VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc logo

VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc

Public charity · Grantmaker Barre, VT EIN: 23-7157363 Website

The Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc. (VAST) is a public charity based in Barre, Vermont, founded in 1967. It coordinates development, maintenance, and management of Vermont’s Statewide Snowmobile Trails System and provides grants to local clubs for trail-related work.

Key facts about VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc

In short: VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc gave $828K across 42 grants in 2025 (avg $20K), mostly in Vermont. 10% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

EIN
23-7157363
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025
Annual giving (2025)
$827,638
Grants made (2025)
42
Average grant
$19,706
Median grant
$14,768
New grantees (estimate)
10% first-time grantees (4 of 42, 2025)
Total assets
$6,343,082
Primary geography
Vermont (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing

Total Assets

$6.3M

+4.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$828K

-4.0% YoY

Grant Count

42

-16.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$20K

+14.3% YoY

Is VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc open to new grantees?

10%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 4 of 42 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $20K. How we count

Medians: $17K first-time, $15K repeat.

  • 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 101% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

VAST’s stated mission is to coordinate the development, maintenance, and management of Vermont’s statewide snowmobile trails system, educate snowmobilers about safe and responsible operation, and promote protection of Vermont’s environment.

VAST’s filing describes grant-in-aid support for trail construction, maintenance, signing and debrushing, emergency allocations, grooming equipment, and trail grooming. In 2025, its listed grants were for trail maintenance. The organizations it supports include clubs whose own stated missions involve maintaining trails and promoting safe snowmobiling. For example, Connecticut Valley Sno-Riders says it maintains more than 80 miles of groomed trails in Vermont; Drift Dusters Snowmobile Club says it provides safe and scenic trails; and Northeast Kingdom Snow Blasters says it provides safe, well-kept trails in its area.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, VAST reported 42 grants totaling $827,638. Grants ranged from $5,328 to $70,815, with a median of $14,768. The largest listed awards were $70,815 to Mad River Ridge Runners, $54,826 to Connecticut Valley Sno-Riders, $52,267 to Snow Flake Ridge Runners Club, and $48,573 to Canaan Border Riders; each was designated for trail maintenance.

VAST’s website describes a separate equipment-grant application process for clubs. Applicants must read and agree to the current Equipment Grant Policy and submit digital documentation, including itemized invoices for capital repairs; the form requires the club’s three-digit ID.

VAST also offers the Bill and Mitzi Oakes Scholarship Award for Vermont. The available program information does not specify eligibility, award amount, deadline, or selection criteria.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The 2025 filing lists all grant dollars as going to recipients in Vermont. VAST’s stated statewide trail-system scope extends across Vermont, from the Canadian border to the Massachusetts border and from the New Hampshire border to the New York border.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.

Cities

CanaanDerbyIsland PondNortonBarreBethelBridgewaterChesterGuildhallHardwickLyndonvilleNewportTroyChittendenEnosburg FallsFairleeJeffersonvilleJohnsonLudlowLunenburg

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M31 grants2020 32 grants2021 32 grants2022 34 grants2023 50 grants2024 42 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $268K (2020) to $862K (2024). In 2025 it made 42 grants totaling $828K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Mad River Ridge Runners: $71KMad River Ridge Runners$71KConnecticut Valley Sno-Riders: $55KConnecticut Valley Sno-Riders$55KSnow Flake Ridge Runners Club: $52KSnow Flake Ridge Runners Club$52KCanaan Border Riders: $49KCanaan Border Riders$49KDrift Dusters Snowmobile Club: $30KDrift Dusters Snowmobile Club$30KNortheast Kingdom Sno Blasters Inc: $28KNortheast Kingdom Sno BlastersInc$28KLunenburg Polar Bears Snowmobile CL: $27KLunenburg Polar BearsSnowmobile CL$27KPlymouth Snow Sneakers Snowmobile C: $26KPlymouth Snow SneakersSnowmobile C$26KGreen Mountain Roamers Snowmobile C: $26KGreen Mountain RoamersSnowmobile C$26KGreen Mountain Sno Dogs: $24KGreen Mountain Sno Dogs$24K

The largest 2025 recipient was Mad River Ridge Runners ($71K). Together the top 10 received $387K.

