The Vermont Community Foundation
The Vermont Community Foundation is a public charity based in Middlebury, Vermont, established in 1986. It builds philanthropic resources and connects people and funding to support healthy, vital Vermont communities.
The Vermont Community Foundation at a glance
In short: The Vermont Community Foundation gave $46.3M across 728 grants in 2024 (avg $64K), mostly in Vermont. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $46,332,428
- +27.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 728
- -13.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $63,643
- +46.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $18,000
- Total assets
- $370,629,507
- +3.5% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (189 of 728, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Vermont (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Vermont Community Foundation
- How to Apply
-
For RALI, organizations can complete the Nonprofit Connection Form to be considered; invited organizations receive an online application. The Foundation’s nonprofit resources direct applicants to its Applicant Dashboard to apply and manage reports. The Foundation says reports are required for discretionary and field-of-interest grants upon program completion or within one year of the award; some donor-advised fund grants also request reports.
- Contact
Mailing address: 3 Court Street, Middlebury, VT 05753
Phone: (802) 388-3355
Website: https://vermontcf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
25 open opportunities from The Vermont Community Foundation
Arts & Social Cohesion Grant
The Vermont Community Foundation
Amount
Up to US $12,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
David R. Coates Fund for Vermont Disaster Relief Grant
The Vermont Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Deerfield River Enhancement Fund Grant
The Vermont Community Foundation
Amount
Up to US $14,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Vermont Community Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Inc ($8.0M). Together the top 10 received $16.7M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($6,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
3,524 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 2,852 grants of 3,524 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website describes its work as focused on Vermont communities. In 2024, 89% of grant dollars went to recipients in Vermont; other reported recipient states were New York (3%), Massachusetts (2%), New Jersey (1%), and Ohio (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 728 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Vermont Community Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 189 of 728 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $26K; repeat grants $77K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $21K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $24.8M (2020) to $46.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 728 grants totaling $46.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Inc Burlington, VT | "into the lake" aquarium & exhibits capital construction fund | $7,951,562 |
| Vermont Long-Term Disaster Recovery Group Inc Montpelier, VT | To support their work with individuals affected by the flooding in Vermont in july of 2023. | $2,045,608 |
| Pathways Vermont South Burlington, VT | Pathways Vermont Peer Respite Center Pilot Project | $1,313,879 |
| Vermont Land Trust Montpelier, VT | General Operating Support | $1,168,659 |
| Cathedral Square Corporation South Burlington, VT | General Operating Support | $1,011,000 |
| Flynn Center for the Performing Arts Burlington, VT | To Fund the Camps, Classes and Workshops | $755,930 |
| Northeast Kingdom Human Services Newport, VT | Acute Stress Intervention Programming | $719,758 |
| Hope Coalition Barre, VT | To support the repair and rebuilding of homes impacted by storms/flooding in 2023 | $650,000 |
| Revitalizing Waterbury Inc Waterbury, VT | Stowe Street Alley Project | $529,950 |
| University of Vermont Cancer Center Burlington, VT | UVM Cancer Center Fund, Attn: Manon O'Connor | $512,102 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $370,629,507 | $54,048,996 | $58,789,272 | $46,332,428 | 728 | $12,458,755 |
| 2023 | $358,219,150 | $52,792,202 | $48,590,731 | $36,420,120 | 840 | $6,578,294 |
| 2022 | $316,750,116 | $40,050,864 | $39,751,190 | $27,261,847 | 656 | $7,026,228 |
| 2021 | $373,063,908 | $79,760,072 | $41,996,441 | $30,859,920 | 635 | $17,264,489 |
| 2020 | $310,876,312 | $39,275,546 | $33,537,396 | $24,752,671 | 665 | $10,928,740 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to build philanthropic resources to sustain healthy and vital Vermont communities and to connect and mobilize people through giving. Its website describes closing the opportunity gap as the cornerstone of its work. The Foundation’s stated impact areas include economic equity; education and training; health and wellbeing; climate and the environment; and democracy, trust, and community leadership. Its 2024 filing also identifies priorities that include family safety and health, lifelong educational opportunity, community resilience, equity, belonging, creativity, and democracy.
The Foundation supports nonprofit partners through grants, nonprofit funds, planned giving partnerships, and integrated capital. Examples of grantees include organizations whose missions, as they describe them, include protecting Vermont land and connecting people to it (Vermont Land Trust), strengthening community food systems (Intervale Center), providing community-based mental health and substance-use services (Northeast Kingdom Human Services), and helping Rutland County youth feel valued and supported (The Mentor Connector).
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 728 grants totaling $46,332,428. Grant amounts ranged from $5,170 to $7,951,562, with a median of $18,000. The largest listed grants included $7,951,562 to the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain for aquarium and exhibits capital construction; $2,045,608 to the Vermont Long-Term Disaster Recovery Group to support people affected by the July 2023 flooding; and $1,313,879 to Pathways Vermont for its peer respite center pilot project. Other large grants included $1,168,659 to Vermont Land Trust for general operating support and $1,011,000 to Cathedral Square Corporation for general operating support.
