Here’s a New England Funder to Know for Pilot Projects and Capacity Building
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The Couch Family Foundation focuses on New Hampshire and Vermont. Photo: BestStockFoto/shutterstock
There are a few different Couch Family Foundations to keep track of across the country. For example, Ted Couch Sr.’s Couch Family Foundation funds local efforts in Tampa, Florida, while Angela Ahrendts and Gregg Couch lead the Ahrendts-Couch Family Foundation in the Bay Area. Meanwhile, Dick and Barbara Couch are committed to children in New England through their Couch Family Foundation, which is the funder that we’re looking at in more detail today.
Built on a Tech Fortune
Dick and Barbara Couch were able to launch their own private family foundation following Dick Couch’s success in the technology industry. He co-founded Hypertherm, a tech company that applies high temperature technol2ogy to solve industrial issues. The company is based in Hanover, New Hampshire, dates back to 1968 and manufactures plasma, laser and waterjet cutting systems. Dick’s wife, Barbara, has also been involved with the company as its vice president of corporate social responsibility and human resources expert.
All About Children and Youth
The primary focus of this Couch Family Foundation is to improve the lives of children and families in the region. The foundation takes a cross-sector approach to early childhood funding by supporting early learning programs, children’s health initiatives and family strengthening efforts. Recent child-centric funding includes support to the NH Children’s Trust, New Heights Youth and Mascoma Cooperative Preschool. The Couch Family Foundation also supports community research related to the needs of young children and their families.
Select Regions of New England
Even though the Couch Family Foundation has a Boston address and is administered by the Boston-based Mott Philanthropic, that’s not its primary geographic interest area. Instead, the foundation directs its attention to the Upper Valley Region of New Hampshire and Vermont. Organizations that serve the island of Martha’s Vineyard are also on the couple’s radar and regularly receive support.
Open to New Ideas
Something specific to note about the Couch Family Foundation is its openness to new ideas and innovations in the field of early childhood care and education. The Couches don’t shy away from risk, prioritizing new initiatives and pilot programs.
New grantseekers are best off pitching an idea for project-based support, although the foundation awards unrestricted general operating support too. Capacity building is another big priority. First-time grantees can often receive up to $10,000 from the foundation, and multi-year funding grants are a definite possibility as well.
The application periods in 2020 for unsolicited grant requests are January 7 to April 6 for June award notification, April 7 to July 6 tor September award notification and July 7 to October 7 for December award notification. Learn more about Dick and Barbara Couch and their New England-focused Couch Family Foundation in our full profiles here at IP.
