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Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies Inc

EIN 30-0275435 · Burlington, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VCET'S PURPOSE IS TO ACCELERATE INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACROSS VERMONT. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PROVIDING EXPERT MENTORING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, THE OPERATION OF COWORKING/INCUBATION FACILITIES AND THE OPERATION OF EARLY STAGE SEED CAPITAL VENTURE FUNDS.

Income
$1.6 million
Spending
$510,526
Spent on programs
80%
Reserves
Over 10 years of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 91%
Employees
6
Highest pay
$336,229, president

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover more than ten years of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 57% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 67% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    80% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 67% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $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 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. $408,417 spent. VCET HAS WORKED WITH OVER 3,900 START-UPS, ENTREPRENEURS AND STUDENTS AND OPERATES A COWORKING FACILITY SERVING OVER 250 MEMBERS ANNUALLY. VCET CURATES AN EXPERT MENTOR NETWORK, PROVIDES FREE EXPERT ADVICE TO 377 CLIENTS A YEAR AND MAKES DIRECT INVESTMENTS ACROSS TWO VENTURE FUNDS WITH A COMBINED 15M OF REVOLVING SEED CAPITAL. VCET WORKS DIRECTLY WITH AND SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS TO FORM, INCUBATE AND ACCELERATE IDEAS AND INNOVATIONS INTO COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES. IN 2013, VCET WAS NAMED 11 GLOBALLY AND 5 IN THE US BY THE UBI INDEX. IN 2018, VCET RECEIVED A RURAL IMPACT AWARD BY THE INBIA GLOBAL TRADE ASSOCIATION. IN 2024, VCET WAS AWARDED AS AN INC POWER PARTNER. VISIT AT WWW.VCET.CO SERVICES INCLUDE: -PROVIDING NO COST COACHING AND MENTORING FROM BOTH ON-SITE AND AFFILIATED EXPERTS TO CLIENTS. -ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS TO ANGEL INVESTORS, FOUNDATIONS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND VENTURE CAPITAL RESOURCES FOR CAPITAL FORMATION AND SYNDICATES. -ASSISTING WITH GRANTS AND LOANS FROM LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL SOURCES, INCLUDING PROVIDING FEDERAL SBIR APPLICATION AID AND SUPPORT. -OFFERING A NETWORK OF MANAGERIAL, FINANCING AND PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES -NO COST BUSINESS ADVISORY, CONSULTING AND COACHING TO HELP COMPANIES BUILD TEAMS, FIND EARLY CUSTOMERS, ACCESS PROTOTYPING FACILITIES AND IDENTIFY ACCESS TO KEY BUSINESS AND FOUNDER SUPPORT RESOURCES -OPERATION OF A COWORKING / ACCELERATOR AND INCUBATION FACILITY SERVING OVER 250 MEMBERS AND THE BROADER VERMONT INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM. -ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENCOURAGEMENT -ENTREPRENEURIAL START-UP ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 320 START-UPS, STUDENTS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN CALENDAR 2024. -SEED CAPITAL FUND MANAGEMENT, OPERATION, COMPLIANCE AND PERFORMANCE THAT SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS IN CAPITAL FORMATION, OPERATIONAL EXECUTION AND JOB EXPANSION. THE CURRENT VERMONT SEED CAPITAL FUND, LP (FUND 1) HAS NOW BACKED 36 COMPANIES, AND THE NEW VERMONT GROWTH FUND 2, LLC (FUND 2) LAUNCHED AND HAS NOW BACKED 4 COMPANIES THUS FAR. -THE VCET PLATFORM PRODUCES AND CURATES WIDELY ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT RESOURCES SUCH AS: FIRST CHAIR NEWSLETTER, START HERE PODCAST SERIES, THE FEMALE FOUNDER SERIES, STARTUP