Couch Family Foundation

## How to Approach the Couch Family Foundation

The Couch Family Foundation operates two distinct funding tracks with very different access models. Understanding which track applies to your organization is the essential first step.

### Two Paths, Two Realities

1. Cherished Communities (Open Applications) This is the accessible path. The foundation accepts unsolicited applications three times per year through an online portal for organizations serving the Upper Valley of New Hampshire/Vermont and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Focus areas include children's health and well-being, early learning and development, family resiliency, and community vibrancy. No letter of intent is required.

2. Statewide Early Care and Education (Invitation Only) This is the foundation's flagship strategic priority and it is completely closed to unsolicited applications. The ECE priority funds systems-building, advocacy, workforce development, and research across New Hampshire. Access requires being identified by the foundation's staff through their proactive engagement with the ECE ecosystem.

### What They Prioritize The foundation's theory of change centers on early childhood as the critical intervention window. They believe every child from birth to age 5 — particularly those from low-income families and communities of color — deserves access to high-quality, affordable early care and education. Their six guiding principles are: diversity/equity/inclusion, treating grantees as partners, collaboration for sustainable change, building statewide awareness for equitable policy, encouraging creative innovation, and using research and community engagement to guide decisions.

### Alignment Signals Strong alignment signals include: direct service to children ages 0-5 and their families, demonstrated community roots in the Upper Valley or Martha's Vineyard, commitment to DEI, collaborative approach with other agencies, measurable outcomes, and strong organizational leadership. The foundation explicitly looks for organizations with deep community relationships and comprehensive approaches to addressing need.

## Funding Patterns

### Grant Size Distribution The Couch Family Foundation distributes grants across a wide range, from small community grants to substantial multi-year investments in systems-level ECE work.

• First-time grantees: Typically receive $10,000 or less, though larger amounts are possible with prior discussion with staff
• Returning grantees: May receive larger awards and can submit multiple requests annually after 2+ consecutive years of funding
• Full range: $1,000 to $605,000 per award
• Average grant: Approximately $57,600 (based on $6.1M across 106 grants in 2024)

### Annual Giving Trajectory The foundation has maintained substantial but fluctuating grantmaking levels: - 2019: 153 awards - 2020: 188 awards (likely pandemic-related increase) - 2021: 156 awards - 2022: 167 awards - 2023: 162 awards - 2024: 106 awards, $6.1M total giving

The decline in number of awards from 2023 to 2024 (162 to 106) while maintaining significant total giving suggests a strategic shift toward fewer, larger grants — consistent with the foundation's maturation from community grantmaking toward systems-level ECE investment.

### Geographic Distribution Funding is concentrated in three specific geographies: - New Hampshire statewide — for ECE systems-building (invitation-only) - Upper Valley region — Grafton and Sullivan Counties (NH), Orange and Windsor Counties (VT) - Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts — reflecting the Couch family's personal ties to the island

### Sector Focus Nearly all funding falls within early childhood education, child/family well-being, community development, and health. The foundation does not fund individuals, religious organizations, or K-12 schools directly (though nonprofits enhancing school-based learning are considered). Annual campaigns, endowments, and sectarian religious activities are excluded.

## Peer Comparison

The Couch Family Foundation occupies a distinctive niche as a mid-size family foundation focused almost exclusively on early childhood education and family well-being in a specific geography. Here is how it compares to peer foundations:

### Key Differentiators - Hyper-local focus: Unlike national ECE funders, the Couch Family Foundation concentrates its community grants in just two small geographic areas (Upper Valley and Martha's Vineyard), creating unusually deep impact in those communities. - Dual-track model: The combination of an open community grants program and an invitation-only statewide systems initiative is uncommon among family foundations of this size. - Growing institutional capacity: The 2022 hiring of an inaugural executive director (Sara Vecchiotti) and subsequent staff expansion signals a transition from a family-managed foundation to a professionally-staffed institution — a maturation phase that often precedes increased grantmaking sophistication and accessibility. - ECE systems focus: While many foundations fund early childhood programs, the Couch Family Foundation's explicit focus on systems-building (workforce, advocacy, infrastructure) rather than just direct service distinguishes it from program-level funders. - Payout rate: At approximately 5% of assets, the foundation operates near the minimum required payout, suggesting room for growth in annual grantmaking if the board chooses to increase distributions.

