The Couch Family Foundation
The Couch Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Hanover, New Hampshire. Created by Dick and Barbara Couch through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan transaction involving Hypertherm, it supports work to improve the lives of children and families, with priorities in statewide early care and education in New Hampshire and well-being in the Upper Valley and Martha’s Vineyard.
The Couch Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Couch Family Foundation gave $6.1M across 106 grants in 2024 (avg $58K), mostly in New Hampshire. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,107,259
- +3.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 106
- -34.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $57,616
- +57.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $123,397,096
- -0.9% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (28 of 98, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New Hampshire (59% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Couch Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing states that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. The Cherished Communities program description encourages first-time grant seekers to seek staff guidance before applying.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 151, Hanover, NH 03755
Phone: (603) 643-3441
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Couch Family Foundation
Who The Couch Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Early Care and Education Association - Ecea ($605K). Together the top 10 received $3.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
790 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 653 grants of 790 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies statewide early care and education in New Hampshire and the Upper Valley and Martha’s Vineyard as its strategic priorities. Its Cherished Communities program description also identifies the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont. In 2024, 59% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Hampshire, 17% to Vermont, 10% to Massachusetts, 8% to Washington, and 3% to Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 106 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Couch Family Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 28 of 98 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $81K; repeat grants $55K. How we count
Medians: $31K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 67% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.7M (2021) to $6.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 106 grants totaling $6.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Early Care and Education Association - Ecea Lebanon, NH | General Support | $605,000 |
| Carsey School of Public Policy University System Durham, NH | General Support | $536,500 |
| New Futures Concord, NH | General Support | $500,000 |
| Momsrising Bellevue, WA | General Support | $491,500 |
| New Hampshire Charitable Foundation (NHCF) Concord, NH | General Support | $280,000 |
| Third Sector New England Boston, MA | General Support | $250,000 |
| Waypoint Manchester, NH | General Support | $205,000 |
| Society for Research in Child Development Washington, DC | General Support | $199,000 |
| New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute Concord, NH | General Support | $128,000 |
| The Family Place Norwich, VT | General Support | $125,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Couch Family Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $123,397,096 | $8,345,979 | $9,432,000 | $6,107,259 | 106 | $7,706,199 | $9,161,027 | $8,223,481 |
| 2023 | $124,483,118 | $1,327,479 | $9,015,544 | $5,915,116 | 162 | $6,911,893 | $1,606,735 | $7,577,121 |
| 2022 | $132,171,183 | $59,437,546 | $7,314,043 | $5,144,501 | 168 | $6,100,399 | $44,817,677 | $6,753,482 |
| 2021 | $77,218,637 | $9,456,307 | $5,578,252 | $3,654,489 | 159 | $4,358,644 | $9,343,559 | $5,512,194 |
| 2020 | $75,826,554 | $8,734,728 | $5,494,354 | $3,930,887 | 195 | — | $6,409,714 | $4,603,821 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Couch Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes its mission as serving as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of children and families. Its stated priorities are strengthening early care and education systems statewide in New Hampshire and enhancing well-being in the Upper Valley and Martha’s Vineyard. It also states a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
Its 2024 grants include support for organizations working in policy, research, human services, and family programs. For example, New Futures describes its work as improving the health and well-being of Granite Staters through public policy change and civic empowerment. The Society for Research in Child Development says it advances developmental sciences and promotes the use of developmental research to improve human lives. The Family Place describes programs for families with young children in the Upper Valley and surrounding communities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 106 grants totaling $6,107,259. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $605,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest awards included $605,000 to the Early Care and Education Association, $536,500 to the Carsey School of Public Policy University System, and $500,000 to New Futures. Other notable grants included $491,500 to MomsRising, $280,000 to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and $250,000 to Third Sector New England.
The Cherished Communities program description says first-time grant seekers are encouraged to apply for project funding and seek staff guidance before applying. It recommends describing the organization’s impact on children and families in the Upper Valley or Martha’s Vineyard. The foundation’s 2024 filing, however, states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard W. Couch and Barbara J. Couch as trustees and Sara Vecchiotti as executive director.
The Couch Family Foundation is led by Sara Vecchiotti, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Sara Vecchiotti
Executive Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$196K (2023) → $273K (2024)
Barbara J. Couch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard W. Couch
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Brooke Freeland (2020–2022) — Manager
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $273K, to Sara Vecchiotti (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Couch Family Foundation
How much does The Couch Family Foundation give each year?
The Couch Family Foundation gave $6.1M across 106 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.9M across 162 grants.
What is The Couch Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Couch Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $57,616, across 106 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Couch Family Foundation that year got $81K on average.
Where does The Couch Family Foundation give grants?
The Couch Family Foundation gives mostly in New Hampshire: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Vermont (17%) and Massachusetts (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Concord, NH (12 grants), Norwich, VT (7 grants), Lebanon, NH (6 grants) and Claremont, NH (5 grants).
Does The Couch Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Couch Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (106 of 106) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Couch Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Couch Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Early Care and Education Association - Ecea ($605,000), Carsey School of Public Policy University System ($536,500) and New Futures ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Couch Family Foundation?
The Couch Family Foundation reported $123.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $8.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Couch Family Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its mission as serving as a catalyst for positive change in the lives of children and families. Its stated priorities are strengthening early care and education systems statewide in New Hampshire and enhancing well-being in the Upper Valley and Martha’s Vineyard. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Couch Family Foundation?
The 2024 filing states that the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Couch Family Foundation's EIN?
The Couch Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 10-0000573. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Couch Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Couch Family Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Couch Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-couch-family-foundation-morg_55c4a79c80d542668d464503d92214ec
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_100000573_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Couch Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-couch-family-foundation-morg_55c4a79c80d542668d464503d92214ec},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Couch Family Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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