Vermont Land Trust Inc logo

Vermont Land Trust Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Montpelier, VT EIN: 03-0264836 Website

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.

Key facts about Vermont Land Trust Inc

In short: Vermont Land Trust Inc gave $139K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $46K), mostly in Vermont. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
03-0264836
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$139,095
Grants made (2025)
3
Average grant
$46,365
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$64,850,972
Primary geography
Vermont (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Next open deadline
March 9, 2027 (Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$64.9M

+4.5% YoY

Annual Giving

$139K

+435.0% YoY

Grant Count

3

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$46K

+435.0% YoY

How Vermont Land Trust Inc gives

  • Giving fell 56% from 2022 to 2025. Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.

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.

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1 open opportunity from Vermont Land Trust Inc

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of all 3 itemized 2025 grant dollars.

States

Cities

BurlingtonHardwickMontpelierBrattleboroHinesburgManchesterMiddleburyMontgomeryPoultneyPutneyShelburneSt JohnsburySwantonThetfordW PawletWaitsfieldWest BurkeWoudford

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$2M$3M3 grants20193 grants20202 grants20215 grants20225 grants20233 grants20243 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $25K (2021) to $2.2M (2023). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $139K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 3 recipients in 2025

Green Commons of Vermont: $121KGreen Commons of Vermont$121KCenter for Whole Communities: $10KCenter for Whole Communities$10KEquinox Preservation Trust: $8KEquinox Preservation Trust$8K

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

13<$50K$50–100K3$100–250K$250–500K1$500K–1M1$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 13 grants of 18 (72%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Green Commons of Vermont Putney, VTTo Acquire 1.03 Acres (Putney Common)$120,797
Center for Whole Communities Burlington, VTVCLS Contribution for General Support$10,000
Equinox Preservation Trust Manchester, VTEquinox Mountain Preservation$8,298

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M$40M2019202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$64,850,972$62,068,678$53,156,980
Revenue$20,570,203$26,704,770$17,447,191
Expenses$18,656,172$21,046,713$20,797,615
Net Investment Income$1,599,744$1,819,670$-267,042

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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

Tracy Zschau — President and CEO: $131KTracy ZschauPresident and CEO$131KAbby White — VP for Engagement: $131KAbby WhiteVP for Engagement$131KChristine McShea — Legal Director: $104KChristine McSheaLegal Director$104KTyler Miller — VP for Land Activation: $104KTyler MillerVP for Land Activation$104KDaniel Kilborn — Lands Director: $103KDaniel KilbornLands Director$103KAllan Karnatz — Project Director: $102KAllan KarnatzProject Director$102KJohn Livingston — Director of Finance- Outgoing: $68KJohn LivingstonDirector of Finance- Outgoing$68KJessica Estes — Board Secretary: $66KJessica EstesBoard Secretary$66K

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.

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