Building a Local Economy
BALE is a community resource center devoted to the creation and development of farm, food and local economy initiatives in the Upper White River Valley of Vermont.
Building a Local Economy at a glance
In short: Building a Local Economy gave $46K across 4 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in Vermont. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $46,387
- +11.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 4
- +300.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $11,597
- -72.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $11,994
- Total assets
- $91,694
- -51.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Vermont (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Building a Local Economy funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ottauquechee Water Protectors Association ($16K). Together the top 4 received $46K.
Grant Size Distribution
5 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 5 grants of 5 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $41K (2024) to $46K (2025). In 2025 it made 4 grants totaling $46K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ottauquechee Water Protectors Association Quechee, VT | Protect Ottauquechee River water | $15,500 |
| Moon and Stars VT S Royalton, VT | Cultivate local food system | $14,935 |
| Sharon Elementary School Sharon, VT | Farm-to-School program | $9,052 |
| White River Natural Resources Conservation District WRJ, VT | Support environmental conservation | $6,900 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $91,694 | $78,180 | $174,177 | $46,387 | 4 |
| 2024 | $188,095 | $263,876 | $168,618 | $41,487 | 1 |
| 2023 | $92,764 | $181,489 | $185,432 | — | — |
| 2022 | $96,734 | $196,948 | $172,870 | — | — |
| 2021 | $72,333 | $191,119 | $179,604 | — | — |
| 2020 | $61,554 | $169,219 | $162,812 | — | — |
| 2019 | $55,153 | $98,789 | $98,184 | — | — |
About Building a Local Economy
Based on IRS filings
Building a Local Economy is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in South Royalton, VT. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $92K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 4 grants totaling $46K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Building a Local Economy is led by Chris Wood, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 2 of 7 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Chris Wood
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
$45K (2019) → $6K (2025)
Elena Greenlee
Executive Director & Current
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
$12K (2025)
Sue Schlabach
President
Board Chair → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynne Hadley
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Earl Hatley
Vice President
Vice Chair → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anthony Bednar
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shelby Kalm
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Dee Gish (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Cecily Anderson (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Claribel Wu (2022) — Board Member
- Former: Abbe Meiling (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Mindy Blank (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Paige Heverly (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Ron Miller (2019–2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Stuart Blood (2019–2020) — Vice Chair
- Former: Zoe Newmarco (2019–2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $12K, to Elena Greenlee (Executive Director, Current). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Building a Local Economy
How much does Building a Local Economy give each year?
Building a Local Economy gave $46K across 4 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $41K across 1 grant.
What is Building a Local Economy's typical grant size?
Building a Local Economy's median grant in 2025 was $11,994, and its average grant was $11,597, across 4 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Building a Local Economy give grants?
Building a Local Economy gives mostly in Vermont: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Building a Local Economy give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Building a Local Economy's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Building a Local Economy?
Building a Local Economy reported $92K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $78K.
What is Building a Local Economy?
Building a Local Economy is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in South Royalton, VT. It holds $92K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Building a Local Economy's EIN?
Building a Local Economy's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4850835. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-EZ for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 28, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Live grants for the work Building a Local Economy funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Building a Local Economy's focus areas in our free grants database
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Building a Local Economy down — hundreds of funders to go?