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Couch Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.9M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.5M
Decision Time
2mo

Couch Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,865,116 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $124.5 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 1-3 months (depending on cycle)
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $500,000 (first-time grantees typically receive $10,000 or less)
  • Geographic Focus: Upper Valley (NH/VT), Martha's Vineyard (MA), and statewide NH for ECE
  • Number of Awards: 162 (2023)

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 151, Hanover, NH 03755

Phone: 603-643-3052

Email:

Website: www.couchfoundation.org

Application Portal: www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=couchfoundation

Pre-Application Support: First-time grant seekers are encouraged to contact info@couchfoundation.org for guidance before applying.

Overview

The Couch Family Foundation was established in 2001 by Richard (Dick) and Barbara Couch, founders of Hypertherm, Inc., a manufacturer of industrial cutting systems. The foundation was created when the Couches transitioned Hypertherm to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), reflecting their philosophy of "sharing rewards" with the employees who built the company's success. Since 2002, the foundation has partnered with organizations serving the Upper Valley Region and beyond to improve children's health, early learning, family resiliency, and community vibrancy. With total assets of $124.5 million and annual giving of approximately $5.9 million, the foundation makes grants across two strategic priorities: supporting statewide high-quality early care and education (ECE) systems in New Hampshire and enhancing the well-being of children, families, and communities in the Couch family's "cherished communities"—the Upper Valley of New Hampshire and Vermont, and Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. The foundation intentionally involves the Couches' three daughters—Chloe, Alexa, and Brooke—in philanthropic work as board advisors.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Cherished Communities Priority (Open Application)

  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $500,000 (first-time grantees typically $10,000 or less)
  • Application Method: Rolling applications through online portal during three annual cycles
  • Geographic Focus: Upper Valley (Grafton and Sullivan Counties, NH; Orange and Windsor Counties, VT) and Martha's Vineyard, MA
  • Focus: Organizations serving children prenatal through age 5 and their families, addressing local needs and emerging issues that impact children and families

2. Statewide Early Care and Education Systems-Building (Invitation Only)

  • Grant Range: Varies widely
  • Application Method: By invitation only; no unsolicited applications accepted
  • Geographic Focus: Statewide New Hampshire
  • Focus: Building and scaling high-quality ECE systems statewide, with emphasis on families with low income and communities of color

Types of Support Available

  • Unrestricted/General Operating Support (available to both new and existing grantees; first-time seekers encouraged to contact foundation before applying for unrestricted funding)
  • Project Support (encouraged for first-time applicants)
  • Capital Support (requires prior contact before application)
  • Event Sponsorships (limited to organizations with established relationships; requires prior approval)

Priority Areas

Cherished Communities Priority:

  • Early childhood development, learning, health, and mental health (prenatal-5 years)
  • Family support services promoting young child well-being
  • Healthy, vibrant, and resilient communities addressing local needs impacting children and families
  • Racial equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice initiatives

Statewide ECE Systems-Building Priority:

  • Advocacy and grassroots organizing for equitable ECE policies
  • Coordinated local, regional, and state ECE systems strengthening
  • Research and innovation in equitable, high-quality ECE programs
  • Administrative leadership and capacity for data-driven, equitable ECE policies

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Religious organizations
  • Public, private, or independent elementary and secondary schools (K-12)
    • Exception: Nonprofits that enhance school learning opportunities may apply
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status (unless operating through fiscal sponsorship)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Richard (Dick) Couch, Co-Founder and Trustee – Founded Hypertherm in 1968 as an engineer and Dartmouth Thayer School graduate; served 51 years as CEO
  • Barbara Couch, Co-Founder and Trustee – Served 35 years at Hypertherm as VP of Human Resources and VP of Corporate Social Responsibility; founded Hypertherm HOPE Foundation

Board Advisors

  • Brooke Couch Freeland, Managing Director
  • Alexa Couch du Pont
  • Chloe Couch Richards

Executive Leadership and Staff

  • Sara Vecchiotti, Ph.D., Esq., Executive Director – Inaugural executive director (began April 2024); previously served eight years with Foundation for Child Development in New York
  • Kathryn Gale, Chief of Staff, CF Advisors
  • Becky Whitley, Program Partner, Early Care & Education Systems
  • Ashley Stockwell, MPH, Program Partner, Healthy & Vibrant Communities
  • Sarah Robinson, Program Partner, Movement & Coalition Building
  • Sara Kobylenski, Community Consultant
  • Amy Dixon, Grant & Finance Administrator
  • Kim Cooper, Executive Assistant

Founder Philosophy

The Couches view the foundation as a vehicle to involve their daughters in philanthropy, describing it as "one of the greatest gifts" they can offer. They emphasize "sharing rewards" and focus on "the part that is within our reach," acknowledging they cannot solve all problems but can strategically target pressing community and state needs. Their focus on early care and education stems from personal understanding of challenges around affordable, quality childcare.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Cherished Communities Priority: Applications are accepted through the foundation's online portal at www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=couchfoundation. The foundation accepts applications three times per year during designated cycles.

