Liberation Ecosystem Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CULTIVATE CONNECTION, SHARE RESOURCES, AND AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN VERMONT WITHIN THE FOCUS AREAS OF LAND, ENVIRON- MENT, AGRICULTURE, AND FOODWAYS. LIBERATION ECOSYSTEM, INC. IS A COL- LABORATIVE ECOSYSTEM FOR GROWING POWER AND COMMUNITY FOR ITS MEMBERS.
- Income
- $398,641
- Spending
- $308,107
- Spent on programs
- 68%
- Reserves
- 66.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 63%
- Employees
- 3
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $72,232, director of operations
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 55% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 66.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 23% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 78% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1568% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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)
- $86,183 spent. ECOSYSTEM/COMMUNITY BUILDING - LEI PARTICIPATES IN A NUMBER OF EXTERNAL NETWORKS AT THE REGION AND STATE LEVEL AIMED AT CREATING CONNECTION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN ORGANIZATIONS AND AGENCIES DOING SIMILAR WORK. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO HOSTS EDUCATIONAL AND SKILL BUILDING EVENTS THAT CONVENE LEI MEMBERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND NON-BIPOC SUPPORTERS OF LEI'S ISSUE AREAS.
- $71,996 spent. MEMBER SUPPORTIVE - LEI OFFERS WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND EVENTS FOR MEMBERS, GENERALLY FOCUSING ON TOPICS RELATED TO BIPOC AND LEI'S FOUR FOCUS AREAS OF LAND, ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE, AND FOOD. LEI ALSO MAINTAINS A DIGITAL FORUM TO DEVELOP AND SHARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING: JOBS, INTERNSHIPS, GRANTS, LAND ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, TRAINING, WORKSHOPS, EVENTS, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
- $50,788 spent. CULTIVATING LEADERSHIP - LEI PROGRAMS ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBER VOICES ARE AT THE CENTER OF TEACHING AND SHARING RESOURCES IN LEI'S MEMBER SUPPORTIVE WORKSHOPS, CLASSES, AND EVENTS - MAKING THE ORGANIZATION A HUB FOR BIPOC LEADERSHIP IN LAND, ENVIRONMENT, AGRICULTURE, AND FOOD. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO SERVES AS A LEADERSHIP INCUBATOR FOR BIPOC VERMONTERS WHO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, HELPING THEM ACQUIRE AND REFINE SKILLS THAT PREPARE THEM TO SERVE IN OTHER LEADERSHIP ROLES ACROSS THE STATE. FINALLY, LEI STAFF ARE SOUGHT AFTER BY STATE AGENCIES, REGIONAL FOUNDATIONS, AND OTHER NONPROFITS TO SERVE AS CONTENT EXPERTS AND THOUGHT PARTNERS REGARDING THE NEEDS OF BIPOC IN THE REGION AND NETWORK, AND OTHER TOPICS RELATED TO LEI'S MISSION AND EXPERTISE.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since April 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.