PERKS PROGRAM, MENTORING AND MEETUPS ACROSS VERMONT. -PERFORM AND SUPPORT SPECIAL COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS TECHJAM, UVM SPARK, UVM ARC, MIDDLEBURY INNOVATION HUB, INNOVATION WEEK, DELTACLIMEVT CLIMATE ACCELERATOR, THE MEYERS CUP AND DOZENS OF RECURRING MEETUPS, TRAININGS AND PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT EVENTS. -AS OF JUNE 2024, VCET PORTFOLIO IMPACT SURVEY HAD 21 COMPANIES REPORT GENERATING FOR THE PRIOR 12 MONTHS: 153 MILLION IN REVENUE, 75 MILLION IN PAYROLL ACROSS 693 JOBS, AND 77 MILLION IN CAPITAL RAISED. VCET HAS WORKED WITH OVER 3,900 START-UPS, ENTREPRENEURS AND STUDENTS AND OPERATES A COWORKING FACILITY SERVING OVER 250 MEMBERS ANNUALLY. VCET CURATES AN EXPERT MENTOR NETWORK, PROVIDES FREE EXPERT ADVICE TO 377 CLIENTS A YEAR AND MAKES DIRECT INVESTMENTS ACROSS TWO VENTURE FUNDS WITH A COMBINED 15M OF REVOLVING SEED CAPITAL. VCET WORKS DIRECTLY WITH AND SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS TO FORM, INCUBATE AND ACCELERATE IDEAS AND INNOVATIONS INTO COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES. IN 2013, VCET WAS NAMED 11 GLOBALLY AND 5 IN THE US BY THE UBI INDEX. IN 2018, VCET RECEIVED A RURAL IMPACT AWARD BY THE INBIA GLOBAL TRADE ASSOCIATION. IN 2024, VCET WAS AWARDED AS AN INC POWER PARTNER. VISIT AT WWW.VCET.CO SERVICES INCLUDE: -PROVIDING NO COST COACHING AND MENTORING FROM BOTH ON-SITE AND AFFILIATED EXPERTS TO CLIENTS. -ESTABLISHING CONNECTIONS TO ANGEL INVESTORS, FOUNDATIONS, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS AND VENTURE CAPITAL RESOURCES FOR CAPITAL FORMATION AND SYNDICATES. -ASSISTING WITH GRANTS AND LOANS FROM LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL SOURCES, INCLUDING PROVIDING FEDERAL SBIR APPLICATION AID AND SUPPORT. -OFFERING A NETWORK OF MANAGERIAL, FINANCING AND PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES -NO COST BUSINESS ADVISORY, CONSULTING AND COACHING TO HELP COMPANIES BUILD TEAMS, FIND EARLY CUSTOMERS, ACCESS PROTOTYPING FACILITIES AND IDENTIFY ACCESS TO KEY BUSINESS AND FOUNDER SUPPORT RESOURCES -OPERATION OF A COWORKING / ACCELERATOR AND INCUBATION FACILITY SERVING OVER 250 MEMBERS AND THE BROADER VERMONT INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM. -ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENCOURAGEMENT -ENTREPRENEURIAL START-UP ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 320 START-UPS, STUDENTS AND ENTREPRENEURS IN CALENDAR 2024. -SEED CAPITAL FUND MANAGEMENT, OPERATION, COMPLIANCE AND PERFORMANCE THAT SUPPORTS ENTREPRENEURS IN CAPITAL FORMATION, OPERATIONAL EXECUTION AND JOB EXPANSION. THE CURRENT VERMONT SEED CAPITAL FUND, LP (FUND 1) HAS NOW BACKED 36 COMPANIES, AND THE NEW VERMONT GROWTH FUND 2, LLC (FUND 2) LAUNCHED AND HAS NOW BACKED 4 COMPANIES THUS FAR. -THE VCET PLATFORM PRODUCES AND CURATES WIDELY ACCESSIBLE PROGRAMS AND SUPPORT RESOURCES SUCH AS: FIRST CHAIR NEWSLETTER, START HERE PODCAST SERIES, THE FEMALE FOUNDER SERIES, STARTUP PERKS PROGRAM, MENTORING AND MEETUPS ACROSS VERMONT. -PERFORM AND SUPPORT SPECIAL COMMUNITY EVENTS SUCH AS TECHJAM, UVM SPARK, UVM ARC, MIDDLEBURY INNOVATION HUB, INNOVATION WEEK, DELTACLIMEVT CLIMATE ACCELERATOR, THE MEYERS CUP AND DOZENS OF RECURRING MEETUPS, TRAININGS AND PROFESSIONAL ENRICHMENT EVENTS. -AS OF JUNE 2024, VCET PORTFOLIO IMPACT SURVEY HAD 21 COMPANIES REPORT GENERATING FOR THE PRIOR 12 MONTHS: 153 MILLION IN REVENUE, 75 MILLION IN PAYROLL ACROSS 693 JOBS, AND 77 MILLION IN CAPITAL RAISED.

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 November 6, 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 July 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 November 4, 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.