Institute for Sustainable Communities
The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) is a public charity based in Montpelier, Vermont. Formed in 1991, it brings partners, expertise, and funding to communities facing climate-change risks in the U.S. and abroad.
Institute for Sustainable Communities at a glance
In short: Institute for Sustainable Communities gave $1.1M across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $97K), top state California. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,066,774
- -49.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- -59.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $96,979
- +24.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $70,289
- Total assets
- $2,955,022
- -30.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 11, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (37% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Institute for Sustainable Communities
- Contact
Mailing address: 535 Stone Cutters Way, Montpelier, VT 05602
Phone: (802) 229-2900
Website: https://sustain.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Institute for Sustainable Communities funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Groundwork Ohio River Valley ($272K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
86 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 32 grants of 86 (37%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ISC describes its work as taking place in the U.S. and across the world. Its website lists the Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers project region as North America and describes service to rural communities and urban cities. The 2025 grant list shows recipients in California, Ohio, Washington, D.C., Colorado, North Carolina, Michigan, Massachusetts, Texas, and Missouri.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Institute for Sustainable Communities open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 11 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $396K (2022) to $2.3M (2023). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Groundwork Ohio River Valley Cincinnati, OH | Capacity Building | $271,746 |
| Atma Connect Oakland, CA | Capacity Building | $195,185 |
| The Trust for Public Land San Francisco, CA | Capacity Building | $187,790 |
| Emerald Cities Collaborative Washington, DC | Capacity Building | $122,409 |
| River Network Boulder, CO | Capacity Building | $111,697 |
| Urban Sustainability Directors Network Sanford, NC | Capacity Building | $70,289 |
| American Society of Adaptation Professionals Ypsilanti, MI | Capacity Building | $46,158 |
| Greenroots Chelsea, MA | Capacity Building | $20,000 |
| La Mujer Obrera El Paso, TX | Capacity Building | $20,000 |
| Community Builders Network of Metro St Louis St. Louis, MO | Capacity Building | $14,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,955,022 | $6,542,718 | $7,151,603 | $1,066,774 | 11 | $144,003 |
| 2024 | $4,241,356 | $5,041,106 | $8,027,212 | $2,099,052 | 27 | $168,950 |
| 2023 | $7,191,894 | $3,481,390 | $9,064,540 | $2,273,942 | 24 | $149,419 |
| 2022 | $13,221,875 | $13,919,870 | $8,107,738 | $396,282 | 12 | $7,571 |
| 2021 | $7,463,052 | $8,536,862 | $8,650,547 | $1,187,565 | 12 | $10,955 |
| 2020 | $7,858,075 | $7,141,540 | $8,138,472 | $1,715,940 | 20 | $47,201 |
| 2019 | $8,752,330 | $9,579,944 | $7,669,893 | $1,049,777 | 16 | $46,213 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
ISC’s mission is to develop practical, lasting solutions that build climate-resilient communities in the U.S. and across the world. Its website says this work includes co-creating safer environments, healthier lives, and cleaner cities, while improving access to affordable, reliable energy in high-need communities.
The organization’s 2024 filing describes work through the EPA’s Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers program, including community engagement, needs assessment, technical assistance, capacity building, and help identifying and accessing funds. It also describes the Partnership for Resilient Communities, which provides technical assistance and grant funding to participating community-based organizations.
The 2025 filing lists capacity building as the purpose of each of its 11 itemized grants. Grantees include organizations with varied missions. Groundwork Ohio River Valley says it supports neighborhood revitalization and community well-being; GreenRoots says it works on environmental justice and quality of life through community engagement, education, and youth leadership; and River Network says it strengthens a national network of water, justice, and river advocates. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not ISC’s.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, ISC reported 11 grants totaling $1,066,774. Grants ranged from $7,000 to $271,746, with a median of $70,289. All itemized grants list capacity building as their purpose.
The largest awards were $271,746 to Groundwork Ohio River Valley, $195,185 to Atma Connect, $187,790 to The Trust for Public Land, $122,409 to Emerald Cities Collaborative, and $111,697 to River Network. Other listed recipients included the Urban Sustainability Directors Network ($70,289), the American Society of Adaptation Professionals ($46,158), GreenRoots ($20,000), La Mujer Obrera ($20,000), Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis ($14,500), and Imani Community Church ($7,000).
