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Vermont Humanities Council

EIN 51-0187809 · Montpelier, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood86 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

USING THE HUMANITIES, WE CONNECT WITH PEOPLE ACROSS VERMONT TO CREATE JUST, VIBRANT, AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES, AND TO INSPIRE A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING.

Income
$2.2 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
10.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 61%
Employees
18
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$142,859, 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: 86 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 10.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    75% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 11 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    17 of 17 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 (3)
  1. $500,163 spent. COMMUNITY GRANTS - COMPETITIVE GRANT ROUNDS ARE HELD TO SUPPORT HUMANITIES PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF VERMONT. APPLICATIONS ARE EVALUATED BY A BOARD COMMITTEE. GRANT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE SEVERAL TIMES PER YEAR.
  2. $532,233 spent. LECTURE AND DISCUSSION PROGRAMS (INCLUDING SNAPSHOT) - THESE PROGRAMS BRING HUMANITIES PRESENTATION, DISCUSSIONS, AND CONFERENCES TO INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE STATE. EVERY YEAR, SPEAKERS MAKE MORE THAN 150 APPEARANCES AT LOCAL LIBRARIES, SCHOOLS, HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, SENIOR CENTERS, AND OTHER COMMUNITY SPACES.
  3. $675,352 spent. HUMANITIESBASED LITERACY PROGRAMS - VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO PROMOTE LITERACY IN VERMONT. PROGRAMS INCLUDE "VERMONT READS" A ONE BOOK ANNUAL STATEWIDE READING, EARLY LITERACY WORKSHOPS FOR CHILDCARE PROVIDERS, AS WELL AS FAMILY LITERACY TRAININGS FOR PARENTS. HUMANITIESCAMPS ARE WEEKLONG SUMMER DAY CAMPS THAT AIM TO STRENGTHEN LITERACY SKILLS AND BUILD POSITIVE PEER GROUPS AND A LOVE OF READING. "CONNECTIONS" WORKS ON LITERACY WITH PERSONS IN AND EMERGING FROM THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1976.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.