Retreat Farm
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
RETREAT FARM SEEKS TO FOSTER A JUST, HEALTHY, AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY IN SOUTHERN VERMONT BY CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE LAND AND EACH OTHER THROUGH OUR UNIQUE PROPERTY, PROGRAMS, AND PARTNERSHIPS.
- Income
- $2.3 million
- Spending
- $3.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 88%
- Reserves
- 1.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 54%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 86
- Highest pay
- $110,726, 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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 15% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 32% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 56% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1588% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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
7 of 7Has a 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
15 of 15Its accounts were audited 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 (3)
- $1.6 million spent. COMMUNITY SERVICES - RETREAT FARM COMPRISES A VAST, FREE, AND ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC COMMON THAT SERVED 56,000 UNIQUE VISITORS IN 2024. IN ADDITION TO MAINTAINING PUBLIC TRAILS AND WATERWAYS FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION, RETREAT FARM HOSTED COMMUNITY GATHERINGS, OUTDOOR CONCERTS, PERFORMANCES, ART INSTALLATIONS, AND PRIVATE EVENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL NONPROFITS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. THE FARM CONTINUED TO PROVIDE CRITICAL COMMUNITY SERVICES AS THE HOME OF THE BRATTLEBORO BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM AND HOSTED THE RIVER GALLERY SCHOOL OF ART SUMMER CAMP.
- $602,880 spent. RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION - WITH FEDERAL AND STATE SUPPORT, WE COMPLETED THE RESTORATION OF THE HISTORIC NORTH BARN, OPENING A YEAR-ROUND SPACE FOR COMMUNITY-ADVANCING EVENTS AND GATHERINGS, BOOSTING TOURISM, AND STRENGTHENING SOCIAL TIES. WE ALSO COMPLETED THE RESTORATION OF THE WANTASTEGOK MEADOWS TRAIL, COLLABORATING WITH THE ATOWI PROJECT TO INSTALL INTERPRETIVE SIGNAGE HIGHLIGHTING THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TRAIL.
- $425,703 spent. FOOD & AGRICULTURE - WITH CONGRESSIONALLY DESIGNATED FUNDS, WE OPENED A MULTI-TENANT FOOD PRODUCTION SPACE AND RETREAT FARM MARKET, SUPPORTING OVER 100 FARMS AND VALUE-ADDED BUSINESSES IN THE REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM. WE CONTINUED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH MILLER FARM TO SUPPORT ONE OF THE LARGEST ORGANIC DAIRIES IN VERMONT WITH PASTURELAND FOR THEIR DRY COWS, MAKING PRODUCTIVE USE OF OVER 240 ACRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND. WE ALSO SUPPORTED FOOD EQUITY BY SERVING AS THE FISCAL SPONSOR OF THE COMMUNITY FOOD PROJECT.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 2016.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 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.