Ahrendts-Couch Family Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Ahrendts-Couch Family Foundation primarily supports Christian causes, education, youth, health, human services, and global causes.
IP TAKE: The Ahrendts-Couch Family Foundation is a bit of a black box in that it keeps a low public profile, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals and it frequently supports many of the same organizations year after year. An inaccessible funder, it does not have a website or provide grantseekers a clear way to get in touch. However, a mailing address and phone number are provided below.
PROFILE: Established in 2011, the Ahrendts-Couch Family Foundation was founded by retail executive Angela Ahrendts and her husband Gregg Couch. They have been married for some four decades and met in elementary school. Angela Ahrendts has a degree in Merchandising and Marketing from Ball State University, and she was CEO of Burberry and Apple's head of online retail and physical stores. The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its priority areas and grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest that the Ahrendts-Couch Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to Christian causes, education, youth, health, human services, and global causes.
Grants for Religious Causes
Ahrendts is a committed Christian, which also reflects in philanthropy. Grantees have included Tipping Point Community, Museum of the Bible, Trinity Broadcasting of New York, North Point Ministries, Valley Christian Schools, In Touch Ministries Inc., and Turning Point for God, the “Broadcast Ministry of Dr. David Jeremiah Turning Point’s mission is to deliver the unchanging Word of God to an ever-changing world.”
Grants for Global Development and Health
Over the years, the Foundation has given $1.7 million to charity: water, which provides clean drinking water to developing nations. Ahrendts is a board member there.
Grants for Higher Education
The couple support their mutual alma mater Ball State University. And The New School has received at least $110,000 in support in recent years.
Grants for Community Development
Based on the foundation’s tax records, the local Bay Area community is a funding priority and sees general support. Indiana, where Ahrendts was born, is another important site of giving.
Bay Area and California grantees include UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Boys and Girls Club of Silicon Valley, Habitat for Humanity Sonoma County, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, San Jose Police Officers' Association, and Valley Christian Schools.
In Indiana, the foundation has supported Indiana Historical Society, Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis, Fletcher Place Community Center, Lutheran Child & Family Services of Indiana, and Community Foundation of Hancock County.
Important Grant Details
Grants range from $500 to $355,000, but the most common amount is $25,000. In a recent fiscal year, the foundation gave away around $1.3 million.
The Ahrendts-Couch Family Foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Ahrendts-Couch Family Foundation
915 W San Martin Ave
San Martin, CA 95046-9461
302-295-4959
