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Sterling College

EIN 03-0197728 · Craftsbury Cm, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

STERLING COLLEGE USES EDUCATION AS A FORCE TO ADVANCE ECOLOGICAL THINKING AND ACTION THROUGH AFFORDABLE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THAT PREPARES PEOPLE TO BE KNOWLEDGEABLE, SKILLED, AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY LIVE. WE ADDRESS CRITICAL ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY UNLIMITED GROWTH AND CONSUMPTION THAT IS DESTROYING THE PLANET AS WE HAVE KNOWN IT, SUCH AS: FOSSIL FUEL DEPENDENCE AND RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE, DESTRUCTION OF BIODIVERSITY AND LOSS OF WILD PLACES, PROMOTION OF HARMFUL AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES THAT THREATEN HUMAN AND NATURAL COMMUNITIES, PERSISTENCE OF STRUCTURAL OPPRESSION THAT IMPACTS HUMAN AND ECOLOGICAL WELLBEING, AND THE DETERIORATION OF CIVIL SOCIETY THROUGH ESTRANGEMENT FROM COMMUNITY, NATURE, AND PLACE.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$8.4 million
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
-4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 57%
Employees
90
Highest pay
$242,269, 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

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 46% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 84% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 50% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 (5)
  1. $4.8 million spent. PROVIDED BA DEGREE PROGRAMS THROUGH HIGH QUALITY POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION IN SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS, OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE.
  2. $362,146 spent. REVITALIZED MARKETING AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS AS WE RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC AND CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HEALTH AND COUNSELING SERVICES TO STUDENTS.
  3. $423,189 spent. PROVIDED DINING SERVICES, HOUSING, AND WORKING FARM OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS.
  4. $36,426 spent. COSTS TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN FACILITIES, INCLUDES A LIBRARY FOR THE CONTINUED EDUCATION AND USE OF STUDENTS. RESTRUCTURED OUR BUDGET TO BETTER ALIGN KNOWN REVENUES AND EXPENSES. BUILDING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH VALUES ALIGNED STATE AND REGIONAL PARTNERS, EMPLOYERS AND FUNDING ENTITIES.
  5. COSTS TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN FACILITIES, INCLUDES A LIBRARY FOR THE CONTINUED EDUCATION AND USE OF STUDENTS. RESTRUCTURED OUR BUDGET TO BETTER ALIGN KNOWN REVENUES AND EXPENSES. BUILDING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS WITH VALUES ALIGNED STATE AND REGIONAL PARTNERS, EMPLOYERS AND FUNDING ENTITIES.

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 1960.

    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.