The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio
The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundation is a private foundation based in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It makes grants to preselected charitable organizations and states that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio at a glance
In short: The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio gave $747K across 69 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Connecticut. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $747,000
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 69
- -16.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,826
- +19.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $1,697,082
- +11.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (12 of 69, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (59% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 44 Lindbergh Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040
Phone: (413) 219-1935
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Carver Center ($221K). Together the top 10 received $448K.
Grant Size Distribution
343 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 329 grants of 343 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 59% of grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut and 29% to recipients in Massachusetts. Smaller shares went to recipients in New York (4%), Florida (2%), and Vermont (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 69 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 69 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $5K; repeat grants $12K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 75% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $403K (2021) to $805K (2022). In 2025 it made 69 grants totaling $747K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Carver Center Norwalk, CT | General Support | $221,000 |
| Norwalk Community College Norwalk, CT | General Support | $65,000 |
| Girls Inc of the Valley Holyoke, MA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Norwalk Hospital Foundation Norwalk, CT | General Purpose | $25,000 |
| YMCA Holyoke, MA | General Support | $25,000 |
| Athlife Foundation Inc Huntington, NY | General Support | $15,000 |
| Holyoke Canoe Club Holyoke, MA | General Purpose | $15,000 |
| University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT | General Support | $12,000 |
| Bellows Falls Area Senior Center Inc Bellows Falls, VT | General Support | $10,000 |
| Childrens Museum of Holyoke Inc Holyoke, MA | General Support | $10,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,697,082 | $1,001,332 | $836,844 | $747,000 | 69 | $814,167 | $1,077 | $66,633 |
| 2024 | $1,525,594 | $1,001,123 | $846,979 | $750,600 | 83 | $822,867 | $868 | $55,850 |
| 2023 | $1,371,450 | $1,000,948 | $715,235 | $621,344 | 81 | $691,745 | $693 | $44,848 |
| 2022 | $1,085,737 | $1,000,839 | $896,156 | $805,250 | 70 | $873,268 | $624 | $40,641 |
| 2021 | $981,054 | $1,411,062 | $516,055 | $403,296 | 40 | $487,996 | $167 | $14,729 |
| 2020 | $86,047 | $800,090 | $782,414 | $671,700 | 50 | — | $30 | $3,443 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio reported a distributable amount of $67K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose stated work includes supporting girls’ development, hospital services, outdoor recreation, young people facing adversity, sports and fitness, youth-led service projects, adults with developmental disabilities, and women and children experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
These are grantees’ own descriptions of their work, not stated focus areas of the foundation. For example, Girls Inc. of the Valley says it helps transform girls’ lives through programs focused on resilience, community involvement, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. Domus Kids says it builds relationships with young people facing adversity and empowers them to pursue self-sufficiency.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made 69 grants totaling $747,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $221,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants included $221,000 to Carver Center, $65,000 to Norwalk Community College, and $50,000 to Girls Inc. of the Valley. Other notable grants included $25,000 each to Norwalk Hospital Foundation and the YMCA in Holyoke, and $15,000 each to Athlife Foundation Inc. and Holyoke Canoe Club.
The filing lists many grants as general support or general purpose. Among the grantees described in their own words, Holyoke Canoe Club provides a recreational setting for families and individuals to enjoy outdoor activities, and Fairfield County Sports Commission promotes fitness, healthy lifestyles, and personal development through sports.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kevin Ashley as Vice President and Andrea L. Whitcomb as Director and President.
The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio is led by Andrea L. Whitcomb, Director, President & Secretary on every filing since 2021; 1 of 2 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Andrea L. Whitcomb
Director, President & Secretary
On filings since 2021
30 hrs/week
$31K (2021) → $75K (2025)
Kevin Ashley
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Richard Whitcomb (2020–2021) — Formerdirector, President & Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $75K, to Andrea L Whitcomb (Director, President, Secre).
Frequently asked questions about The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio
How much does The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio give each year?
The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio gave $747K across 69 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $751K across 83 grants.
What is The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio's typical grant size?
The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $10,826, across 69 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio that year got $5K on average.
Where does The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio give grants?
The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio gives mostly in Connecticut: 59% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (29%). The most frequent recipient cities were Holyoke, MA (6 grants), Springfield, MA (6 grants), Norwalk, CT (5 grants) and Stamford, CT (5 grants).
Does The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (69 of 69) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio's largest grantees?
The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio's largest 2025 grantees include Carver Center ($221,000), Norwalk Community College ($65,000) and Girls Inc of the Valley ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 45% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio?
The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $814K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $67K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and 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 Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio's EIN?
The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-3420226. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-richard-and-barbara-whitcomb-foundatio-morg_dfec02e9757f483988e2a768a4516099
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_273420226_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Richard \& Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-richard-and-barbara-whitcomb-foundatio-morg_dfec02e9757f483988e2a768a4516099},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Richard & Barbara Whitcomb Foundatio'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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