Endowment for Butler County

Building Resources for Butler County’s Future Through the Contributions of Caring Citizens


What is the Endowment for Butler County?

The Endowment for Butler County is a fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation. It was established in 1988 by philanthropist Ben Phillips, of the Butler County based T.W. Phillips Gas and Oil Company, and has grown since then through gifts from community-minded individuals, as a means by which local donors can make a lasting gift to Butler County. A gift to the Endowment for Butler County is permanently invested in principal, and grants are made to local organizations each year from 4-6% of the fund’s three year average balance. An advisory committee made up of Butler County citizens is responsible for local resource development and review of grant applications.

What do we fund? 

Grants are generally limited to organizations located in Butler County. The following types of grant proposals are preferred:

  • Special projects which are not part of the ongoing operations of the organization.
  • Seed money for new programs.
  • Grants which leverage additional funding.
  • Grants for specific capital and equipment needs. Requests for broad capital campaign support will not be considered without a breakdown of the specific item(s) you are requesting.
  • Non-experimental research such as program evaluation or policy research.

Among the purposes for which the distribution committee does NOT ordinarily make grants are the following:

  • Annual campaigns, local or national.
  • Endowments.
  • Sectarian religious purposes.*
  • Operating or maintenance grant.**
  • Loans or assistance to individuals.
  • Scholarships, fellowships and travel grants.
  • Research grants of a highly technical or specialized nature.
  • Individual hospitals.
  • Private elementary or secondary schools.

APPLICATION DEADLINES: April 1 and Oct. 1.


All online applications must be submitted by midnight on the application deadline dates.

How to Apply

The Endowment for Butler County Board will meet to review applications and make award decisions on the third Wednesday of April and October.  

Apply Online

Contact Us

For application/eligibility questions, contact Committee Chairperson Jared Sullivan at  jaredsullivan@tprsold.com
For technical assistance with the application portal, contact Bea Thomas at thomasb@pghfdn.org


 

* It is the policy of the Endowment for Butler County to consider requests only for ecumenical organizations engaged in community service or outreach programs.
** An agency requesting an emergency operating grant will be subject to an on-site visit by the Endowment before the grant is made and a follow-up visit six to nine months afterward.  The Endowment may request that grant monies be held in escrow and/or returned if defined goals and outcomes are not satisfied.  It may also request that other grant makers or funders grants and requirements be satisfied before releasing Endowment for Butler County grant monies.