The Foundation’s program listings include the Regional and Local Impact (RALI) program, which is invitation-only and supports community-engaged, place-based projects addressing its impact areas. The Foundation’s website says RALI proposals are assessed for readiness, capacity, collaboration, knowledge of best practices, and evaluation. Separate program information lists awards of $15,000–$25,000 for RALI, $500–$10,000 for the Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth, and $250–$1,000 for the Paul Post Fund for Libraries. The Paul Post Fund information says applications open January 1, 2026, and are accepted on a rolling basis.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Mark Foley Jr. as chair, Kristen Carlson as vice chair, Dimitri Gardner as secretary, and Kathryn Austin as treasurer. Spencer Knapp is listed as chair until September 2024, and Allyson Laackman as treasurer until June 2024. Directors listed include Laurie Beyranevand, Cindy Char, Tim Briglin, and John Vogel.
The Vermont Community Foundation is led by Daniel Smith, CEO on every filing since 2023; 12 of 30 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Daniel Smith
CEO
On filings since 2023
46 hrs/week
$230K (2023) → $245K (2024)
Mark Foley Jr.
Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Spencer Knapp
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jacob Gardner
Director of It
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$109K (2024)
John Vogel
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Char
Director
On filings since 2021
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Laurie Beyranevand
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lindsay Deslauriers
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicole Curvin
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tammy Newmark
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Briglin
Director
On filings since 2022
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Maclean
Director
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rich Holschuh
Director
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alex Hernandez
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Catlin
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eric Miller
Director
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Felipe Rivera
Vice President for Strategy & Communications
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$136K (2020) → $154K (2024)
Martha Trombley Oakes
Senior Philanthropic Advisor
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$100K (2020) → $121K (2024)
Stacie Fagan
Vice President for Philanthropy
On filings since 2020
48 hrs/week
$124K (2020) → $136K (2024)
Anna Grady
Vice President for Operations & Administration
On filings since 2021
48 hrs/week
$8K (2021) → $156K (2024)
Emilye Pelow Corbett
Senior Philanthropic Advisor
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$102K (2021) → $113K (2024)
Holly Morehouse
Vice President for Grants & Community Investment
Vice President for Grants & Community Investments → Vice President for Grants & Community Investment, 2023
On filings since 2022
48 hrs/week
$78K (2022) → $140K (2024)
Barry Pius
Vice President for Finance
On filings since 2023
48 hrs/week
$102K (2023) → $165K (2024)
Elisabeth Marx
Senior Philanthropic Advisor
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$103K (2023) → $109K (2024)
Erik Burge
Controller
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$111K (2023) → $75K (2024)
Ruth Henry
Senior Philanthropic Advisor
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$101K (2023) → $103K (2024)
Allyson Laackman
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dimitri Gardner
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kristen Carlson
Vice Chair
Director → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kathryn Austin
Treasurer
New on the 2024 filing
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Carolyn Dwyer (2020–2023) — Chair · Filing note: Until 6/2023
- Former: Kathy Austin (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Nancy Brock (2022–2023) — Vice President for Finance · Filing note: Until 072023
- Former: Carolyn Weir (2023) — Executive Director McClure Foundation
- Former: Lori Hancock Unitl (2023) — Controller
- Former: Dan Smith (2020–2022) — CEO
- Former: Debra Dabrowski (2020–2022) — Vice President for Finance
- Former: Sarah Waring (2020–2022) — Former Vice President for Grants & Community Investments
- Former: Kate Williams (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Lori Hancock (2022) — Controller
- Former: Hal Colston (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Margaret Seely (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Michael M. Metz (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Will Stevens (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: David Morrissey (2020) — Controller
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $245K, to Daniel Smith (CEO). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Vermont Community Foundation
How much does The Vermont Community Foundation give each year?
The Vermont Community Foundation gave $46.3M across 728 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $36.4M across 840 grants.
What is The Vermont Community Foundation's typical grant size?
The Vermont Community Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $18,000, and its average grant was $63,643, across 728 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Vermont Community Foundation that year got $26K on average.
Where does The Vermont Community Foundation give grants?
The Vermont Community Foundation gives mostly in Vermont: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Burlington, VT (69 grants), Montpelier, VT (43 grants), Middlebury, VT (29 grants) and Brattleboro, VT (23 grants).
Does The Vermont Community Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 52% of The Vermont Community Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (381 of 728) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Food Supplies" (3 grants).
Who are The Vermont Community Foundation's largest grantees?
The Vermont Community Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Inc ($7,951,562), Vermont Long-Term Disaster Recovery Group Inc ($2,045,608) and Pathways Vermont ($1,313,879), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($6,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 24% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Vermont Community Foundation?
The Vermont Community Foundation reported $370.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $54.0M.
What does The Vermont Community Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to build philanthropic resources to sustain healthy and vital Vermont communities and to connect and mobilize people through giving. Its website describes closing the opportunity gap as the cornerstone of its work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Vermont Community Foundation?
For RALI, organizations can complete the Nonprofit Connection Form to be considered; invited organizations receive an online application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Vermont Community Foundation's EIN?
The Vermont Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2712160. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Vermont Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Vermont Community Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-vermont-community-foundation-morg_4a5b75f497c0461396bd649e9f11d4c5
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_222712160_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Vermont Community Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-vermont-community-foundation-morg_4a5b75f497c0461396bd649e9f11d4c5},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 The Vermont Community Foundation'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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