Vermont Land Trust Inc
Rooted in Vermont since 1977, the Vermont Land Trust unites land and lives for the enduring benefit of people and the place we share. We help people protect, care for, and connect to land. This includes the farms, forests, natural areas, and community spaces that define us.
Vermont Land Trust Inc at a glance
In short: Vermont Land Trust Inc gave $139K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $46K), mostly in Vermont. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $139,095
- +435.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $46,365
- +435.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $64,850,972
- +4.5% 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.
How to apply to Vermont Land Trust Inc
- Next open deadline
- March 9, 2027 (Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award)
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Vermont Land Trust Inc
Who Vermont Land Trust Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Green Commons of Vermont ($121K). Together the top 3 received $139K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 18 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Vermont Land Trust Inc gives
- Giving fell 56% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2021) to $2.2M (2023). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $139K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Green Commons of Vermont Putney, VT | To Acquire 1.03 Acres (Putney Common) | $120,797 |
| Center for Whole Communities Burlington, VT | VCLS Contribution for General Support | $10,000 |
| Equinox Preservation Trust Manchester, VT | Equinox Mountain Preservation | $8,298 |
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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 | $64,850,972 | $20,570,203 | $18,656,172 | $139,095 | 3 | $1,599,744 |
| 2024 | $62,068,678 | $26,704,770 | $21,046,713 | $26,000 | 3 | $1,819,670 |
| 2023 | $53,156,980 | $17,447,191 | $20,797,615 | $2,215,837 | 5 | $-267,042 |
| 2022 | $52,514,440 | $27,492,178 | $19,840,805 | $316,505 | 5 | $1,510,226 |
| 2021 | $53,999,994 | $16,703,041 | $14,580,876 | $25,000 | 2 | $605,696 |
| 2020 | $47,661,388 | $15,612,327 | $14,107,159 | $85,160 | 3 | $772,145 |
| 2019 | $44,231,760 | $20,838,201 | $19,834,580 | $585,876 | 3 | $477,774 |
About Vermont Land Trust Inc
Based on IRS filings
Vermont Land Trust Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Montpelier, VT. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $64.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $139K. Net investment income was $1.6M.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Vermont Land Trust Inc is led by Tracy Zschau, President & CEO since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 8 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Tracy Zschau
President & CEO
Vice President for Conservation → Vice President for Land Protection, 2022
Vice President for Land Protection → President & CEO, 2023
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$94K (2020) → $131K (2025)
Mike Donohue
Board Chair
Trustee → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
$575 (2024) → $0 (2025)
Maria Young
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$575 (2024) → $0 (2025)
Hannah Sessions
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$575 (2024) → $0 (2025)
Abbie Corse
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$575 (2024) → $0 (2025)
Carolyn Gilbert
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$1K (2023) → $0 (2025)
Allan Karnatz
Project Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$102K (2025)
Christine McShea
Legal Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$104K (2025)
Daniel Kilborn
Lands Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$103K (2025)
John Livingston
Director of Finance- Outgoing
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$68K (2025)
Cheryl Morse
Trustee
Trustee → Board Chair, 2022
Board Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jess Phelps
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Kassel
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dawn Morgan
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fred Nelson
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karin Chamberlain
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Costello
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Abby White
Vice President for Engagement
Vice President Community Relations → Vice President for Engagement, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $131K (2025)
Tyler Miller
Vice President for Land Activation
Vice President for Stewardship → Vice President for Land Activation, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$87K (2020) → $104K (2025)
Meriwether Hardie
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
$575 (2024) → $0 (2025)
Jessica Estes
Board Secretary
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$63K (2023) → $66K (2025)
Ramsey Luhr
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: Charlie Hancock (2019–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: John Laggis (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: William Keeton (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jean Hamilton (2020–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Lynn Ellen Schimoler (2021–2024) — Vice President for Operations- Outgoing
- Former: David Morrisey (2023–2024) — Director of Finance- Outgoing
- Former: David Middleton (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Katherine Sims (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Nick Richardson (2019–2023) — President & CEO
- Former: Pieter Bohen (2019–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Heidi G. Chamberlain (2019–2022) — Former Treasurer
- Former: Mark Mihaly (2019–2022) — Board Chair
- Former: Siobhan Smith (2019–2022) — Executive Vice President
- Former: Allison Dudley (2020–2022) — Former Chief Financial Officer
- Former: Rasna Dhillon (2020–2022) — Board Secretary
- Former: Susan Goodfellow (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Robin Morris (2019–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Elise Annes (2019–2020) — Vice President Community Relations
- Former: Mary McBryde (2019) — Chairman of the Board
- Former: Michelle Connor (2019) — Secretary
- Former: Molly Langan (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Susan Abbott (2019) — Trustee
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 $131K, to Tracy ZSCHAU (President and CEO). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Vermont Land Trust Inc
How much does Vermont Land Trust Inc give each year?
Vermont Land Trust Inc gave $139K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $26K across 3 grants.
What is Vermont Land Trust Inc's typical grant size?
Vermont Land Trust Inc's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $46,365, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Vermont Land Trust Inc give grants?
Vermont Land Trust Inc gives mostly in Vermont: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Vermont Land Trust Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 33% of Vermont Land Trust Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 3) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
How large is Vermont Land Trust Inc?
Vermont Land Trust Inc reported $64.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $20.6M.
What is Vermont Land Trust Inc?
Vermont Land Trust Inc is a public charity focused on Environment & Animals, based in Montpelier, VT. It holds $64.9M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Vermont Land Trust Inc's EIN?
Vermont Land Trust Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 03-0264836. 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
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 6, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 16, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Vermont Land Trust Inc funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Vermont Land Trust Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Vermont Land Trust Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?