Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Vermont Achievement Center Inc

EIN 03-0179407 · Rutland, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH FLEXIBLE, DIVERSE AND RESPONSIVE PROGRAMS, VERMONT ACHIEVEMENT CENTER, INC. (VAC) PROVIDES A FOUNDATION OF LIFE SKILLS TO PREPARE INDIVIDUALS TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. ALL PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF CHANGE. INDIVIDUALS FLOURISH BECAUSE THEY ARE NURTURED, VALUED AND TREATED WITH RESPECT. EDUCATION IS EMPOWERING. THE FAMILY IS THE PRIMARY INFLUENCE IN A PERSONS LIFE. CHILDREN BELONG IN A FAMILY. FAMILIES ARE ENHANCED BY SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY. CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES ARE FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO CHANGING NEEDS.

Income
$4.9 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
7.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
77
Highest pay
$118,515, president &

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 21% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    0 of 15

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

  • 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. $2.9 million spent. VERMONT ACHIEVEMENT CENTER'S EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE PROGRAM OFFERS A VARIETY OF ENRICHING QUALITY CARE PROGRAMS FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. VAC'S PROGRAMS WORK TO BRING CHILDREN TOGETHER IN AN ENRICHING DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO HELP PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND GROWTH IN AREAS OF MOTOR SKILLS, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY, PLAY SKILLS, AND SOCIAL COMPETENCY. WE ALSO ASSIST CHILDREN SIX-WEEKS TO TWELVE-YEARS OF AGE BY PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. IN ADDITION TO OUR EDUCATIONAL CLASSROOMS, WE ALSO PROVIDE PLAYGROUND, GYMNASIUM AND SWIMMING SERVICES. VAC'S SHELDON ACADEMY OFFERS A SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THERAPEUTIC SUMMER PROGRAM FOR KIDS GRADES K-8 THAT MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. OUR EXPERIENCED STAFF WORK TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN RECEIVE THE THERAPY AND EDUCATIONAL SUPERVISION THEY NEED. ANOTHER RESOURCE WE PROVIDE IS THE MITCHELL THERAPY POOL AT VAC WHICH IS AN INDOOR, HEATED AND SPECIALLY EQUIPPED THERAPY POOL. IT IS THE ONLY THERAPY POOL IN CENTRAL VERMONT. WITH WARM WATER AND SPECIALIZED RAMPS, THE POOL PROVIDES THERAPEUTIC SWIMMING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF ALL ABILITIES. VERMONT ACHIEVEMENT CENTER'S EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE PROGRAM OFFERS A VARIETY OF ENRICHING QUALITY CARE PROGRAMS FOR INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN. VAC'S PROGRAMS WORK TO BRING CHILDREN TOGETHER IN AN ENRICHING DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT TO HELP PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND GROWTH IN AREAS OF MOTOR SKILLS, LANGUAGE AND LITERACY, PLAY SKILLS, AND SOCIAL COMPETENCY. WE ALSO ASSIST CHILDREN SIX-WEEKS TO TWELVE-YEARS OF AGE BY PROVIDING NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND SNACKS THROUGHOUT THE DAY. IN ADDITION TO OUR EDUCATIONAL CLASSROOMS, WE ALSO PROVIDE PLAYGROUND, GYMNASIUM AND SWIMMING SERVICES. VAC'S SHELDON ACADEMY OFFERS A SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM AND THERAPEUTIC SUMMER PROGRAM FOR KIDS GRADES K-8 THAT MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. OUR EXPERIENCED STAFF WORK TO MAKE SURE CHILDREN RECEIVE THE THERAPY AND EDUCATIONAL SUPERVISION THEY NEED. ANOTHER RESOURCE WE PROVIDE IS THE MITCHELL THERAPY POOL AT VAC WHICH IS AN INDOOR, HEATED AND SPECIALLY EQUIPPED THERAPY POOL. IT IS THE ONLY THERAPY POOL IN CENTRAL VERMONT. WITH WARM WATER AND SPECIALIZED RAMPS, THE POOL PROVIDES THERAPEUTIC SWIMMING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF ALL ABILITIES.

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 March 1944.

    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.