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Vegetarian Resource Group

EIN 52-1279034 · Baltimore, MD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EDUCATES THE PUBLIC ABOUT VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN DIETS AND LIFESTYLES. ASSISTS HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESSES, FOODSERVICES, CONSUMERS, MEDIA STUDENTS, AND EDUCATORS.

Income
$257,913
Spending
$250,075
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
39.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
5
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$34,481, co-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

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 39.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 7% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 20% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 12 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

    5 of 7 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 (5)
  1. $113 spent. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS: VEGETARIAN BOOKS,VIDEOS, AND BROCHURES. VRG BROCHURES DISTRIBUTED INCLUDE VEGETARIAN NUTRITION FOR TEENAGERS, UNADIETA VEGETARIANA, VEGETARIANISM IN A NUTSHELL, HEART HEALTHY EATING,VEGANISM IN A NUTSHELL,I LOVE ANIMALS AND BROCCOLI SHOPPING BASKET, I LOVE ANIMALS AND BROCCOLI COLORING BOOK, SAVE OUR WATER. VRG BOOKS INCLUDE SIMPLY VEGAN, MEATLESS MEALS FOR WORKING PEOPLE, VEGAN HANDBOOK, LOWFAT JEWISH VEGETARIAN COOKBOOK, VEGAN IN VOLUME, VEGAN MEALS FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES, VEGAN SEAFOOD, NO CHOLESTEROL PASSOVER RECIPES, CONVENIENTLY VEGAN, VEGAN MEALS FOR ONE OR TWO, VEGANS KNOW HOW TO PARTY.
  2. $38,965 spent. VEGAN JOURNAL - PRODUCTION, PROMOTION & MAILING OF VEGAN JOURNAL FOUR TIMES A YEAR. 8,000 COPIES IN PRINT AND ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB. ALL NUTRITION ARTICLES ARE REVIEWED BY A REGISTERED DIETITIAN. INCLUDES NUTRITION HOTLINE DIETITIAN ANSWERING CONSUMERS' QUESTIONS, NOTES FROM THE VRG SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENT, VEGETARIAN ACTION, VEGAN COOKING TIPS, FOODSERVICE IDEAS, VEGAN RECIPES, REVIEW OF NEW VEGAN PRODUCTS AND BOOKS, VRG RESEARCH ON VEGETARIANISM, INFORMATION FOR DIETITANS, A REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS RELATED TO VEGETARIANISM.
  3. $163,342 spent. ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH TO HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, BUSINESSES, FOODSERVICES, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, STUDENTS, CONSUMERS, MEMBERS, MEDIA, RESTAURANTS, AND SCHOOLS-CLASSES (12); SCHOLARSHIPS; INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS;PRESENTATIONS TO SCHOOLS, CLUBS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS;EDUCATIONAL EVENTS;PRESENTATIONS AT CONSUMER, FOODSERVICE, AND PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES; BOOTHS AT CONFERENCES (10); ESSAY CONTEST; MEDIA (ONGOING), CONSULTING WITH HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, FOOD SERVICES, AND BUSINESSES HELPING VEGETARIANS (24); WEBSITE (OVER 100,000 UNIQUE VISITORS PER MONTH); E-MAIL NEWSLETTERS(10,000).
  4. $5,193 spent. RESEARCH - BY REGISTERED DIETITIANS, VOLUNTEERS, AND INTERNS. IN-DEPTH STUDIES USED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC (6); RESEARCH: INGREDIENTS IN FOODS, RESTAURANTS, STATISTICS AND POLLS ON VEGETARIANS, HEALTH ISSUES, FOODSERVICES QUESTIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS.
  5. RESEARCH - BY REGISTERED DIETITIANS, VOLUNTEERS, AND INTERNS. IN-DEPTH STUDIES USED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC (6); RESEARCH: INGREDIENTS IN FOODS, RESTAURANTS, STATISTICS AND POLLS ON VEGETARIANS, HEALTH ISSUES, FOODSERVICES QUESTIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS.

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 January 1983.

    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.