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Vermont Natural Resources Council Inc

EIN 03-0223731 · Montpelier, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong94 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION, COLLABORATION AND ADVOCACY, VNRC PROTECTS AND ENHANCES VERMONT'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS, VIBRANT COMMUNITIES, PRODUCTIVE WORKING LANDSCAPES, RURAL CHARACTER AND UNIQUE SENSE OF PLACE, AND PREPARES THE STATE FOR FUTURE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.5 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
18 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 85%
Employees
20
Volunteers
19
Highest pay
$120,532, executive director (start 08/24)

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

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 18.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 29% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 94 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    9 of 15

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

  • 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. $284,306 spent. ENERGY - VNRC'S ENERGY AND CLIMATE ACTION PROGRAM WORKS TO PROTECT THE LEGACY VERMONTERS WILL LEAVE FUTURE GENERATIONS BY HELPING TO ALLEVIATE THE THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY, ENVIRONMENT, AND WAY OF LIFE.
  2. $1.0 million spent. WATER - VNRC'S WATER PROGRAM IS A LEADER IN THE PROTECTION, RESTORATION, AND ENHANCEMENT OF VERMONT'S WATER RESOURCES - IRREPLACEABLE ELEMENTS OF VERMONT'S LANDSCAPE AND NATURAL HERITAGE. VNRC IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT CONSERVATION AND STEWARDSHIP - ROOTED IN SOUND SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH - ALONG WITH PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ADVOCACY ARE ALL PART OF THE PROCESS. IN ADDITION, VNRC WORKS TO STRENGTHEN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS BY FACILITATING THE REMOVAL OF OBSOLETE DAMS AND RESTORING RIPARIAN AND FLOODPLAIN HABITATS.
  3. $242,440 spent. OUTREACH & COMMUNICATION - THROUGH A VARIETY OF PUBLICATIONS, ITS WEBSITE, AN ANNUAL MEETING, AND OTHER PROGRAMS AND EVENTS, VNRC PROMOTES THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENTAL WELL-BEING OF THE STATE.
  4. $219,433 spent. FORESTS - VNRC WORKS TO PROTECT VERMONT'S FORESTS BY ASSISTING COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN INNOVATIVE PLANNING TECHNIQUES, PROMOTING DIALOGUE WITH LANDOWNERS, LAND MANAGERS, FORESTERS AND OTHERS TO DEVELOP SOUND POLICIES TO KEEP FORESTS AS FORESTS, AND PROMOTING SOUND ENERGY POLICY TO HELP MAINTAIN THE HEALTH OF THE STATE'S FOREST.
  5. $149,627 spent. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES - VNRC'S SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES PROGRAM RAISES AWARENESS OF HOW VERMONT CAN SUSTAIN ITS COMMUNITIES, ECONOMY, AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH SMART LAND USE DECISIONS.

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 December 1970.

    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.

  7. Could it be confused with another charity? Worth knowing.

    A much larger organization has a similar name: Natural Resources Defense Council Inc (New York, NY), EIN 13-2654926. If that is the one you meant, check the EIN before giving.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 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.