Vital Communities Inc
Vital Communities engages upper valley people, organizations, and communities to create equitable solutions to our region's challenges, with a focus on those disproportionately impacted by them.
Vital Communities Inc at a glance
In short: Vital Communities Inc gave $316K across 9 grants in 2025 (avg $35K), mostly in Vermont. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $316,477
- +4742.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 9
- +800.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $35,164
- +438.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $9,092
- Total assets
- $1,251,777
- -40.9% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Vermont (88% 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 Vital Communities Inc
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Vital Communities Inc
Farm to School Mini-Grants
Vital Communities Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Upper Valley Teaching Place Collaborative (UVTPC) Mini-Grants for Place-Based Education
Vital Communities Inc
Amount
Up to $1,000 per grant (eight grants available)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Vital Communities Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions ($241K). Together the top 9 received $316K.
Grant Size Distribution
12 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 10 grants of 12 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Vital Communities Inc gives
- Giving grew 3065% 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2024) to $316K (2025). In 2025 it made 9 grants totaling $316K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions Norwich, VT | Unrestricted Grant to Support Their Mission | $241,188 |
| Green Mountain Development Corporation White River Junction, VT | GRANT | $15,000 |
| Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success Manchester, NH | Fresh Start Farms Program | $15,000 |
| Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission Woodstock, VT | GRANT | $10,000 |
| Moon and Stars Concord, NH | Supporting Those Affected by Domestic Violence | $9,092 |
| Kearsarge Food Hub Bradford, NH | GRANT | $7,777 |
| Feeding the Valley Alliance Rochester, VT | Fresh food to families in the white river valley | $7,285 |
| Ottauquechee Natural Resources Conservation District North Springfield, VT | GRANT | $5,900 |
| Sullivan County Conservation District Unity, NH | GRANT | $5,235 |
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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 | $1,251,777 | $1,577,902 | $2,498,831 | $316,477 | 9 | $365 |
| 2024 | $2,118,238 | $1,910,920 | $2,300,351 | $6,536 | 1 | $4,734 |
| 2023 | $2,511,012 | $3,041,220 | $3,018,887 | $163,400 | 1 | $3,575 |
| 2022 | $2,336,539 | $2,876,292 | $2,338,021 | $10,000 | 1 | $1,888 |
| 2021 | $1,663,364 | $2,954,150 | $2,499,089 | $10,900 | Total only | $2,910 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
About Vital Communities Inc
Based on IRS filings
Vital Communities Inc is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in White River JCT, VT. IRS filing data is available from 2021 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 9 grants totaling $316K. Net investment income was $365.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Vital Communities Inc is led by Sarah Jackson, Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 16 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sarah Jackson
Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$17K (2021) → $146K (2025)
Greg Norman
Chair
Member → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Lappin
Member
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin J. Nelson
Member
Member → Secretary, 2022
Secretary → Member, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Watts
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Meghan Butts
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tim Josephson
Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Damian Dinicola
Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Julia Griffin
Vice Chair
Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Chapin
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Brian Loeb
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chelsea Cassady
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Heather Drinan
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Scelza
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacy Chioccio
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tawanna Louise Meyers
Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (16)
- Former: Chelsea Paige (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Elyse Crossman (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Laura Ginsburg (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Robin Kilfeather-Mackey (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Sally Wilson (2021–2024) — Member
- Former: Emma Wolfe (2024) — Member
- Former: Barbara Barry (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Nancy Merrill (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Rick Mills (2021–2023) — Member
- Former: Markell Ripps (2021–2022) — Member
- Former: Monique Priestley (2021–2022) — Chair
- Former: Bill Geraghty (2021) — Member
- Former: Ken Wells (2021) — Member
- Former: Ronald Shaiko (2021) — Chair
- Former: Sally Kraft (2021) — Member
- Former: Tom Roberts (2021) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $146K, to Sarah Jackson (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Vital Communities Inc
How much does Vital Communities Inc give each year?
Vital Communities Inc gave $316K across 9 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $7K across 1 grant.
What is Vital Communities Inc's typical grant size?
Vital Communities Inc's median grant in 2025 was $9,092, and its average grant was $35,164, across 9 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Vital Communities Inc give grants?
Vital Communities Inc gives mostly in Vermont: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was New Hampshire (12%).
Does Vital Communities Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 11% of Vital Communities Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Grant" (5 grants).
Who are Vital Communities Inc's largest grantees?
Vital Communities Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Winter Center for Indigenous Traditions ($241,188), Green Mountain Development Corporation ($15,000) and Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success ($15,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 86% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Vital Communities Inc?
Vital Communities Inc reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.6M.
What is Vital Communities Inc?
Vital Communities Inc is a public charity focused on Community Improvement & Capacity Building, based in White River JCT, VT. It holds $1.3M in total assets as of 2025.
What is Vital Communities Inc's EIN?
Vital Communities Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 03-0355283. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Vital Communities Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Vital Communities Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?