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Vermont Arts Exchange

EIN 03-0343015 · N Bennington, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceWeak49 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH THE ARTS BY BRINGING ART EDUCATION, EXHIBITION, AND PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, AND INCOME.

Income
$428,738
Spending
$343,790
Spent on programs
55%
Reserves
10.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 49%
Employees
16
Volunteers
75
Highest pay
$112,731, executive di

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

Financial health

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 27% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    55% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

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

Governance

Weak: 49 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    4 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 December 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. $109,312 spent. OUTREACH - BY FORMING HEALTHY PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SCHOOLS, MUNICIPALITIES, OTHER NPO'S, HEALTHCARE SITES, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, VERMONT ARTS EXCHANGE, INC (VAE) IS ABLE TO BREATHE THE ARTS INTO BRANCHES OF THE COMMUNITY THAT OTHERWISE MAY NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE EMPOWERED BY THE ARTS AND FEEL THE IMPACT IT CAN HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT. COVID STRENGTHENED OUR EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS BY TESTING THE FABRIC OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS. FUTHERMORE, IT FORCED US TO REACH OUT TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY AND MEET ITS NEEDS, MANY OF WHICH WERE DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
  2. $16,876 spent. BASEMENT MUSIC SERIES - EACH YEAR VAES BASEMENT MUSIC SERIES BRINGS IN MANY LOCAL ARTISTS AND BANDS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE TO PRESENT HIGH QUALITY MUSIC THAT IS CULTURALLY DIVERSE.
  3. $62,454 spent. CAMPS AND COMMUNITY CLASSES - VAE BELIEVES THAT INTEGRATING AND WEAVING THE ARTS INTO OUR LIVES AND NEIGHBORHOODS CREATES A STRONG, VIBRANT, AND HEALTHY COMMUNITY AND ECONOMY. TO DO THIS, VAE OFFERS SCHOOL VACATION CAMPS AND COMMUNITY CLASSES COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF ART RELATED TOPICS, ALL GEARED TOWARDS LEARNERS OF ALL AGES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 December 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 1994.

    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.