Statewide ECE Systems-Building Priority: This priority operates by invitation only and does not accept unsolicited grant applications.

Pre-Application Steps:

  • Verify your organization meets eligibility criteria on the Grants page
  • No Letter of Intent required
  • No Access Code needed to complete application
  • First-time grant seekers encouraged to contact info@couchfoundation.org for preliminary guidance
  • Review application questions in portal before beginning (note: form covers all grant types, so not all questions may apply to your request)
  • Use foundation's budget template for project-based grants (strongly recommended though not required)

Required Status: Organizations must hold 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or have fiscal sponsorship through a 501(c)(3) organization.

Application Deadlines and Decision Timeline

2026 Cherished Communities Cycles:

Application DeadlineDecision Announcement
February 27, 2026April 2026
May 15, 2026July 2026
August 7, 2026November 2026

Decision Timeline: Approximately 1-3 months from application deadline to decision announcement.

Confirmation: Automatic email confirmation is generated when applications are submitted through the online system.

Application Revisions: If information is missing from a submitted application, contact grantadmin@couchfoundation.org to add it.

Deadline Extensions: Extensions are possible; contact grantadmin@couchfoundation.org to request one.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly available. In 2023, the foundation made 162 awards totaling $5,865,116. The foundation's grants generally range from $1,000 to $500,000, though first-time grantees typically receive grants of $10,000 or less.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is publicly documented. Applicants with questions about reapplication should contact the foundation at info@couchfoundation.org or grantadmin@couchfoundation.org.

Application Success Factors

Foundation's Stated Priorities

The Couch Family Foundation prioritizes organizations that demonstrate:

  • Strong leadership and deep community relationships
  • Collaborative approach to community building
  • Demonstrated focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice
  • Organizations that center racial equity across mission, programming, leadership, and partnerships

Specific Guidance for Applicants

For First-Time Applicants:

  • The foundation generally awards grants of $10,000 or less to first-time grantees
  • First-time applicants are encouraged to propose a project grant when possible
  • The foundation will consider unrestricted funding requests from first-time applicants, but new grant seekers interested in unrestricted funding should contact the foundation prior to submitting
  • "Be as specific as possible about how you see the fit between the work you do and the Foundation's priorities"

For ECE Priority (Invitation Only):

  • First-time grant seekers in the ECE priority are encouraged to contact the foundation at info@couchfoundation.org for guidance before applying

Capital Grants and Event Sponsorships:

  • Capital support requires prior contact before application
  • Event sponsorships are limited to organizations with established relationships and require prior approval

What Makes Applications Stand Out

The foundation values:

  • Collaborative efforts and integrated, comprehensive proposals
  • Clear alignment with foundation mission and priorities
  • Demonstrated impact and strong organizational leadership
  • Focus on racial equity and justice

Example Grant Recipients

Organizations funded under the Cherished Communities priority include:

  • Green Mountain Children's Center (Vermont)
  • Dartmouth Hitchcock Memorial Hospital (New Hampshire)
  • Upper Valley Teacher Training Program
  • Orange County Parent Child Center (Vermont)
  • Mount Ascutney Hospital and Health Center, Brownsville (Vermont)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Start small as a first-time grantee: Expect grants of $10,000 or less for your first award; propose a specific project rather than unrestricted support to demonstrate clear alignment with foundation priorities.

  2. Geographic eligibility is crucial: For Cherished Communities grants, your work must directly serve communities in the Upper Valley (Grafton and Sullivan Counties, NH; Orange and Windsor Counties, VT) or Martha's Vineyard, MA. Statewide organizations should highlight specific impact in these regions.

  3. Racial equity must be central: The foundation explicitly requires that grantees "center racial equity" across all aspects of their work—not as an add-on, but integrated throughout mission, programming, leadership, and partnerships.

  4. Contact them before applying: The foundation strongly encourages first-time applicants to reach out to info@couchfoundation.org before submitting, especially if seeking unrestricted funding or applying to the ECE priority.

  5. Demonstrate collaboration: The foundation values organizations with "deep community relationships" and a "collaborative approach to community building"—emphasize partnerships and integrated approaches in your application.

  6. Three annual cycles provide flexibility: With three application deadlines per year and relatively quick turnaround times (1-3 months), you have multiple opportunities to apply and can time your submission strategically.

  7. Use their budget template for projects: While not required, the foundation strongly recommends using their budget template for project-based grants, signaling this format helps reviewers assess proposals more effectively.

References

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