OVERVIEW: The Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation is a private family funder that supports Vermont organizations. It funds work related to youth, seniors, community, and employment and financial independence for working-age adults.
FUNDING AREAS: Youth, seniors, employment, financial independence, community
IP TAKE: Tarrant drives nearly $12 million in investments in education partnerships through the Tarrant Foundation Education Initiative.
PROFILE: Established in 2005, the Richard E. and Deborah L. Tarrant Foundation is based in Winooski, Vermont, and is committed to improving the lives of people in Vermont. It was created by Rich Tarrant, an entrepreneur and businessman who founded IDX Systems Corporation, a healthcare technology company headquartered in Vermont, in 1969. The company was acquired by GE Healthcare in 2006, and the Tarrant couple has since launched new businesses in renewable energy and healthcare. Grantmaking supports youth, seniors, employment, financial independence, and community.
Youth grants focus on the achievement gap, job readiness, mentoring, financial literacy, housing, addiction recovery, and out-of-school time. Senior grants focus on nutrition, enrichment, and independent living. Grants to benefit working-age adults fund homelessness prevention, addiction recovery, job training and retention, and financial literacy. Finally, small grants complement Vermont communities’ investments in local services and resources. The bulk of Tarrant's support prioritizes education and equipping youth for successful futures. The foundation also invests in basic needs, particularly food and shelter, in order to alleviate homelessness and hunger throughout Vermont.
Tarrant typically awards 50 to 70 competitive grants each year, with applications accepted solely from Vermont organizations. However, only a portion of the Tarrant Foundation’s funds is made available through the open application process. Tarrant does not provide multiyear grants or grants for schools, classrooms, environmental programs, art programs, or medical health programs.
To apply for a Tarrant grant, first submit a letter of interest at any time of the year. Letters of interest have a two-page limit and need to include the program, total budget, amount of funding requested, and description of the relevant community need. Grantseekers can expect a response within about two weeks of submission. The foundation invites a small portion groups that submit a LOI to send in a full application. It encourages electronic submission of application materials, although it will also accept paper applications by mail. Direct general questions to the staff at info@tarrantfoundation.org or (802) 857-0495. Read about current foundation news and interests on its blog page.
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