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The Lewis and Butler Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Lewis and Butler Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$371k
Granted FY2025still arriving
31
Grants FY2025still arriving
6
States reached
$115k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Arts & Culture$1.6MPhilanthropy$608kHuman Services$227kEducation$223kEnvironment$140kReligion$121kCrime & Legal$80kAnimals$72kOther$0
02FY2025 · 31 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k21 grants · $82k
  • $10k–50k8 grants · $122k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $167k
$5,000
Median grant
6
States reached
$1.5M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
VIRIGNIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS$115,000
JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF RICHMOND$52,250
WEINSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER$40,000
WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY$15,000
YOUTH LEARNING AS CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST$15,000
VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE$12,000
THE STUDIO THEATRE$10,000
VISUAL ARTS OF RICHMOND$10,000
UNITED WAY OF GREATER RICHMOND$10,000
CONGREGATION BETH AHABAH$10,000
RICHMOND SPCA$7,500
BARD PRISON INITIATIVE$7,500
ST PATRICK'S CATHOLIC CHURCH$6,000
CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION$5,000
THE RICHMOND BALLET$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–25, $218k) land where the poverty rate runs at 21%, against an area that typically sits at 12%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 12%INNOCENCE PROJECT: $8k → 17%WEINSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $40k → 22%WEINSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 22%Weinstein Jewish Community Center: $20k → 22%WEINSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 22%WEINSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 22%WEINSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 22%WEINSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 22%WEINSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 22%WEINSTEIN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER: $20k → 22%FRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN: $3k → 22%FRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN: $3k → 22%FRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN: $3k → 22%FRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN: $500 → 22%FRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN: $500 → 22%FRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN: $500 → 22%FRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN: $500 → 22%FRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN: $500 → 22%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.

Which US states its grants reach

NY
CA
VA
MD
NC
DC
OK
FL
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

94%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.1M · 36 repeat orgs$200k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +58% since the first grant, against +28% for those funded once.

36 repeat relationships: 28 still active in FY2025, 8 since wound down; 3 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

36
12

Total granted

$3.1M
$188k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+58%
+28%

Still filing today

50%
33%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 97% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $13k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Arts & CultureEducationHuman ServicesPhilanthropyEnvironmentInternationalOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • JC
    JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF RICHMOND
    9× · 2017–2025 · $518k · revenue +19%
  • JC
    JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF RICHMOND
    9× · 2017–2025 · $200k · revenue +122%
  • WM
    Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Inc
    9× · 2017–2025 · $130k · revenue +22%

Funded once

  • VF
    VCU Foundation
    one grant, 2017 · $100k
  • IE
    ISRAEL EMERGENCY FUND
    one grant, 2024 · $10k
  • SI
    SUCCESS IN LEARNING MATH CENTER INC
    one grant, 2024 · $10k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
University of Virginia Investment Management Company

The university of virginia investment management company (uvimco) is organized to invest funds on behalf of the rector and visitors of the university of virginia (the university or uva) and university-associated organizations (uaos).

Education
2
Dickinson College

Dickinson college provides a useful, innovative and interdisciplinary education in the liberal arts and sciences to prepare students to lead rich and fulfilling lives of engaged global citizenship

Education
3
Virginia Wesleyan University

Virginia wesleyan university is a fully accredited liberal arts, united-methodist related institution founded in 1961.

—
4
The George Washington University

The mission of the george washington university (gw) is to educate individuals in liberal arts, languages, sciences, learned professions, and other courses and subjects of study, and to conduct scholarly research and publish the findings…

Education
5
The Richmond Symphony

The richmond symphony performs, teaches and champions music to inspire and unite our communities.

Arts & Culture
6
Meridian International Center

Meridian international center is a nonpartisan diplomacy institution founded in 1960 to advance american leadership. headquartered on a historic campus in washington dc, our mission is to empower leaders to advance the next era of…

International
7
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
8
Vpm Media Corporation

To use the power of media to educate, entertain and inspire, using public television and public radio to make a positive impact on the communities throughout central virginia, charlottesville, the shenandoah valley, the northern neck and…

Arts & Culture
9
Lehigh University

The university's goal in the coming decade is to advance learning through the integration of teaching, research and service to others. the core of this goal is to prepare graduates to engage with the world and lead lives of meaning. to do…

Education
10
University of Virginia Foundation

To provide administrative services to university of virginia (university) entities, university associated organizations, or other entities involved in activities which support the university. to engage in matters pertaining to real…

Education
11
Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine

The mission of the edward via college of osteopathic medicine (vcom) is to prepare globally-minded, community-focused physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations and promote research to improve human health.

