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Vermont Institute of Natural Science Inc

EIN 03-0231665 · Quechee, 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 MISSION OF VINS IS TO MOTIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES TO CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND AVIAN WILDLIFE REHABILITATION.

Income
$3.0 million
Spending
$3.2 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 55%
Employees
67
Volunteers
105
Highest pay
$101,647, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 35% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 43 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 16 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 March 31, 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. $1.2 million spent. THE VINS NATURE CENTER, WHICH IS 47 ACRES OF RIVERSIDE FOREST AND MEADOW JUST UPSTREAM OF THE QUECHEE GORGE, DREW A RECORD 84,115 VISITORS DURING FY25. SINCE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CANOPY WALK IN 2019, THE NUMBER OF VISITORS HAS ROUGHLY DOUBLED. ATTENDANCE AT ON-SITE EDUCATION EVENTS HAS SIMILARLY INCREASED. OTHER RECENT IMPROVEMENTS TO THE NATURE CENTER INCLUDE A SONGBIRD AVIARY AND ADVENTURE PLAYGROUND TO GO ALONG WITH THE RAPTOR ENCLOSURES AND OTHER EXHIBITS, THE NATURE STORE, AND THE NETWORK OF NATURE TRAILS COVERING THE PROPERTY. UPDATES TO THE OUTDOOR PAVILION, OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, AND INDOOR CLASSROOM HAVE ALSO MADE THE NATURE CENTER A MORE ATTRACTIVE DESTINATION FOR PRIVATE EVENTS SUCH AS BIRD ENCOUNTERS AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES.
  2. $803,975 spent. EDUCATION: IN FY25, OUR EDUCATORS REACHED 96,204 PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING THOSE IMPACTED BY VINS SCHOOL PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY OUTREACH, NATURE CAMP, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND VISITS TO THE NATURE CENTER. MANY OF THESE INVOLVED REPEAT INTERACTIONS RELATED TO SCHOOL CURRICULA OR CAMP, IMPROVING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A LONG-TERM EDUCATIONAL IMPACT. IN ADDITION, RESEARCH PROJECTS INVOLVING AMERICAN KESTRELS, BROADWING HAWKS, NATIVE CRAYFISH, MONARCH BUTTERFLIES, AND OTHER SPECIES IMPACTED LANDOWNERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
  3. $393,486 spent. WILD BIRD REHABILITATION: MANY PEOPLE IN NEW ENGLAND KNOW VINS FOR ITS EXPERTISE IN REHABILITATING ORPHANED AND INJURED WILD BIRDS. OUR REHABILITATORS TREATED OVER A THOUSAND BIRDS IN FY25, AND THE FACILITY CAN ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 150 BIRDS AT ANY ONE TIME. THE RECENT GROWTH IN PATIENT INTAKES, WHICH HAS DOUBLED IN SIX YEARS, ROUGHLY TRACKS WITH THE INCREASE IN HUMAN VISITORS TO VINS. OUR RELEASE RATE OF 4O% IS RELATIVELY HIGH FOR REHABILITATION CENTERS IN THE UNITED STATES. BESIDES HEALING AND RELEASING BIRDS, OUR REHABILITATION STAFF ALSO COUNSELS THE PUBLIC BY PHONE AND HELP TO CARE FOR THE FULL-TIME RESIDENT RAPTORS, SONGBIRDS, AND REPTILES THAT WE HOLD ON EXHIBIT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 31, 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 March 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 August 1973.

    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.