Vermont Council on the Arts Inc. (also known as Vermont Arts Council) is a government administration agency and public charity based in Montpelier, Vermont. Since its founding in 1965, the organization has served as the state's primary provider of funding, advocacy, and information for the arts. The Council offers grants, workshops, professional development opportunities, and arts information services to strengthen Vermont's creative sector.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.9M
-48.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.6M
-65.1% YoY
Grant Count
110
-19.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$24K
-56.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To advance and preserve the arts at the center of Vermont communities while serving as the state's foremost arts advocate.
The Council's primary focus areas include:
- Community Arts Programs: Grants and services that strengthen Vermont communities through arts and cultural activities, increasing public awareness of the positive role played by artists and arts organizations
- Public Art Programs: Projects integrating art into community infrastructure
- Cultural Facilities: Supporting cultural organizations with upgrades to existing buildings and improvements to make public arts facilities safe, accessible, and welcoming
- Creative Economy Development: Through the Vermont Creative Network (VCN), a coalition formed in 2016 that convenes stakeholder meetings to advance Vermont's creative economy
- Arts Education: Including artists in schools programs and early childhood arts partnerships
- Creative Sector Support: Including pandemic-related creative futures grant programs
Grantmaking
In September 2024, the Vermont Arts Council announced more than $500,000 in grant awards to 86 Vermont organizations, including arts nonprofits, arts schools, museums, makerspaces, libraries, and community art centers. In a recent grant cycle, the Council awarded grants to 131 individuals and 235 organizations across every county in Vermont. Public art programs included 11 animating infrastructure grants, and cultural facilities grants enabled 19 cultural organizations to make critical upgrades.
Review Cycle
, the Council awarded grants to 131 individuals and 235 organizations across every county in Vermont. Public art programs included 11 animating infrastructure grants, and cultural facilities grants enabled 19 cultural organizations to make critical upgrades.
Grant Types
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Vermont statewide, with grants awarded to organizations and individuals in every county.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $1,906,979
- Total Revenues: $4,928,268
- Total Expenses: $4,768,319
- Annual Revenue: $9,769,759
Staffing:
- 14 employees (as of 2024)
- Workforce growth of 4.5% year-over-year
Recent Funding Received:
- Grant of $10,000 in January 2025 (led by Windham Foundation)
- Grant of $10,000 in July 2023 (led by Vermont Community Foundation)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,906,979 | $3,667,819 | $1,668,560 |
| Revenue | $4,928,268 | $9,723,478 | $4,418,731 |
| Expenses | $4,768,319 | $9,531,281 | $4,365,379 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $38,452 | $62,805 | $10,939 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
235 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Vermont Council on the Arts Inc
Early Childhood Arts Partnership Grants (Formerly Head Start Arts Integration)
VERMONT COUNCIL ON THE ARTS INC
Amount
Up to US $6,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
VAC: Creative Aging Grants
VERMONT COUNCIL ON THE ARTS INC
Amount
Up to US $6,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Vermont Arts Council: Artists in Schools Grant
VERMONT COUNCIL ON THE ARTS INC
Amount
Up to US $4,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Susan Evans McClure: Executive Director
- Karen Mittelman: Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARK FOLEY | BOARD CHAIR (START 02/24) | 1 | — |
| REBECCA MCMEEKIN | BOARD CHAIR (END 02/24) | 1 | — |
| GREGORY SARGENT | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| SABRINA BROWN | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN PITE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SEAN CLUTE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WILL KASSO CONDRY | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| SHARON FANTL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BRIAN MURPHY | TRUSTEE (START FY24) | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN STINEHOUR | TRUSTEE (START FY24) | 1 | — |
| ROBIN PERLAH | TRUSTEE (START FY24) | 1 | — |
| GREG PAUS | TRUSTEE (END FY24) | 1 | — |
| TONY PIETRICOLA | TRUSTEE (END FY24) | 1 | — |
| GREG CUTLER | TRUSTEE (END FY24) | 1 | — |
| HOLLY GROSCHNER | TRUSTEE (END FY24) | 1 | — |
| SUSAN EVANS MCCLURE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $70,841 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In September 2024, the Vermont Arts Council announced grants totaling more than $500,000 to 86 Vermont organizations through its Arts Operating and Arts Project grant programs. The awards supported organizations ranging from arts nonprofits to arts schools, museums, makerspaces, libraries, and community art centers. Notable recipients included the Sustainability Academy in Burlington, which received an Arts Project grant to support research, artwork, installation, and a public event showcasing connections between the Vermont dairy industry and students and families.
Vermont Arts Council Announces Grants to 86 OrganizationsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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