Lake Fairlee Assn Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Protection of the lake environment. To preserve, protect, and improve the water quality of the lake, its tributaries, and vulnerable shoreline for its many uses and users.
- Income
- $138,536
- Spending
- $103,017
- Spent on programs
- 81%
- Reserves
- 38.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 15
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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 38.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 26% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 38% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1581% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 89% of charities in its peer group (environment, under $250k).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $39,079 spent. From May to October, the LFA sponsors a Greeter program at the Lake Fairlee boat launch to assist and educate boat owners using the Lake. Educational material on aquatic invasive species are posted at the boat launch and shared with boat users as their boats enter and leave the Lake. In 2025, Lake Fairlee greeters welcomed approximately 3,000 watercraft, inspected 2,800 watercraft entering and exiting Lake Fairlee. Of this total, 800 watercraft required decontamination meaning that, on average, the potential introduction of invasive species to Lake Fairlee was averted approximately 37 times per week. On these occasions, the greeter advised the watercraft owner, reviewed the species that was identified and removed, and recorded the finding on the daily log.
- $44,407 spent. Since 2008, the LFA has worked with lake management contractors on a comprehensive Eurasian watermilfoil management program for Lake Fairlee. In May 2025, LFA hired SOLitude Lake Management to conduct an early season qualitative survey of the entire littoral zone of Lake Fairlee. This survey was intended to identify target areas for a planned herbicide application and Diver Assisted Suction Harvesting later in the 2025 season. In June, LFA contracted with SOLitude Lake Management to apply herbicide to the identified dense beds of Eurasian watermilfoil. Later in the summer non-chemical diver assisted suction harvesting took place. In September, Arrowwood Environmental performed an Aquatic Vegetative Species Survey on Lake Fairlee. A highlight of the report is the significant reduction in Eurasian watermilfoil due to the targeted herbicide treatment and diver assisted suction harvesting conducted on the Lake. In 2025, the LFA continued to focus on awareness and avoidance of existing milfoil beds by lake users. Milfoil buoys deployed in 2024 were found to be too small to be readily seen by lake users. A new, larger, "Milfoil Hazard" buoy was designed, built, and deployed to highlight the presence of dense beds of Eurasian watermilfoil. These new buoys were intended to advise lake users to avoid these areas to reduce the risk of milfoil plant breakage and re-implantation in nearby areas. The LFA also deployed signage and educational materials to greeters at the Lake Fairlee boat launch, who explained the purpose of the buoys and how to report additional observations of milfoil. The LFA has participated in the LaRosa Partnership tributary monitoring program since 2019. Results from tributary sampling have helped identify areas of potential concern for increased nutrient loading into Lake Fairlee. The LFA has partnered with the Lake Champlain Committee to conduct weekly Cyanobacteria monitoring through warm weather months. Cyanobacteria continues to be a concern given rising lake temperatures, increased phosphorus loading and increased news coverage of Cyanobacteria blooms on other Vermont lakes.
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
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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2005.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.