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Institute for Sustainable Communities

EIN 22-3098727 · Montpelier, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair64 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES (ISC) IS AN INTERNATIONAL, 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS PARTNERS, EXPERTISE, AND FUNDING TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE EFFECT IT HAS ON THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AND ABROAD.

Income
$6.5 million
Spending
$7.2 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 53%
Employees
38
Volunteers
15
Highest pay
$310,281, president

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

Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 6% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 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 (4)
  1. $1.1 million spent. ISC BECAME ONE OF THREE NATIONAL PARTNERS FOR THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONS AGENCY'S (EPA) ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THRIVING COMMUNITIES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTERS (EJ TCTAC) PROGRAM IN THE FALL OF 2023. EJ TCTAC WILL INCREASE KNOWLEDGE, IMPROVE OPERATIONAL CAPACITY AND ASSIST IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF AND ACCESS TO FUNDS FOR QUALITY OF LIFE ENHANCEMENTS THROUGH DIRECT ENGAGEMENT WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, NEEDS ASSESSMENT, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING, GRANTS, AND PLATFORMS FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE BUILDING A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPOSITORY, PROVISION OF GUIDANCE AND NOTIFICATION OF FUNDING SOURCES TO UNDERSERVED AND UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE, AND DELIVERING TAILORED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WORKSHOPS.
  2. $623,395 spent. THE PARTNERSHIP FOR RESILIENT COMMUNITIES (PRC), ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED IN 2019 WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE JPB FOUNDATION, IS HELPING TO TRANSFORM THE NATIONAL URBAN CLIMATE RESILIENCE FIELD. PRC IS BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF 14 BLACK AND BROWN-LED COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS (CBOS) TO DEVELOP GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE USING CLEAN AND RENEWABLE ENERGY (LIKE SOLAR) TO STRENGTHEN THEIR COMMUNITY'S CAPABILITY TO BE LESS IMPACTED BY AND RECOVER FROM EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS AND NATURAL DISASTERS EXACERBATED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. ISC IS PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE TO EACH PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION IN THIS INTENSIVE CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAM IN THE FORM OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND GRANT FUNDING. THE PROGRAM HAS CREATED A NATIONWIDE NETWORK THAT BUILDS INFLUENCE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR-LED CBOS WHILE IMPROVING THE DESIGN AND THE DISMANTLING ENERGY INSECURITY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR (DEICC) BEGAN IN 2022.
  3. $966,335 spent. ISC WAS NAMED AS THE EASTERN NATIONAL GRANTMAKER, AS PART OF A BIFURCATED AWARD FOR PASSTHROUGH GRANTMAKING ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED BY CAA 138(B). AWARD GRANT FUNDS WILL ENABLE THE GRANTMAKER TO PERFORM THE TASKS NEEDED TO ESTABLISH AND CARRY OUT THE PROPOSED PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE, OUTREACH, AND SYSTEM MOBILIZATION EFFORTS FOR ESTABLISHING THE COLLECTION, REVIEW, SELECTION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE EJ THRIVING COMMUNITIES SUBGRANTS. THROUGH THE ISC TEAM'S EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN GRANTMAKING AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR EQUITY-CENTERED APPROACHES THAT BUILD ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE OUTCOMES, THEY WILL ENSURE THAT EPA FUNDS UNDER THE THRIVING COMMUNITY GRANTMAKER PROGRAM ARE CHANNELED TO COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST IN NEED TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES.
  4. $2.5 million spent. JSI RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE: RAJKOT SCOPING STUDY; GREATER NEW ORLEANS FOUNDATION: GREEN FUTURES CHALLENGE; CHANEL FOUNDATION: RESILIENT COMMUNITIES LEADERSHIP ACCELERATOR; CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND DEVELOPMENT; ENERGY FOUNDATION: CASE STUDIES FOR SUBNATIONAL CLIMATE JUST TRANSITIONS, ADVANCING EQUITABLE BUILDING DECARBONIZATION; SUSTAINABLE SUPPLY CHAIN HUB

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 June 1991.

    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.