Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Lake Champlain Committee Inc

EIN 22-2482466 · Burlington, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceGood87 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

LCC IS DEDICATED TO PROTECTING LAKE CHAMPLAIN'S ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES FOR THIS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS THROUGH SCIENCE- BASED ADVOCACY, EDUCATION, AND COLLABORATIVE ACTION.

Income
$540,938
Spending
$479,214
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
4
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$112,849, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 87 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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

    12 of 15

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

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 (5)
  1. $235,264 spent. WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM CENTER - WATER SUSTAINS LIFE. THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN COMMITTEE, INC. (LCC) INFLUENCES POLICY, REGULATIONS, RESEARCH AND FUNDING TO PROTECT AND IMPROVE LAKE CHAMPLAIN'S WATER QUALITY AND OVERALL HEALTH. WE TAKE A WATERSHED APPROACH AND FOCUS ON REDUCING NUTRIENT LOADING AND TOXIC POLLUTION, SAFEGUARDING HABITATS AND FOSTERING COMMUNITY ACTIVISM. A DEFINING STRENGTH OF LCC'S WORK IS ITS EMPHASIS ON SCIENCE-BASED ADVOCACY, EDUCATION AND COLLABORATIVE ACTION. LCC PLAYS A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE TECHNICAL AND POLICY BODIES THAT DIRECT HOW STATE, PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL AGENCIES INVEST IN, MONITOR AND IMPROVE LAKE HEALTH.
  2. $74,479 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH - LCC BELIEVES AN EDUCATED COMMUNITY IS KEY TO PROTECTING LAKE CHAMPLAIN'S HEALTH FOR THIS AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. WE WORK TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF LAKE ISSUES AND ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND POLICYMAKERS IN PROTECTING AND RESTORING WATER QUALITY AND LOW IMPACT ACCESS. WE OVERSEE THE AWARD-WINNING CYANOBACTERIA MONITORING PROGRAM AND ANNUALLY TRAIN HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ASSESS AND REPORT ON CONDITIONS AT MORE THAN 150 LAKE CHAMPLAIN AND INLAND LAKE LOCATIONS. LCC PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE A REGULAR E-NEWSLETTER ON TOPICAL ISSUES, AN AWARD- WINNING NATURAL HISTORY BOOK, AND REGULAR SCIENCE AND ISSUE COLUMNS. WE PROVIDE AND HOST EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED AND RUN ONGOING PROGRAMS AND CAMPAIGNS TO FOSTER STEWARDSHIP.
  3. $46,112 spent. ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY - THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN COMMITTEE (LCC)WORKS TO SAFEGUARD CRITICAL HABITATS, COMBAT INVASIVE SPECIES, AND BUILD RESILIENT COMMUNITIES THAT CAN ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE. THESE EFFORTS ARE CORE TO OUR MISSION OF PROTECTING LAKE CHAMPLAIN'S ECOLOGICAL HEALTH. OUR AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) MONITORING PROGRAM TRAINS AND SUPPORTS COMMUNITY SCIENCE VOLUNTEERS TO IDENTIFY AND PREVENT THE SPREAD OF HARMFUL SPECIES, OFFERING A HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITY TO PROTECT THE LAKE. LCC ALSO DEVELOPS PRACTICAL RESOURCES - SUCH AS LESSONS FROM THE FLOODS - TO HELP WATERSHED COMMUNITIES PREPARE FOR AND RESPOND TO THE GROWING IMPACTS OF EXTREME WEATHER.
  4. $12,154 spent. RECREATION & ACCESS - LCC PROMOTES WATER STEWARDSHIP AND FOSTERS RECREATIONAL ACCESS BECAUSE A HEALTHY LAKE DEPENDS ON ALL OF US. WE SERVE AS THE HOME ORGANIZATION OF THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN PADDLERS' TRAIL, A RECREATIONAL CORRIDOR FOR HUMAN-POWERED CRAFT, WITH MORE THAN 40 SHORELINE AND ISLAND LOCATIONS. LCC WORKS WITH STATE, MUNICIPAL AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN TRAIL SITES. WE ALSO OVERSEE AN ACTIVE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM FOR REMOTE TRAIL LOCATIONS AND PUBLISH AN ANNUAL ONLINE TRAIL AND STEWARDSHIP GUIDEBOOK TO HELP PEOPLE SAFELY EXPLORE THE LAKE.
  5. RECREATION & ACCESS - LCC PROMOTES WATER STEWARDSHIP AND FOSTERS RECREATIONAL ACCESS BECAUSE A HEALTHY LAKE DEPENDS ON ALL OF US. WE SERVE AS THE HOME ORGANIZATION OF THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN PADDLERS' TRAIL, A RECREATIONAL CORRIDOR FOR HUMAN-POWERED CRAFT, WITH MORE THAN 40 SHORELINE AND ISLAND LOCATIONS. LCC WORKS WITH STATE, MUNICIPAL AND PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN TRAIL SITES. WE ALSO OVERSEE AN ACTIVE STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM FOR REMOTE TRAIL LOCATIONS AND PUBLISH AN ANNUAL ONLINE TRAIL AND STEWARDSHIP GUIDEBOOK TO HELP PEOPLE SAFELY EXPLORE THE LAKE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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 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 September 2025.

    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 January 1984.

    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.