ISC’s website describes technical assistance for communities seeking resources and building partnerships, including help navigating federal grants and developing proposals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Rebecca Kaduru as president; Michelle Sanguinetti as vice president of people and culture; Sonia Joshi as director of U.S. programs; Russell Paez as associate director; and Michael Wetherell as associate director of grants and operations. It also lists Franccesca Cesti-Browne as vice president of finance and operations through June 2025, Melissa Chappell as associate director through January 2025, Daniel Wald as interim COO/head of finance as of June 2025, Trina Mallik as vice president of global programs through May 2024, and Luann Bennett as chair through October 2024.
Institute for Sustainable Communities is led by Rebecca Kaduru, President on every filing since 2023; 9 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Rebecca Kaduru
President
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$78K (2024) → $283K (2025)
Luann Bennett
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Derek Walker
Chair
Board Member → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sonia Joshi
Director & Us Programs
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$117K (2023) → $159K (2025)
Michael Wetherell - Associate
Director of Grants & Operations
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$116K (2025)
George Hamilton
Board Member
President → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$198K (2019) → $0 (2025)
Russell Paez
Associate Director
Associate Director → Associate Director & Us Programs, 2024
Associate Director & Us Programs → Associate Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$108K (2023) → $130K (2025)
Trina Mallik
Vice President of Global Programs
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$147K (2023) → $108K (2025)
Franccesca Cesti-Browne - Vp Of
Finance & Operations
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$161K (2025)
Daniel Wald - Interim
COO & Head of Finance
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$92K (2025)
Melissa Chappell
Associate Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$141K (2025)
Michelle Sanguinetti
Vice President of People & Culture
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$170K (2025)
Ann Condon
Secretary
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bryan Garcia
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eugene Taylor Sutton
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
John A. Dooley
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan M. Pepin
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
J. Marshall Shepherd
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nathaniel Smith
Board Member
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shivani Ganguly
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Taryn Akiyama
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Adin Miller
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Candice Eggerss
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pradeep Nair
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (20)
- Former: Deeohn Ferris (2021–2024) — Former President
- Former: Ann Condon - Interim President (2023–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Pradnya Haldipur (2023–2024) — Vice President of Development
- Former: Melissa Chappell - Associate (2024) — Director & Institutional Giving
- Former: Nicholas Stevens - Chief (2024) — Financial & Opt Officer
- Former: David Grant (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jan Blomstrann (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jonathan Lash (2019–2023) — Chair
- Former: Nicholas Stevens (2019–2023) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Rick Barton (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Brent Habig (2019–2022) — Vice President Int'l Programs
- Former: Sarita Turner (2020–2021) — Director of Inclusive Communities
- Former: Elizabeth Knup (2019–2020) — Board Member -
- Former: Greg Nickels (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Madeleine M. Kunin (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Nisha Biswal (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Stephen Adams (2019–2020) — Director & Urban Resilience
- Former: Steve Nicholas (2019–2020) — Vice President for U.s. Programs
- Former: Sarah Jackson Director (2020) — International Program Development
- Former: Ramsey A. Luhr (2019) — Board Member-
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 $283K, to Rebecca Kaduru (President). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Institute for Sustainable Communities
How much does Institute for Sustainable Communities give each year?
Institute for Sustainable Communities gave $1.1M across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 27 grants.
What is Institute for Sustainable Communities's typical grant size?
Institute for Sustainable Communities's median grant in 2025 was $70,289, and its average grant was $96,979, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Institute for Sustainable Communities give grants?
Institute for Sustainable Communities's top state is California, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Ohio (25%) and District of Columbia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, CA (2 grants).
Does Institute for Sustainable Communities give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Institute for Sustainable Communities's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Capacity Building" (11 grants).
Who are Institute for Sustainable Communities's largest grantees?
Institute for Sustainable Communities's largest 2025 grantees include Groundwork Ohio River Valley ($271,746), Atma Connect ($195,185) and The Trust for Public Land ($187,790), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Institute for Sustainable Communities?
Institute for Sustainable Communities reported $3.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.5M.
What does Institute for Sustainable Communities fund?
ISC’s mission is to develop practical, lasting solutions that build climate-resilient communities in the U.S. and across the world. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Institute for Sustainable Communities?
Institute for Sustainable Communities has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check sustain.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Institute for Sustainable Communities's EIN?
Institute for Sustainable Communities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3098727. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 4, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Institute for Sustainable Communities funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/institute-for-sustainable-communities-morg_399101a4e8da44a093eb18f1e0a81f41
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223098727_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Institute for Sustainable Communities funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/institute-for-sustainable-communities-morg_399101a4e8da44a093eb18f1e0a81f41},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Institute for Sustainable Communities's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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