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Vermont Family Forests Foundation

EIN 20-3294728 · Bristol, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair65 out of 100GovernanceGood74 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES

Income
$566,826
Spending
$475,764
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-22.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 87%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$76,303, director

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

Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% 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

Good: 74 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    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. $415,343 spent. SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES THROUGH EDUCATION AND SERVICES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: ECOLOGICAL FORESTRY - 54882 PROGRAM REVENUE ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MGMT/STEWARDSHIP WHICH ARE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, AND CONSERVE FAMILY FORESTS. COLBY HILL ECOLOGICAL PROJECT - FUNDED BY GRANTS DEMONSTRATE THE USE OF PROPERLY SCALED, RESOURCE EFFICIENT, LOCALLY PRODUCED FORESTRY EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES AND SERVICES. PUBLIC EDUCATION - 18366 PROGRAM REVENUE EDUCATE LANDOWNERS, FORESTERS, LOGGERS AND GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE VALUES OF PRACTICING ECOLOGICALLY SOUND COMMUNITY BASED FORESTRY ON FAMILY FORESTS IN VERMONT. SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY PRACTICES THROUGH EDUCATION AND SERVICES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: ECOLOGICAL FORESTRY - 54882 PROGRAM REVENUE ENCOURAGE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MGMT/STEWARDSHIP WHICH ARE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE, SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, AND CONSERVE FAMILY FORESTS. COLBY HILL ECOLOGICAL PROJECT - FUNDED BY GRANTS DEMONSTRATE THE USE OF PROPERLY SCALED, RESOURCE EFFICIENT, LOCALLY PRODUCED FORESTRY EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES AND SERVICES. PUBLIC EDUCATION - 18366 PROGRAM REVENUE EDUCATE LANDOWNERS, FORESTERS, LOGGERS AND GENERAL PUBLIC ABOUT THE VALUES OF PRACTICING ECOLOGICALLY SOUND COMMUNITY BASED FORESTRY ON FAMILY FORESTS IN VERMONT.

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 September 2006.

    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.