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Common Ground Center Inc

EIN 03-0343966 · Starksboro, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak25 out of 100GovernanceGood81 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

A MULTI-AGE ARTS, EDUCATION, AND OUTDOOR RECREATION AND CONFERENCE CENTER DEDICATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND STRENGTHENING DIVERSE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. THERE ARE FIVE FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS: 1) CAMP COMMON GROUND (FAMILY CAMP), 2) CAMP K, A CAMP FOR AUTISTIC KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES, 3) CAMP OUTRIGHT FOR QUEER YOUTH, 4) ADVENTURE DAY CAMP AND 5) SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS.

Income
$582,077
Spending
$699,777
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
-6.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 78%
Employees
80
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$76,506, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 25 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 115% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 9% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    6 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 (1)
  1. $564,705 spent. COMMON GROUND CENTER, INC. OFFERS PROGRAMS SUCH AS CAMP COMMON GROUND, GROUP PROGRAMMING, CAMP KALEIDOSCOPE, AND ADVENTURE DAY CAMPS, ETC. CAMP COMMON GROUND IS AN INTER-GENERATIONAL FAMILY CAMP FOUNDED IN 1994, IS THE CENTER'S MARQUEE PROGRAM, OPERATES FOUR 1-WEEK SUMMER SESSIONS, AND IS DESIGNED TO CREATE POSITIVE FAMILY OUTCOMES. GROUP PROGRAMMING IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS SUCH AS CAMP OUTRIGHT, A WEEK LONG RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGE OF 13-18 WITH TRADITIONAL SUMMER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE ARTS, HIKING, SWIMMING, DRAMA, YOGA, CAMPFIRES, TALENT SHOW, ALONG WITH WORKSHOPS AND DISCUSSION GROUPS GEARED SPECIFICALLY TOWARD MEETING THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY THE LGBTQQA YOUTH. CAMP KALEIDOSCOPE IS A UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND PROVIDES A SAFE, POSITIVE AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY INCLUDING SIBLINGS AND PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS. ADVENTURE DAY CAMPS ARE FOR LOCAL CHILDREN AGES 6-12 TO ATTEND CAMP FOR ONE WEEK DURING THEIR SCHOOL BREAKS IN FEBRUARY, APRIL, AND JULY. THESE CAMPS ARE AN AFFORDABLE WAY FOR FAMILIES IN ADDISON COUNTY TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN A SAFE, ENTERTAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL SCHOOL BREAK. COMMON GROUND CENTER, INC. OFFERS PROGRAMS SUCH AS CAMP COMMON GROUND, GROUP PROGRAMMING, CAMP KALEIDOSCOPE, AND ADVENTURE DAY CAMPS, ETC. CAMP COMMON GROUND IS AN INTER-GENERATIONAL FAMILY CAMP FOUNDED IN 1994, IS THE CENTER'S MARQUEE PROGRAM, OPERATES FOUR 1-WEEK SUMMER SESSIONS, AND IS DESIGNED TO CREATE POSITIVE FAMILY OUTCOMES. GROUP PROGRAMMING IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS SUCH AS CAMP OUTRIGHT, A WEEK LONG RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGE OF 13-18 WITH TRADITIONAL SUMMER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THE ARTS, HIKING, SWIMMING, DRAMA, YOGA, CAMPFIRES, TALENT SHOW, ALONG WITH WORKSHOPS AND DISCUSSION GROUPS GEARED SPECIFICALLY TOWARD MEETING THE NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY THE LGBTQQA YOUTH. CAMP KALEIDOSCOPE IS A UNIQUE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM AND PROVIDES A SAFE, POSITIVE AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY INCLUDING SIBLINGS AND PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS. ADVENTURE DAY CAMPS ARE FOR LOCAL CHILDREN AGES 6-12 TO ATTEND CAMP FOR ONE WEEK DURING THEIR SCHOOL BREAKS IN FEBRUARY, APRIL, AND JULY. THESE CAMPS ARE AN AFFORDABLE WAY FOR FAMILIES IN ADDISON COUNTY TO GIVE THEIR CHILDREN A SAFE, ENTERTAINING, AND EDUCATIONAL SCHOOL BREAK.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 2024.

    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 June 2019.

    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.