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Vermont Council on the Arts Inc

EIN 03-0218115 · Montpelier, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair66 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COUNCIL'S MISSION IS TO ADVANCE AND PRESERVE THE ARTS AT THE CENTER OF VERMONT COMMUNITIES. IT OFFERS GRANTS AND SERVICES INCLUDING WORKSHOPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ARTS INFORMATION, AND IS THE STATE'S FOREMOST ARTS ADVOCATE.

Income
$3.2 million
Spending
$3.0 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
3.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 75%
Employees
12
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$159,565, executive 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: 66 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 20% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 36% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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 (3)
  1. $1.1 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OCOMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMS PROVIDE GRANTS AND SERVICES TO STRENGTHEN VERMONT COMMUNITIES THROUGH ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, AND TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE POSITIVE ROLE PLAYED BY ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO 85 INDIVIDUALS AND 201 ORGANIZATIONS IN EVERY COUNTY AND 100 TOWNS ACROSS VERMONT. PUBLIC ART PROGRAMS INCLUDED 6 ANIMATING INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS THAT SUPPORTED PROJECTS INTEGRATING ART INTO COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE. CULTURAL FACILITIES GRANTS ENABLED 16 CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS TO MAKE CRITICAL UPGRADES TO EXISTING BUILDINGS OR TO MAKE PUBLIC ARTS FACILITIES SAFE, ACCESSIBLE, AND WELCOMING TO PATRONS WITH DISABILITIES. UNPRECEDENTED ONE-TIME FUNDING FROM THE STATE ENABLED THE ARTS COUNCIL TO OFFER THE CREATIVE FUTURES GRANT PROGRAM FOR CREATIVE SECTOR ENTITIES THAT SUSTAINED ECONOMIC HARM DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THE VERMONT CREATIVE NETWORK (VCN), A COALITION OF INDIVIDUAL CREATIVES, LOCAL AND REGIONAL PLANNERS AND POLICYMAKERS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS, AND CULTURAL AND NONPROFIT LEADERS FORMED IN 2016, CONVENED STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS TO ADVANCE VERMONT'S CREATIVE ECONOMY. THE COUNCIL ALSO CONTINUED TO SERVE AS A FOUNDING PARTNER IN VERMONT'S FIRST STATEWIDE EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS NETWORK FOR THE ARTS AND CULTURAL SECTOR.
  2. $265,108 spent. SEE SCHEDULE OARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROVIDE GRANTS AND SERVICES TO PROMOTE HIGH QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING IN AND THROUGH THE ARTS. 31 GRANTS WERE AWARDED TO SCHOOLS AND NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING 7 HEAD START PARTNERSHIP GRANTS TO BRING ARTS-INTEGRATED LEARNING TO VERMONT'S MOST VULNERABLE STUDENTS. OPERATING GRANTS AWARDED IN THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM (SEE 4A) ALSO SERVE STUDENTS BY SUPPORTING ARTS EDUCATION IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE COUNCIL AWARDED 8 GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING ARTS PROGRAMMING TO OLDER ADULTS THROUGH THE NEW CREATIVE AGING INITIATIVE. PROVIDING. ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE OUTREACH TO RURAL, UNDERSERVED SCHOOLS, AND SUPPORT PROVIDED TO TEACHING ARTISTS, INCLUDING MAINTENANCE OF A STATEWIDE TEACHING ARTIST ROSTER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS.
  3. $1.1 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE OARTS CREATION AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS PROVIDE GRANTS AND SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF VERMONT ARTISTS AND TO PROVIDE GREATER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CREATION AND PRESENTATION OF EXCELLENT WORK. GRANTS IN THESE CATEGORIES HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED IN RECENT YEARS, PARTIALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, WITH 45 GRANTS AWARDED TO ARTISTS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND 25 GRANTS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS' CREATIVE PROJECTS. GRANT-SEEKER WORKSHOPS, LOCAL ARTS NETWORKING MEETINGS AND OTHER WORKSHOPS WERE HELD.

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 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 June 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 1967.

    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.