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Vermont Huts Association Ltd

EIN 81-3630363 · Stowe, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair61 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO FOSTER A DEEPER APPRECIATION OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND STRENGTHEN VERMONT'S COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING ENRICHING AND IMMERSIVE OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES FOR ALL.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$920,181
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
-4.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 58%
Employees
8
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$82,795, executive di

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

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 34% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 33% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (recreation and sports, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (1)
  1. $669,675 spent. HUT AND HOSTEL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION: VERMONT HUTS WORKS WITH PRIVATE, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAND MANAGERS TO IDENTIFY SUITABLE SITES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE BACKCOUNTRY AND FRONTCOUNTRY LODGING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON OUTDOOR RECREATION USER GROUPS SUCH AS BIKING, HIKING, SKIING, BIRDING, HUNTING, ETC. VELOMONT TRAIL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION: VERMONT HUTS WORKS TO CONNECT ITS HUTS AND HOSTELS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE VELOMONT TRAIL, A MULTI-USE TRAIL OPTIMIZED FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING. THE TRAIL WILL CONNECT TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACROSS THE STATE OF VERMONT BY PROVIDING NEW POINTS OF ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS. HUT RESERVATIONS: VERMONT HUTS MANAGES THE BOOKING OPERATIONS AND GUEST SERVICES FOR MEMBERS MAKING RESERVATIONS AT STRUCTURES IN THE HUT NETWORK. FOREST PROGRAM: FOSTERING OUTDOOR RECREATION, EDUCATION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND TEAMWORK, THE FOREST PROGRAM AIMS TO GET MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE MORE OFTEN. VHA PARTNERS WITH OTHER NONPROFITS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES TO ACTIVELY INVITE UNDERSERVED YOUTH AND OTHER HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ONTO THE TRAILS AND INTO OUR HUTS ENTIRELY FREE OF CHARGE. WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, GEAR, AND FOOD ALONG WITH AN OUTDOOR EDUCATOR AND CURRICULUM TAILORED TO SUIT THE PARTICIPANTS. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY EXCLUDED TO OUTDOOR RECREATION IN A SAFE AND WELCOMING WAY, ENCOURAGING LIFELONG PARTICIPATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. HUT AND HOSTEL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION: VERMONT HUTS WORKS WITH PRIVATE, STATE, AND FEDERAL LAND MANAGERS TO IDENTIFY SUITABLE SITES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AFFORDABLE BACKCOUNTRY AND FRONTCOUNTRY LODGING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, PRIMARILY FOCUSING ON OUTDOOR RECREATION USER GROUPS SUCH AS BIKING, HIKING, SKIING, BIRDING, HUNTING, ETC. VELOMONT TRAIL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION: VERMONT HUTS WORKS TO CONNECT ITS HUTS AND HOSTELS THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE VELOMONT TRAIL, A MULTI-USE TRAIL OPTIMIZED FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING. THE TRAIL WILL CONNECT TOWNS AND VILLAGES ACROSS THE STATE OF VERMONT BY PROVIDING NEW POINTS OF ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS. HUT RESERVATIONS: VERMONT HUTS MANAGES THE BOOKING OPERATIONS AND GUEST SERVICES FOR MEMBERS MAKING RESERVATIONS AT STRUCTURES IN THE HUT NETWORK. FOREST PROGRAM: FOSTERING OUTDOOR RECREATION, EDUCATION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND TEAMWORK, THE FOREST PROGRAM AIMS TO GET MORE PEOPLE OUTSIDE MORE OFTEN. VHA PARTNERS WITH OTHER NONPROFITS, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES TO ACTIVELY INVITE UNDERSERVED YOUTH AND OTHER HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES ONTO THE TRAILS AND INTO OUR HUTS ENTIRELY FREE OF CHARGE. WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, GEAR, AND FOOD ALONG WITH AN OUTDOOR EDUCATOR AND CURRICULUM TAILORED TO SUIT THE PARTICIPANTS. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO INTRODUCE STUDENTS AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY EXCLUDED TO OUTDOOR RECREATION IN A SAFE AND WELCOMING WAY, ENCOURAGING LIFELONG PARTICIPATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.

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 June 2017.

    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.