Vermont Public Interest Research Group Inc
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What it says it does
FOUNDED IN 1972, THE VERMONT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP (VPIRG) IS THE LARGEST NONPROFIT CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN VERMONT. FOR FIVE DECADES, VPIRG HAS BROUGHT THE VOICES OF EVERYDAY VERMONTERS TO PUBLIC POLICY DEBATES CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH CARE, CONSUMER PROTECTION, AND DEMOCRACY. VPIRG'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE HEALTH OF VERMONT'S PEOPLE, ENVIRONMENT, AND LOCALLY-BASED ECONOMY BY INFORMING AND MOBILIZING INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $2.0 million
- Employees
- 107
- Volunteers
- 30
- Highest pay
- $130,537, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 31, 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 December 31, 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 (7)
- $395,873 spent. GENERAL MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: AS THE LARGEST MEMBERSHIP-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE, VPIRG PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES ON OUR CAMPAIGNS AND RELATED ISSUES TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS ANNUALLY. VPIRG CONTINUES TO SERVE AS THE GO-TO RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO LEARN ABOUT PUBLIC INTEREST POLICY ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD ON ISSUES AT CRITICAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
- $600,080 spent. CLIMATE AND ENERGY:OUR CLIMATE & ENERGY WORK IS DRIVEN BY THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE MUST DECARBONIZE BOTH VERMONT AND THE NATION, AND THAT EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO CLEAN AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION. BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS CONTRIBUTING TO RURAL, BIPOC, AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES BEING LEFT BEHIND IN THIS TRANSITION IS A CORE PART OF OUR EFFORTS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OIN 2024, VPIRG PRESSED TO HOLD THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAMAGE IT HAS CAUSED TO VERMONT RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH CLIMATE CHANGE. VPIRG ALSO SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO UPDATE VERMONT'S CLEAN ELECTRICITY REQUIREMENTS WITH ONE OF THE STRONGEST RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARDS IN THE NATION.
- $137,057 spent. DEMOCRACY:VPIRG ACTIVELY SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO MAKE OUR DEMOCRACY MORE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT. WE SEEK TO ENSURE THAT ELECTIONS ARE FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO REDUCING THE UNDUE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OIN 2024, VPIRG SUPPORTED EFFORTS STATEWIDE THAT WOULD REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF CORPORATIONS IN OUR ELECTIONS, INCREASE TRANSPARENCY FROM POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES, PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF TRADITIONALLY DISENFRANCHISED INDIVIDUALS, AND IMPROVE THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY PROCESS IN THE STATE BY ADOPTING RANKED CHOICE VOTING.
- $156,620 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTHVPIRG WORKS TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR ENVIRONMENT FROM THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT VERMONTERS ARE OFTEN EXPOSED TO IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. IN 2024, VPIRG SUCCESSFULLY HELPED TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT POLLINATORS IN VERMONT BY PHASING OUT THE USE OF TOXIC NEONIC PESTICIDES. WE ALSO PRESSED SUCCESSFULLY FOR NEW LEGISLATION TO PROTECT VERMONTERS FROM PFAS TOXINS IN A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS INCLUDING COSMETICS, MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS, TEXTILES, AND MORE.
- $49,812 spent. ZERO WASTE VPIRG WORKS TO ADVANCE POLICIES AND SOLUTIONS THAT HOLD MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY PUT INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND MOVE US CLOSER TO ZERO WASTE IN VERMONT. IN 2024, VPIRG CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE MODERNIZATION OF VERMONT'S POPULAR BOTTLE BILL PROGRAM. WE ALSO FOCUSED SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION ON THE PROBLEM OF PLASTIC POLLUTION, AIMED PRIMARILY AT REDUCING THE QUANTITY AND TOXICITY OF PLASTICS, PARTICULARLY SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.
- $3,297 spent. HEALTH CARE REFORM AND MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMSVPIRG WORKS TO REFORM OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SO THAT IT PROVIDES ALL VERMONTERS ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE WHEN THEY NEED IT. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO ADVANCING POLICIES THAT ENSURE NO VERMONTER EVER HAS TO DECIDE BETWEEN RECEIVING A PAYCHECK OR CARING FOR A LOVED ONE.
- $32,392 spent. CONSUMER PROTECTIONVPIRG SERVES AS A WATCHDOG, PROTECTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST WHEN CORPORATIONS ATTEMPT TO PUT PROFITS OVER PEOPLE, AND ENSURES THAT THE POLICIES AND LAWS THAT WE DO PASS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST ARE, IN FACT, ENFORCED. IN RECENT YEARS, VPIRG'S CONSUMER PROTECTION PROGRAM HAS PLACED A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON WORKING FOR POLICIES THAT PROTECT CONSUMERS IN THE DIGITAL SPACE. IN 2024, VPIRG SUPPORTED COMPREHENSIVE CONSUMER DATA PRIVACY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN VERMONT CONSUMERS GREATER CONTROL OVER IF AND HOW COMPANIES USE THEIR SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION. WE ALSO SUPPORTED FAIR REPAIR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS TO PROVIDE FARMERS AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR PROVIDERSON FAIR AND REASONABLE TERMSACCESS TO THE PARTS, TOOLS AND INFORMATION NECESSARY TO FIX THEIR EQUIPMENT.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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)(4) social welfare organization.
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)(4) social welfare organization 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 December 2024.
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 1973.
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.