We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc logo

We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Lowell, MA EIN: 45-2916988 Website

We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Lowell, Massachusetts, affiliated with Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union. It supports community needs through charitable giving.

We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc at a glance

In short: We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc gave $374K across 1 grant in 2024 (avg $374K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$374,188
+0.9% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
1
-99.6% vs 2023
Average grant
$374,188
+22911.8% vs 2023
Median grant
$374,188
Total assets
$481,301
+14.5% vs 2023
Primary geography
Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.

How to apply to We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc

How to Apply

Contact Alison Hughes. See the application form for materials, deadlines, and award restrictions.

Contact

Application contact: Alison Hughes
Mailing address: 1 Tremont Place, Lowell, MA 01854
Phone: (978) 323-4712
Email: alison.hughes@jdcu.com
Website: https://www.weshareacommonthread.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top recipient in 2024

Total Contributions Paid: $374KTotal Contributions Paid$374K

The largest 2024 recipient was Total Contributions Paid ($374K).

Grant Size Distribution

830 grants across all recorded years

829<$50K$50–100K$100–250K1$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 829 grants of 830 (100%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to Massachusetts recipients.

Grant Distribution by State

9states

Share of the 2024 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.

Cities

LowellLawrenceNashuaDracutMethuenChelmsfordHaverhillWestfordBillericaBostonAndoverMarlboroughPelhamBurlingtonDunstableHudsonMerrimackBedfordLynnManchester

How We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc gives

  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

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

Giving History

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$200K$400K$600K177 grants2020 192 grants2021 232 grants2022 228 grants2023 1 grant2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $371K (2023) to $432K (2021). In 2024 it made 1 grant totaling $374K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Total Contributions Paid Lowell, MAExempt Purpose$374,188
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$481,301$441,537$380,463$374,1881$393,463$6,681$23,812
2023$420,227$451,835$376,416$370,744228$376,216$6,681$19,934
2022$344,808$435,556$408,397$406,252232$408,397$6,292$15,516
2021$317,649$492,751$461,256$432,300192$461,018$6,299$14,255
2020$286,154$475,254$403,194$398,158177—$6,290$12,720

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $24K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s stated mission is to help people in the community by providing assistance with food, shelter, clothing, health, and education.

Grantmaking

The foundation reported giving $370,744 through 228 grants in 2023. In 2024, it reported one grant totaling $374,188, listed as “Total Contributions Paid” for an exempt purpose. The filing states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 1 grant totaling $374,188.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Mark Cochran as President & CEO through August 2024 and Larissa Thurston as President & CEO as of August 2024. It also lists Alison Hughes as Clerk, Kara Doyle and Robin Lorenzen as Directors, and Michael Dubuque as Treasurer through October 2024.

We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc is led by Mark S. Cochran, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Mark S. Cochran

    President & CEO

    President & Director → President & CEO, 2024

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Larissa Thurston

    President & CEO

    New on the 2024 filing

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kara Doyle

    Director

    Clerk & Director → Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robin Lorenzen

    Director

    On filings since 2021

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alison Hughes

    Clerk

    Director → Clerk & Director, 2021

    Clerk & Director → Clerk, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Dubuque

    Treasurer

    Treasurer & Director → Treasurer, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

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.

Frequently asked questions about We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc

How much does We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc give each year?

We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc gave $374K across 1 grant in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $371K across 228 grants.

How large is We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc?

We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc reported $481K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $393K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $24K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation’s stated mission is to help people in the community by providing assistance with food, shelter, clothing, health, and education. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc?

Contact Alison Hughes. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

Where does We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc make grants?

All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to Massachusetts recipients.

What is We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc's EIN?

We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-2916988. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

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

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 10, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 17, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open

Figures come from We Share A Common Thread Foundation Inc'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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