Education
12
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg; the most unlike its peers is Metropolitan Museum of Art. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

25 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 25 of the 51 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
25/25
Grantees still filing
17/25
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

VIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS: $1,019,000 · OtherVIRGINIA MUSEUM OF FINE ARTSYOUTH LEARNING AS CITIZENS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST: $105,000 · OtherVCU Foundation: $100,000 · OtherCONGREGATION BETH AHABAH: $90,000 · OtherUNITED WAY OF GREATER RICHMOND & PETERSBURG: $90,000 · OtherVISUAL ARTS OF RICHMOND: $80,000 · OtherPROJECT INNOCENCE INC: $72,500 · OtherCINDY NEUSCHWANDER SCHOLARSHIP FUND: $70,000 · Other+26 more: $375,600 · Other+26 moreJEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF RICHMOND: $517,750 · PhilanthropyJEWISH COMMUNITY F…+1 more: $11,000 · PhilanthropyWoolly Mammoth Theatre Company Inc: $130,000 · Arts & CultureWoolly Mammoth…VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE: $108,000 · Arts & CultureVIRGINIA REPER…The Studio Theatre Inc: $96,000 · Arts & CultureThe Studio The…THE RICHMOND BALLET: $75,000 · Arts & CultureTHE RICHMOND B…+1 more: $5,400 · Arts & CultureJEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF RICHMOND: $200,000 · Human ServicesFRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN: $10,000 · Human ServicesTHE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC: $7,500 · Human ServicesRICHMOND SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $71,500 · AnimalsBARD COLLEGE: $23,000 · EducationWashington and Lee University: $10,000 · EducationDavidson College: $10,000 · EducationMEDICAL COLLEGE OF VA FOUNDATION: $6,000 · EducationCHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 · EnvironmentLEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDEN INC: $10,000 · Environment
Other$2,002,100Philanthropy$528,750Arts & Culture$414,400Human Services$217,500Animals$71,500Education$49,000Environment$35,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetJEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF RICHMOND: $517,750 over 9y, 2.3% of budgetJEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF RICHMOND: $200,000 over 9y, 0.3% of budgetWoolly Mammoth Theatre Company Inc: $130,000 over 9y, 0.3% of budgetVIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE: $108,000 over 9y, 0.5% of budgetThe Studio Theatre Inc: $96,000 over 9y, 0.3% of budgetUNITED WAY OF GREATER RICHMOND & PETERSBURG: $90,000 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetTHE RICHMOND BALLET: $75,000 over 9y, 0.5% of budgetRICHMOND SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS: $71,500 over 9y, 0.2% of budgetDAILY PLANET INCORPORATED: $30,000 over 8y, 0.0% of budgetCHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION INC: $25,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetBARD COLLEGE: $23,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGARY SINISE FOUNDATION: $11,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFEED THE CHILDREN INC: $10,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetWashington and Lee University: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN: $10,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetLEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDEN INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetDavidson College: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetGoochlandCares: $8,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetTHE INNOCENCE PROJECT INC: $7,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Virginia Foundation for Architecture Incorporated: $7,500 over 1y, 1.3% of budgetMEDICAL COLLEGE OF VA FOUNDATION: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMETROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART: $5,400 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetFEED MORE INC: $4,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFeeding America: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION OF RICHMOND ↗
  • Who funds JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF RICHMOND ↗
  • Who funds Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company Inc ↗
  • Who funds VIRGINIA REPERTORY THEATRE ↗
  • Who funds The Studio Theatre Inc ↗
  • Who funds UNITED WAY OF GREATER RICHMOND & PETERSBURG ↗
  • Who funds THE RICHMOND BALLET ↗
  • Who funds RICHMOND SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS ↗
  • Who funds DAILY PLANET INCORPORATED ↗
  • Who funds CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds BARD COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds GARY SINISE FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds FEED THE CHILDREN INC ↗
  • Who funds Washington and Lee University ↗
  • Who funds FRIENDS ASSOCIATION FOR CHILDREN ↗
  • Who funds LEWIS GINTER BOTANICAL GARDEN INC ↗
  • Who funds Davidson College ↗
  • Who funds GoochlandCares ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Mary Morton Parso…The Community Foundat…Kathryn & W H Schwarz…Robert G Cabell III a…Richard S Reynolds Fo…Robins FoundationDominion Energy Chari…Carmax FoundationEstes Foundation Co M…Wilbur Moreland Haven…The Pauley Family Fou…Virginia Nonprofit Ho…
The Mary Morton Parsons FoundationVA22× affinity8 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation · The Community Foundation Inc · Kathryn & W H Schwarzschild Fund · Robert G Cabell III and Maude Morgan Cabell Foundation · Richard S Reynolds Foundation · Robins Foundation · Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation · Carmax Foundation · Estes Foundation Co Matthew Breidenbach Pitcairn · Wilbur Moreland Havens Charitable Foundation · The Pauley Family Foundation · Virginia Nonprofit Housing Coalition

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Lewis and Butler Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Lewis and Butler Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →median 2%
  • Chesapeake Bay Foundation Inc: 2% of income from government
  • Feed the Children Inc: 1% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
0get no government money at all
7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
typical government reliance, FY20–25
How this is measured
Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 51 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Lewis and Butler’s filings →

More from the funding graph

The unnamed billions
grants reported with no recipient in the public record
The regranting layer
51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
The DAF merry-go-round
$9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
The endowment market
who holds foundation money, and what just moved
The camps
funders cluster by geography, not ideology
By state
where grant money is based, and what stays home