The Bluecow Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Boston, MA EIN: 45-1562708

The Bluecow Foundation is a private foundation, based in Boston, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.6M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $90K. Net investment income was $103K.

Key facts about The Bluecow Foundation

In short: The Bluecow Foundation gave $90K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
45-1562708
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$90,000
Grants made (2025)
4
Average grant
$22,500
Median grant
$22,500
Total assets
$1,617,636
Primary geography
Massachusetts (44% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.6M

+0.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$90K

-6.4% YoY

Grant Count

4

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$23K

-6.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bluecow Foundation reported a distributable amount of $86K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How The Bluecow Foundation gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 107% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

5states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

Cities

BostonKutztownStamfordLittle RockDetroit

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50K$100K$150K5 grants2019 6 grants2020 5 grants2021 5 grants2022 4 grants2023 4 grants2024 4 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2020) to $105K (2019). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $90K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2025

Rodale Institute: $30KRodale Institute$30KPine Street Inn: $25KPine Street Inn$25KBuildon - US Programs: $20KBuildon - US Programs$20KHabitat for Humanity Greater Boston: $15KHabitat for Humanity GreaterBoston$15K

The largest 2025 recipient was Rodale Institute ($30K). Together the top 4 received $90K.

Grant Size Distribution

22 grants across all recorded years

22<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 22 grants of 22 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Rodale Institute Kutztown, PAGeneral Purposes$30,000
Pine Street Inn Boston, MAGeneral Purposes$25,000
Buildon - US Programs Stamford, CTGeneral Purposes$20,000
Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston Boston, MAGeneral Purposes$15,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K$200K2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$1,617,636$1,608,610$1,637,599
Revenue$114,438$85,930$64,462
Expenses$105,410$109,917$97,646
Qualifying Distributions$92,363$98,300$87,230
Net Investment Income$102,839$75,374$54,420
Distributable Amount$85,944$84,370$80,577

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 2, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 15, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 19, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 20, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
  7. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 12, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Bluecow Foundation is led by Karen Vachon, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Karen Vachon

    President

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Lauren Vachon

    Board Member

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Mark Vachon

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Philip Vachon

    Board Memeber

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about The Bluecow Foundation

How much does The Bluecow Foundation give each year?

The Bluecow Foundation gave $90K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $96K across 4 grants.

What is The Bluecow Foundation's typical grant size?

The Bluecow Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $22,500, and its average grant was $22,500, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Bluecow Foundation give grants?

The Bluecow Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 44% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (33%) and Connecticut (22%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants).

Does The Bluecow Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The Bluecow Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 4) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

How large is The Bluecow Foundation?

The Bluecow Foundation reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $92K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $86K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is The Bluecow Foundation's EIN?

The Bluecow Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-1562708. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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