## Recent Activity

### Leadership Transformation (2022-2026) The most significant recent development is the foundation's professionalization. After operating for two decades primarily through external consultants, the Couch Family Foundation hired its first-ever executive director, Sara Vecchiotti, Ph.D., Esq., in 2022. Vecchiotti brought eight years of experience from the Foundation for Child Development in New York, where she served as vice president. This hire signals a major shift from a family-managed foundation to a professionally-staffed institution.

### Staff Expansion (2024-2026) The foundation has rapidly built out its team. In August 2024, Kim Cooper and Sarah Robinson joined the staff. Additional hires followed in early 2026, with the foundation actively recruiting to support both its Upper Valley community work and statewide ECE strategy. Each grantee now has a designated Program Partner on staff.

### Transition from Mott Philanthropic (2025) After nearly a decade of external management by Mott Philanthropic (since 2015), the foundation completed a transition to fully internal operations in Q1 2025. This three-month transition period involved both teams working together to ensure grantee continuity.

### Statewide ECE Strategy Expansion The foundation has expanded its Early Care and Education strategy from a regional focus to a statewide New Hampshire initiative. This expansion encompasses four grantmaking pillars: advocacy and organizing, systems building, research and innovation, and leadership development. The strategy explicitly targets equity for children from low-income families and communities of color.

### Early Care and Education Association Growth With sustained Couch Family Foundation support, the Early Care and Education Association has grown to a network of over 150 licensed childcare centers and family childcare providers in the Greater Upper Valley Region, focusing on quality improvement, business sustainability, and workforce recruitment and retention.

### Board Composition The board remains family-controlled, comprising founders Barbara and Richard Couch and their three daughters, including Brooke Couch Freeland who serves as board advisor. Total assets stand at $123.4 million.

## Application Tips

### Before You Apply: Critical Prerequisites 1. Confirm geographic eligibility. Only organizations serving specific towns in Grafton and Sullivan Counties (NH), Orange and Windsor Counties (VT), or Martha's Vineyard (MA) are eligible for the Cherished Communities program. Check the foundation's website map for eligible towns. If you serve New Hampshire statewide in ECE, you cannot apply directly — the ECE priority is invitation-only.

2. Contact the foundation first if you are a first-time applicant. The foundation explicitly encourages this: email info@couchfoundation.org or call 603-643-3052. This is not just a courtesy — it helps you understand whether your project aligns and may result in staff guidance that strengthens your application.

3. Start small. First-time grantees typically receive $10,000 or less. Do not submit a $200,000 request on your first application. Propose a focused project with a realistic budget, and plan to grow the relationship over multiple funding cycles.

### What Makes a Strong Proposal

Lead with children and families. Every aspect of your proposal should connect back to improving outcomes for children (especially ages 0-5) and their families. The foundation's mission is squarely focused on this population. If your primary impact is on adults, elderly, or the general community without a clear child/family nexus, reconsider whether this is the right funder.

Demonstrate community embeddedness. The foundation values organizations with deep community relationships. Show that you understand the specific needs of Upper Valley or Martha's Vineyard communities — not through national statistics, but through local data and lived experience.

Emphasize collaboration. Highlight partnerships with other agencies, institutions, and community organizations. The foundation's guiding principles prioritize collaborative approaches to sustainable change. Mention specific partner organizations by name.

Address equity explicitly. The foundation has a stated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Your proposal should articulate how your work advances equitable access and outcomes, particularly for underserved populations.

Show organizational strength. The foundation looks for strong leadership, sound financial management, and organizational stability. Include evidence of your capacity to execute the proposed work.

### Tactical Advice - Project grants work best for first-timers. The foundation encourages first-time applicants to propose project grants rather than unrestricted funding, though both are technically eligible. - No LOI required. Submit your full application directly through the online portal at grantinterface.com. - Three bites at the apple. With three application cycles per year (February, May, August), you have multiple opportunities. If declined, you can refine and resubmit in the next cycle. - Returning grantees get advantages. After two or more consecutive years of funding, organizations may submit multiple requests per year, unlocking larger and more diverse funding. - Extensions are available. If you cannot meet a deadline, request an extension — the foundation accommodates this. - Use grantadmin@couchfoundation.org for technical help. Staff will assist with budget questions, application mechanics, and portal issues.