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Passes our checks

Vermont Caribbean Institiute Inc

EIN 20-2474069 · Burlington, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceWeak35 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

CATALYZE KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE, BUILD CAPACITY,AND SUPPORT TRANSITIONS TO RESILIENT AGROECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS THAT PROVIDE FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS ROOTED IN JUSTICE AND EQUALITY IN THE CARIBBEAN

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$1.2 million
Spent on programs
98%
Reserves
10.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 93%
Employees
1
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$128,107, executive dir.

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

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 72% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 79% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    98% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 35 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (civil rights, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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

    0 of 5

    Reports that it does not keep minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    0 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, 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. $1.2 million spent. OUR PROJECTS FOCUS ON BUILDING CLIMATE AND SOCIOECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE THROUGH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AGROECOLOGY AND FOOD SOVEREIGNTY IN THE CARIBBEAN AND THE REGION. WE DO THIS BY RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT AGROECOLOGY ADVANCES AND CHALLENGES IN THE REGION, FACILITATING PARTNERSHIPS, BUILDING CAPACITY AMONGST STAKEHOLDERS THROUGH RESEARCH, EXCHANGES, COURSES, CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS, AMPLIFYING VOICES INTERNATIONALLY, AND CHANNELING RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR PARTNERS IN THE REGION. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O:IN 2024 THIS INCLUDED: 1) ORGANIZING AN INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON LOCAL AGROECOLOGY POLICIES WITH REPRESENTATION FROM 18 COUNTRIES, 2) COORDINATE A PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH PROJECT LOOKING AT GOVERNANCE FOR THE TERRITORIALIZATION OF AGROECOLOGY, 3) ORGANIZED SEVERAL AGROECOLOGY TRAININGS 4) ORGANIZING MATERIAL DONATIONS TO FARMING FAMILIES, 5) SUPPORTED ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVAL TITLED ISLA VERDE, INCLUDING A SCHOOL GARDENS NETWORK, 6) CONDUCTING A CARIBBEAN REGIONAL INTEGRATION MAPPING PROJECT AND 7) PROVIDED SUBGRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGING ON SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES AS FISCAL SPONSOR OF THE FOCUS PARTNERSHIPS INITIATIVE.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. 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.

  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 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.