra | Dubuque, IA | Sponsor classics 1 concert and guest artist | $6,956 |
| The Grand Opera House | Dubuque, IA | Performing arts | $6,500 |
| Union League Boys & Girls Clubs | Chicago, IL | Youth services across chicago | $6,000 |
| Scouting America - Northeast Iowa Council #178 | Dubuque, IA | Friends of scouting annual campaign | $5,500 |
| Camp Albrecht Acres | Sherrill, IA | Special population support | $5,000 |
| Cato Institute | Washington, DC | To leave future generations a freer and more prosperous world | $5,000 |
| Centrally Rooted Mission Inc | Dubuque, IA | Provide a safe and nourished space for creative expression that is available to all, regardless of socioeconomic status. | $5,000 |
| Dubuque Community YMCA | Dubuque, IA | Domestic violence program | $5,000 |
| Dubuque Rescue Mission | Dubuque, IA | Homeless shelter | $5,000 |
| Finley Health Foundation | Dubuque, IA | Family birthing suites c-section suite project | $5,000 |
| Hillcrest Family Services | Dubuque, IA | Brain health campaign | $5,000 |
| Hills and Dale's Child Development Center | Dubuque, IA | Efforts to build a new community home for children with autism and complex behavioral or medical needs | $5,000 |
| Laurel School | Shaker Heights, OH | Elementary and secondary education | $5,000 |
| Mercyone Dubuque Foundation | Dubuque, IA | For ongoing program costs and equipment needs | $5,000 |
| Two by Two Character Development | Dubuque, IA | Teaching children social emotional skills to succeed in work | $5,000 |
| Dubuque City Youth Ballet | Dubuque, IA | Scholarship for five dancers | $4,375 |
| Area Residential Care | Dubuque, IA | Provide the highest quality of care for their patients | $2,500 |
| Bethany Home | Dubuque, IA | Provide nursing home care to residents | $2,500 |
| Bryn Mawr College | Bryn Mawr, PA | The bryn mawr fund | $2,500 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association | Chicago, IL | Enriching, inspiring and transforming lives through music | $2,500 |
| Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens | Dubuque, IA | Sponsorship of music in the gardens concerts | $2,500 |
| Dubuque County Historical Society | Dubuque, IA | National mississippi river museum and aquarium | $2,500 |
| Dubuque Regional Humane Society | Dubuque, IA | Protect and promote the well-being of all animals | $2,500 |
| Four Mounds Foundation | Dubuque, IA | Preserve, educate, and serve | $2,500 |
| Northeast Iowa School of Music | Dubuque, IA | To make music education and enrichment accessible to everyone | $2,500 |
| Stonehill Benevolent Foundation | Dubuque, IA | Support the ministries of stonehill communities | $2,500 |
| University of Pennsylvania | Philadelphia, PA | Wharton fund | $2,500 |
| Dubuque Arts Council | Dubuque, IA | Educating and entertaining program support | $1,600 |
| Hospice of Dubuque | Dubuque, IA | Provide compassionate care for the seriously ill and their loved ones | $1,500 |
| Arbor Day Foundation | Lincoln, NE | Plant, nurture, and celebrate trees | $1,000 |
| Bluff Strokes Art Center (Pigeon Art Center Inc) | Dubuque, IA | Provide high quality education, collaborative creative spaces, and opportunities for artistic growth and professional development | $1,000 |
| Legion-Aires Drum & Bugle Corps Inc | Dubuque, IA | Colts youth organization - colts drum & bugle corps | $1,000 |
| United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States | Dubuque, IA | Youth services in the tri-state area | $1,000 |
| American Horticultural Society | Alexandria, VA | Educating and inspiring gardeners of all ages and abilities | $500 |
| Bell Tower Theater | Dubuque, IA | Kids programs | $500 |
| Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Ithaca, NY | Protect birds and the natural world | $500 |
| Dubuque Chorale | Dubuque, IA | Engage, educate, enrich, and inspire the community by presenting diverse choral music with artistic excellence | $500 |
| Duride | Dubuque, IA | Provide a safe and personalized transportation service for seniors | $500 |
| Fly by Night Productions | Dubuque, IA | Theater | $500 |
| Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation | Des Moines, IA | Protect and restore iowa's lands | $500 |
Showing the 60 largest of 69 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,435,262 | 69 |
| 2024 | $16,487,062 | 67 |
| 2023 | $1,832,406 | 69 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2025, filed May 20, 2026 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202631409349100718
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 42-1429940
- Profile updated Nov 5, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.