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 of Hypertherm, it supports nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of children and families, with priorities in statewide early care and education in New Hampshire and the Upper Valley and Martha’s Vineyard.
Key facts about The Couch Family Foundation
In short: The Couch Family Foundation gave $6.1M across 106 grants in 2024 (avg $58K), mostly in New Hampshire. 33% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 10-0000573
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,107,259
- Grants made (2024)
- 106
- Average grant
- $57,616
- Median grant
- $20,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (32 of 98, 2024)
- Total assets
- $123,397,096
- Primary geography
- New Hampshire (59% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The Foundation’s filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The 2026 Cherished Communities deadlines are February 27, May 15, and August 7, 2026.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$123.4M
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.1M
+3.2% YoY
Grant Count
106
-34.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$58K
+57.8% YoY
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.
Is The Couch Family Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 32 of 98 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $92K; repeat grants $48K. How we count
Medians: $31K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 54% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to be a catalyst for change in the lives of children and their families by creating quality and equitable opportunities to help them learn, thrive, and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
Its two strategic priorities are Statewide Early Care and Education, supporting high-quality early care and education systems in New Hampshire, and Cherished Communities, enhancing the well-being of children, families, and communities in the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont and on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. The statewide ECE work includes advocacy, systems-building, research and innovation, and strengthening administrative leadership and capacity. Its long-term goal focuses on access for children from birth to age five, with particular attention to families with low incomes and communities of color.
The Foundation supports organizations with strong leadership, community relationships, collaborative approaches, and demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Its grants may be unrestricted, project-based, capital, or event sponsorships. Among its 2024 grantees, New Futures described its work as improving Granite Staters’ health and well-being through public policy change and civic empowerment. The Family Place said it strengthens relationships and supports healthy growth for families with young children in the Upper Valley; TLC Family Resource Center said it promotes the health and development of children, youth, and families in its New Hampshire region. These are descriptions of the grantees’ work, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation made 106 grants totaling $6,107,259. Grants ranged from $2,500 to $605,000, with a median award of $20,000. The Foundation generally awards $10,000 or less to first-time grantees. It encourages first-time applicants to propose project funding when possible, though it also considers unrestricted requests from them.
Review Cycle
The 2026 Cherished Communities deadlines are February 27, May 15, and August 7, 2026. Decisions are announced in April, July, and November, respectively.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Couch Family Foundation
Ready to take the next step with The Couch Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
For Cherished Communities, the Foundation focuses on the Upper Valley—Grafton and Sullivan Counties in New Hampshire and Orange and Windsor Counties in Vermont—and Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Its website identifies 65 communities in those areas as eligible locations. Organizations based outside the focus area, including statewide organizations, should explain how their work benefits young children and families in the Upper Valley or Martha’s Vineyard and describe relevant Upper Valley partnerships. Statewide ECE grants support work in New Hampshire.
In 2024, recipients in New Hampshire received 59% of grant dollars, Vermont 17%, Massachusetts 10%, Washington 8%, and the District of Columbia 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 106 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Grant Insights
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%).
Giving History
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 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $123,397,096 | $8,345,979 | $9,432,000 | $6,107,259 | 106 |
| 2023 | $124,483,118 | $1,327,479 | $9,015,544 | $5,915,116 | 162 |
| 2022 | $132,171,183 | $59,437,546 | $7,314,043 | $5,144,501 | 168 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $123,397,096 | $124,483,118 | $132,171,183 |
| Revenue | $8,345,979 | $1,327,479 | $59,437,546 |
| Expenses | $9,432,000 | $9,015,544 | $7,314,043 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $7,706,199 | $6,911,893 | $6,100,399 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,161,027 | $1,606,735 | $44,817,677 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,223,481 | $7,577,121 | $6,753,482 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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).
Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 151, Hanover, NH 03755
Phone: (603) 643-3441
Website: https://couchfoundation.org
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 $92K 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’s mission is to be a catalyst for change in the lives of children and their families by creating quality and equitable opportunities to help them learn, thrive, and lead healthy, fulfilling lives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Couch Family Foundation?
The Foundation’s filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The Couch Family Foundation by hand.
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