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Vermont Public Co

EIN 85-2913577 · Colchester, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceStrong93 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

VERMONT PUBLIC INFORMS, EDUCATES, AND ENTERTAINS THROUGH PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM AND ENLIGHTENING CONTENT ROOTED IN VERMONT. OUR STORYTELLING ENRICHES LIVES AND FOSTERS COMMUNITY CONNECTION AND UNDERSTANDING.

Income
$25.2 million
Spending
$22.0 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
29.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
128
Volunteers
77
Highest pay
$288,521, former president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 86% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 40% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    73% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 15 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 June 30, 2025, 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. $5.9 million spent. PROGRAMMING:VERMONT PUBLIC IS VERMONT'S UNIFIED PUBLIC MEDIA ORGANIZATION, SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH TRUSTED JOURNALISM, QUALITY MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT, AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING. VERMONT PUBLIC'S STATEWIDE RADIO AND TV NETWORKS PROVIDE FREE AND UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO ITS BROADCAST PROGRAMMING THROUGHOUT VERMONT, AS WELL AS IN PARTS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, MASSACHUSETTS AND QUEBEC, CANADA. PROGRAMS AND CONTENT ARE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE AT VERMONTPUBLIC.ORG AND WITH THE VERMONT PUBLIC APP.
  2. $5.4 million spent. CONTENT:VERMONT PUBLIC PRODUCES LOCAL, AWARD-WINNING NEWS, MUSIC, ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CONTENT, AND PROVIDES LOCAL ACCESS TO ACCLAIMED NATIONAL PROGRAMMING FROM NPR AND PBS. IT IS HOME TO VERMONT'S ONLY CLASSICAL MUSIC NETWORK, AND A KEY SOURCE FOR EDUCATIONAL AND AGE-APPROPRIATE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS, PLUS RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND EDUCATORS. VERMONT PUBLIC ALSO FACILITATES CONNECTION AND RICH CONTENT EXPERIENCES THROUGH LIVE EVENTS AT THE STATION, THROUGHOUT THE REGION AND ONLINE.
  3. $4.7 million spent. ENGINEERING:VERMONT PUBLIC IS COMMITTED TO BRIDGING DIVIDES, PROVIDING SPACE TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ACROSS DIFFERENCES - IN PERSON AND ONLINE, AS WELL AS ON TV AND RADIO.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 November 2020.

    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.