Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Public records raise at least one point you should look into before giving.
What it says it does
TO ADVANCE THE VERMONT ECONOMY BY WORKING AND SUPPORTING A VIBRANT BUSINESS CLIMATE WITH A LENS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. WE ADVOCATE, BUILD COMMUNITY, AND PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES STATEWIDE.
- Income
- $1.8 million
- Spending
- $1.8 million
- Employees
- 17
- Volunteers
- 19
- Highest pay
- $217,512, president/se
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Financial health
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Governance
This return does not answer enough of the governance questions to score.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. 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 (5)
- TRAVEL AND TOURISM: THE CHAMBER PUBLISHES AND DISTRIBUTES ONE TOURISM GUIDEBOOK ANNUALLY, THE VERMONT ANNUAL INSPIRATION GUIDE, AND MANAGES A STATEWIDE TOURISM BUSINESS DIRECTORY. MEMBERS AND NON-MEMBERS CAN PURCHASE ADVERTISEMENTS AND LISTINGS IN THE MAGAZINE AND DIRECTORY, WHICH ARE BOTH PRINT AND WEB-BASED. MEMBERS ARE PROVIDED A DISCOUNT AS A BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP, WHICH FURTHERS THE CHAMBER'S MISSION TO CREATE AN ECONOMIC CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO BUSINESS GROWTH. EXPENSES RELATED TO TRAVEL AND TOURISM CONSIST PRIMARILY OF PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION COSTS, AS WELL AS THE SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR ADVERTISING SALES AND SUPPORT STAFF.
- EVENTS: THE CHAMBER HOSTS SEVERAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, GENERATING REVENUE FROM SPONSORSHIPS, EXHIBITION BOOTH SALES AND GENERAL ADMISSION. THE LARGEST EVENTS INCLUDE THE VERMONT ECONOMIC CONFERENCE, THE MANUFACTURING SUMMIT AND THE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS. EXPENSES RELATED TO EVENTS ARE RELATED TO EVENT MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL, AS WELL AS FACILITY RENTAL, CATERING AND PROMOTIONAL COSTS.
- MEMBERSHIP: THE CHAMBER'S MEMBERSHIP BASE IS COMPRISED OF ROUGHLY 1,000 VERMONT BUSINESSES THAT PAY DUES ANNUALLY IN AN AMOUNT BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE BUSINESS. MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM EXPENSES CONSIST PRIMARILY OF THOSE RELATING TO SALES PERSONNEL AND MEMBER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION.
- GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS: THERE ARE FOUR LOBBYISTS EMPLOYED BY THE CHAMBER WHO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF VERMONT BUSINESSES ON ISSUES IDENTIFIED AS IMPORTANT TO MEMBERS. THIS IS VIEWED AS A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHAMBER AND DOES NOT GENERATE DIRECT REVENUE. EXPENSES ARE PRIMARILY PERSONNEL-RELATED, AND ALSO INCLUDE ANY OUTSIDE CONSULTING FEES PAID. VACE: THE CHAMBER WAS THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE VACE INSURANCE PROGRAM, A GROUP DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE ASSOCIATION PLAN. THE VACE ASSOCIATION PLAN COVERED NEARLY 1,000 SMALL BUSINESSES IN VERMONT. ALL PREMIUM BILLING, ENROLLMENTS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE WERE HANDLED BY THE CHAMBER STAFF. REVENUE TO THE CHAMBER WAS IN THE FORM OF MONTHLY ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACT FEES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SUBSCRIBERS AT THE END OF EACH MONTH. EXPENSES RELATE TO SALARIES, BENEFITS AND POSTAGE.
- GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS: THERE ARE FOUR LOBBYISTS EMPLOYED BY THE CHAMBER WHO ADVOCATE ON BEHALF OF VERMONT BUSINESSES ON ISSUES IDENTIFIED AS IMPORTANT TO MEMBERS. THIS IS VIEWED AS A SIGNIFICANT BENEFIT OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHAMBER AND DOES NOT GENERATE DIRECT REVENUE. EXPENSES ARE PRIMARILY PERSONNEL-RELATED, AND ALSO INCLUDE ANY OUTSIDE CONSULTING FEES PAID. VACE: THE CHAMBER WAS THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE VACE INSURANCE PROGRAM, A GROUP DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE ASSOCIATION PLAN. THE VACE ASSOCIATION PLAN COVERED NEARLY 1,000 SMALL BUSINESSES IN VERMONT. ALL PREMIUM BILLING, ENROLLMENTS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE WERE HANDLED BY THE CHAMBER STAFF. REVENUE TO THE CHAMBER WAS IN THE FORM OF MONTHLY ADMINISTRATIVE CONTRACT FEES BASED ON THE NUMBER OF SUBSCRIBERS AT THE END OF EACH MONTH. EXPENSES RELATE TO SALARIES, BENEFITS AND POSTAGE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(6) business league.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.
Are donations tax-deductible? Caution.
The IRS master file records contributions to this 501(c)(6) business league as not deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1954.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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.