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Vermont Public Interest Research and Education Fund Inc

EIN 51-0163801 · Montpelier, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

IN 1975, THE VERMONT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FUND (VPIREF) WAS ESTABLISHED AS VPIRG'S 501(C)3 OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ARM. VPIREF CONDUCTS INDEPENDENT RESEARCH ON THE TOP CHALLENGES FACING OUR STATE, CRAFTS COMMONSENSE SOLUTIONS, AND MOBILIZES THE PUBLIC THROUGH INNOVATIVE EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH CAMPAIGNS THAT AMPLIFY THE VOICE OF EVERYDAY VERMONTERS OVER WELL-MONEYED SPECIAL INTERESTS THAT TOO OFTEN CORRUPT OUR DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES. VPIREF'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE HEALTH OF VERMONT'S PEOPLE, ENVIRONMENT, AND LOCALLY-BASED ECONOMY BY INFORMING AND MOBILIZING INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

Income
$1.5 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
-4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$130,537, 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 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 107% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 30% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 15% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 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: 77 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (5)
  1. $373,952 spent. CLIMATE AND ENERGY:VERMONTERS KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL HAVOC THAT FOSSIL FUELS ARE WREAKING. VPIREF AGREES WITH THE MAJORITY OF VERMONTERS WHO WANT TO CUT OUR DEPENDENCE ON FOSSIL FUELS AND TAKE CONTROL OF OUR ENERGY FUTURE USING CLEAN, RENEWABLE POWER. VPIREF CONDUCTS INDEPENDENT RESEARCH, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND GRASSROOTS OUTREACH AIMED AT REDUCING OUR CONTINUED RELIANCE ON FOSSIL FUELS AND OTHER DIRTY ENERGY, AND INSTEAD DRAMATICALLY INCREASE THE USE OF CLEAN, LOCAL, RENEWABLE ENERGY THAT CAN POWER VERMONT'S FUTURE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OIN 2024, VPIREF CONTINUED OUR MAKE BIG OIL PAY CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS OF MAJOR FOSSIL COMPANIES' CONTRIBUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE, THE LOCAL COSTS OF THAT CHANGE, AND THE FACT THAT THOSE COMPANIES HAVE AVOIDED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY SO FAR. VPIREF ALSO WORKED TO EDUCATE VERMONTERS ON THE NEED TO TRANSITION MORE QUICKLY TO 100% RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY, AND TO GET MORE RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION BUILT IN VERMONT.
  2. $45,532 spent. DEMOCRACYVPIREF ACTIVELY SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO MAKE OUR DEMOCRACY MORE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT. WE SEEK TO ENSURE THAT ELECTIONS ARE FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE AND ARE COMMITTED TO REDUCING THE UNDUE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS.
  3. $492,148 spent. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH:VPIREF WORKS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR ENVIRONMENT FROM THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF EXPOSURE TO TOXIC CHEMICALS IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES.
  4. $624 spent. CONSUMER PROTECTION AND MISCELLANEOUSVPIREF SERVES AS A WATCHDOG, PROTECTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST WHEN CORPORATIONS ATTEMPT TO PUT PROFITS OVER PEOPLE, AND ENSURING THAT THE POLICIES AND LAWS AIMED AT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST ARE, IN FACT, ENFORCED.WE ALSO WORK TO EDUCATE CONSUMERS ON THE THREATS THEY FACE AND PROVIDE RELEVANT INFORMATION ON WAYS CONSUMERS CAN BETTER PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM SCAMS, ATTACKS AND CORPORATE OVERREACH.
  5. $26,911 spent. ZERO WASTE:VPIREF WORKS TO ADVANCE POLICIES AND SOLUTIONS THAT HOLD MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY PUT INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND MOVE US CLOSER TO ZERO WASTE IN VERMONT. IN 2024, WE RESEARCHED AND DRAFTED A REPORT, RELEASED IN NOVEMBER, THAT IDENTIFIED VARIOUS PLASTIC PRODUCTS TO BE AVOIDED DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND BEYOND.

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 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 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 October 1975.

    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.