Vermont Parks Forever Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 36% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
SEE SCHEDULE O (MISSION)
- Income
- $568,635
- Spending
- $249,373
- Spent on programs
- 36%
- Reserves
- 31.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 76%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 13
- Highest pay
- $61,130, executive 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 31.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 56% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 148% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1536% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 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: 79 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $88,613 spent. IN 2024, VERMONT PARKS FOREVER (VPF) CONTINUED ITS FOCUS ON FUNDRAISING TO SUPPORT ENHANCEMENTS TO VERMONT STATE PARKS BY INCREASING ACCESS TO PARKS FOR VERMONTERS, PROVIDING INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND CREATING A MORE EQUITABLE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE IN THE STATE PARKS. VPF ALSO JOINED ITS PARTNERS IN A YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF VERMONT STATE PARKS IN 2024! VPF CREATED A DEDICATED WEBSITE TO COLLECT STORIES AND PROMOTE THE CENTENNIAL PROGRAMMING IN THE STATE PARKS ON SOCIAL MEDIA, ON THE WEBSITE, AND THROUGH VPFS E-NEWSLETTER. VPF ALSO MANAGED PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES TO HIGHLIGHT THE CENTENNIAL AND RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS FOR VPF AND ITS MISSION ON BEHALF OF THE PARKS. TO READ THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY STORIES SUBMITTED BY PARK ENTHUSIASTS VISIT: HTTPS://WWW.VERMONTPARKSFOREVER.ORG/100-YEARS. VPFS PARK ACCESS FUND BEGAN IN 2016 BY PROVIDING STATE PARK PASSES FOR 100 FOSTER FAMILIES. IN 2024, THE FUND PROVIDED FREE PARK ENTRY FOR 45 COMMUNITY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS WITH RECIPIENTS IN ALL 14 COUNTIES BY GRANTING OVER 14,000 FREE DAYS IN THE STATE PARKS A 1250% INCREASE SINCE THE FUND BEGAN. THE PARK ACCESS FUND GRANTS TIME IN THE PARKS TO VERMONTERS WHO OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT HAVE THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE ALL THAT VERMONTS STATE PARKS HAVE TO OFFER AND VPF COMMITS TO CONTINUALLY WORKING TOWARDS A FUTURE WHERE ALL PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME AND RENEWED THROUGH THEIR VISITS TO VERMONTS STATE PARKS. VERMONTERS SERVED INCLUDE FOSTER FAMILIES, FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN COMING TOGETHER TO EXPERIENCE GROUP CAMPING WITH THE SPRINGFIELD AREA PARENT CHILD CENTER, ADULTS RECEIVING SERVICES FROM RUTLAND COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH AFTER PROLONGED PERIODS WITHOUT HOUSING, ADULTS IN RECOVERY FROM SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER AT TURNING POINT RECOVERY CENTER OF FRANKLIN COUNTY, TEENS IN EMERGENCY SHELTER AT WINDSOR COUNTY YOUTH SERVICES, AND RIDERS TAKING PART IN ADAPTIVE MOUNTAIN BIKE CLINICS THROUGH VERMONT ADAPTIVE SKI AND SPORTS, TO NAME JUST A FEW. TO READ THE FULL 2024 PARK ACCESS IMPACT REPORT VISIT: WWW.VERMONTPARKSFOREVER.ORG/PARK-ACCESS-FUND/. VPF ALSO CONTINUED ITS RESEARCH AND PLANNING IN 2024 FOR A MAJOR EXPANSION OF THE PARK ACCESS FUND THAT WILL LAUNCH FOR THE 2025 PARK SEASON. THIS PRIVATELY FUNDED PILOT PROGRAM WILL ALLOW 100,000 VERMONTERS WITH LOWER INCOMES TO USE THEIR EBT, WIC, OR PILOT PROGRAM CARD TO HAVE FREE DAY-USE ACCESS TO THE STATE PARKS FOR THE 2025 PARK SEASON. TO LEARN ABOUT THE PARK ACCESS FUND 2025 PILOT PROGRAM VISIT: HTTPS://WWW.VERMONTPARKSFOREVER.ORG/PAF-PILOT. VPFS FIRST LARGE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT TO REIMAGINE THE GROTON NATURE CENTER AS PART OF VPFS NATURAL CONNECTIONS INITIATIVE, OPENED IN JUNE OF 2023 AND, IN 2024 VPF CONTINUED TO SUPPORT MORE PROGRAMMING AND PROMOTION OF THE EVENTS AT THE CENTER. VPF IS HELPING TO INSPIRE STEWARDSHIP AND LIFE-LONG CONNECTIONS TO THE NATURAL WORLD BY INVESTING IN INNOVATIVE, CUSTOMIZED PLACE-BASED EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE PARKS SYSTEM. LEARN MORE ABOUT NATURAL CONNECTIONS AT: HTTPS://WWW.VERMONTPARKSFOREVER.ORG/NATURAL-CONNECTIONS. VPF ALSO MANAGES THE WILLIAM CAMERON HAGEDORN MT. PHILO FOREVER FUND SUMMER INTERNSHIP EACH YEAR WHICH CREATES A PAID POSITION FOR A YOUNG PERSON TO CONNECT WITH NATURE, PRACTICE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, DEVELOP TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC. INTERNS OFTEN RETURN TO THE PARK AS PART OF THEIR SUMMER STAFF, SPEAKING TO THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS INTERNSHIP VISIT: HTTPS://WWW.VERMONTPARKSFOREVER.ORG/MT-PHILO-FOREVER-FUND. TO READ VPFS 2024 IMPACT REPORT VISIT WWW.VERMONTPARKSFOREVER.ORG/IMPACT.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since May 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.