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Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity Inc

EIN 03-0216837 · Burlington, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$36.9 million
Spending
$38.0 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 86%
Employees
360
Volunteers
451
Highest pay
$178,219, executive director

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

Financial health

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    12 of 12 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 September 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 (3)
  1. $6.7 million spent. CVOEO PROVIDED A WIDE VARIETY OF VITAL SERVICES TO OVER 23,000 PEOPLE AND WELL OVER 12,000 FAMILIES DURING THE PAST YEAR. ADDITIONALLY, THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE DONATED TO CVOEO PROGRAMS AND AGENCY PROGRAMS ENGAGED IN OVER FIVE HUNDRED PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUTSIDE ENTITIES (BUSINESSES, NON-PROFITS, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS, ETC.). THREE COMMUNITY ACTION OFFICES IN MIDDLEBURY, BURLINGTON AND ST. ALBANS PROVIDED CRISIS INTERVENTION IN SEVERAL AREAS INCLUDING CRISIS FUEL, WARMTH SUPPORT, HOUSING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, HOUSING SERVICES COORDINATION, FOOD ASSISTANCE, AND TAX ASSISTANCE. PLEASE SEE OUR ANNUAL REPORT FOR LAST YEAR'S STATISTICS.
  2. $9.3 million spent. THERE WERE 144 CHILDREN SERVED IN OUR HEAD START PROGRAM AND 160 CHILDREN IN OUR EARLY HEAD START PROGRAM. THERE WERE 2,026 HOME VISITS. EIGHTY-SIX PERCENT (86%) OF OUR 4-YEAR-OLD PRESCHOOLERS WERE MEETING OR EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS TIED TO KINDERGARTEN READINESS IN THE DOMAINS OF LANGUAGE AND COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT.
  3. $7.2 million spent. OVER THIS PAST YEAR CVOEO HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND ITS FOOD PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE CHAMPLAIN VALLEY THROUGH OUR FEEDING CHAMPLAIN VALLEY PROGRAM WHICH IS THE LARGEST FOOD SHELF AND CHARITABLE FOOD PROVIDER IN THE STATE. WE SECURED FUNDING TO RENOVATE BURLINGTON FOOD SHELF AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER, ADDING EXPANDED SPACE ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND A SECOND FLOOR. THOSE RENOVATIONS WILL BE COMPLETED IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2026. THE HEALTH ROOTS COLLABORATIVE IS ONE OF FEEDING CHAMPLAIN VALLEY'S PROGRAMS PROVIDING CVOEO WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH OVER ONE HUNDRED LOCAL FARMERS TO SOURCE FOOD INTO OUR CHARITABLE FOOD SYSTEM. WE ALSO PROVIDE EDUCATION ON SUSTAINABLE FARMING THROUGH WORKSHOPS AT SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTERS. FEEDING CHAMPLAIN VALLEY CONTINUES WITH ITS FOOD AS MEDICINE PROGRAM, MOBILE OUTREACH, SOLIDIFYING ITS THREE FOOD HUBS IT ESTABLISHED IN 2023 AND PROVIDING CONSUMER CHOICE THROUGH ITS ONLINE FOOD ORDERING APPLICATION AND ITS INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  4. 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1966.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.