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Sustainability Institute Inc

EIN 02-0492913 · Burlington, VT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair67 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 50% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

WE ENGAGE COMMUNITY LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO DEVELOP A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS, AND EQUIP THEM FOR THE INNER AND OUTER WORK NEEDED TO ACT AS AGENTS OF POSITIVE CHANGE.

Income
$359,272
Spending
$356,630
Spent on programs
50%
Reserves
44.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
other income, 27%
Employees
3
Volunteers
12
Highest pay
$90,799, co-director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 44.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 12% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 54% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    50% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $178,021 spent. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, SUCH AS WEBINARS, STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS, FACE TO FACE AND ONLINE COURSES AND THE "DONELLA MEADOWS PROJECT" WHICH MAKES ALL OF DONELLA MEADOWS' WORK FREELY ACCESSIBLE ONLINE AND THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH DARTMOUTH COLLEGE'S RAUNER LIBRARY. EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS ALSO INCLUDE "ACADEMY STORIES" - A WEBSITE SHARING STORIES AND CASE STUDIES OF SYSTEMS-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS, AND A "FIELDBOOK OF SYSTEMS CHANGE" - AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE FIELD BOOK OF PRACTICES, TOOLS, AND FRAMEWORKS TO SUPPORT ANYONE ENGAGED IN APPLIED SOCIAL CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY WORK THROUGH A SYSTEMS LENS. TRAINING, FACILITATION & CONSULTING SERVICES - RECENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FACILITATION, SPEAKER REQUESTS, TRAININGS AND CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CLIENTS. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SERVICES - THE ORGANIZATION SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR TWO MISSION-ALIGNED INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON GROWING COLLECTIVE SYSTEMS CHANGE CAPACITY. ONE FOCUSES ON UPLIFTING WOMEN AND GROWING LEADERSHIP AND SYSTEMS CHANGE CAPACITY WITHIN WOMEN GLOBALLY, WHILE THE OTHER FOCUSES MORE GEOGRAPHICALLY ON VERMONT. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDE A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, SUCH AS WEBINARS, STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOPS, FACE TO FACE AND ONLINE COURSES AND THE "DONELLA MEADOWS PROJECT" WHICH MAKES ALL OF DONELLA MEADOWS' WORK FREELY ACCESSIBLE ONLINE AND THROUGH A COLLABORATION WITH DARTMOUTH COLLEGE'S RAUNER LIBRARY. EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS ALSO INCLUDE "ACADEMY STORIES" - A WEBSITE SHARING STORIES AND CASE STUDIES OF SYSTEMS-LEVEL INTERVENTIONS, AND A "FIELDBOOK OF SYSTEMS CHANGE" - AN INTERACTIVE ONLINE FIELD BOOK OF PRACTICES, TOOLS, AND FRAMEWORKS TO SUPPORT ANYONE ENGAGED IN APPLIED SOCIAL CHANGE AND SUSTAINABILITY WORK THROUGH A SYSTEMS LENS. TRAINING, FACILITATION & CONSULTING SERVICES - RECENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FACILITATION, SPEAKER REQUESTS, TRAININGS AND CONSULTING SERVICES FOR CLIENTS. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SERVICES - THE ORGANIZATION SERVES AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR FOR TWO MISSION-ALIGNED INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON GROWING COLLECTIVE SYSTEMS CHANGE CAPACITY. ONE FOCUSES ON UPLIFTING WOMEN AND GROWING LEADERSHIP AND SYSTEMS CHANGE CAPACITY WITHIN WOMEN GLOBALLY, WHILE THE OTHER FOCUSES MORE GEOGRAPHICALLY ON VERMONT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1997.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.