Grant Size Distribution

190 grants across all recorded years

184<$50K6$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 184 grants of 190 (97%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Mad River Ridge Runners Waitsfield, VTTrail Maintenance$70,815
Connecticut Valley Sno-Riders Guildhall, VTTrail Maintenance$54,826
Snow Flake Ridge Runners Club Hardwick, VTTrail Maintenance$52,267
Canaan Border Riders Canaan, VTTrail Maintenance$48,573
Drift Dusters Snowmobile Club Derby, VTTrail Maintenance$29,728
Northeast Kingdom Sno Blasters Inc Norton, VTTrail Maintenance$27,881
Lunenburg Polar Bears Snowmobile CL Lunenburg, VTTrail Maintenance$27,216
Plymouth Snow Sneakers Snowmobile C Plymouth, VTTrail Maintenance$25,918
Green Mountain Roamers Snowmobile C Waterbury, VTTrail Maintenance$25,741
Green Mountain Sno Dogs Manchester Ctr, VTTrail Maintenance$24,324

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2025 $6,343,082 $4,176,016 $3,887,264 $827,638
2024 $6,062,033 $4,102,979 $3,450,204 $861,848
2023 $5,410,818 $4,317,642 $3,413,102 $513,267

VAST’s website describes three major budgets: a general/trails budget funded primarily by trail-pass revenue and grants, a Statewide Snowmobile Trails Program budget supported largely by snowmobile registration revenue, and a scholarship budget. The filing also identifies trail-pass sales, government program funding, grants, and advertising among its revenue sources.

Revenue
Expenses
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets$6,343,082$6,062,033$5,410,818
Revenue$4,176,016$4,102,979$4,317,642
Expenses$3,887,264$3,450,204$3,413,102
Net Investment Income$92,692$112,135$40,488

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 13, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 8, 2024)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 11, 2025)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 4, 2022)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 25, 2023)
  6. Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 3, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Cynthia Locke as Executive Director, Patricia Companik as President, Mark Reaves as Vice President, Stephen Conti as Treasurer, and Ruth Halpin as Secretary. It also lists Patrick Poulin, Mike Stewart, John Hull, Doug Jacobs, and Michael Garbor as directors.

VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc is led by Patricia Companik, President since 2025 (on filings since 2021); 1 of 19 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Patricia Companik

    President

    Treasurer → President, 2025

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Juliann Sherman

    Director & Ora

    Director & Orange → Director & Ora, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Lewis Barnes

    Director & Add

    Director & Addison → Director & Add, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike Burns

    Director & Fra

    Director & Franklin → Director & Fra, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Patrick Poulin

    Director & Chief

    Director & Chittenden → Director & Chief, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Roger Gosselin

    Director & Orl

    Director & Orleans → Director & Orl, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bruce Carlson

    Director & Cal

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Carol Dejohn

    Director & Ben

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • John Hull

    Director & Ess

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Garbor

    Director & Win

    On filings since 2022

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Doug Jacobs

    Director & Win

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dustin Turner

    Director & Lam

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeff Halpin

    Director & Was

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeff Porter

    Director & Grants

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mike Stewart

    Director & Rut

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Cynthia Locke

    Executive Di

    Executive Director → Executive Di, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    40 hrs/week

    $77K (2020) → $87K (2025)

  • Mark Reaves

    Vice President

    Director & Washington → Director & Was, 2021

    Director & Was → Vice President, 2022

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ruth Halpin

    Secretary

    On filings since 2023

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Stephen Conti

    Treasurer

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (17)
  • Former: Jeff Fay (2020–2024) — President
  • Former: Patty Companik (2023–2024) — Treasurer
  • Former: Carmin Lemery (2020–2022) — Director & Lam
  • Former: Curt Marechaux (2020–2022) — Director & Rut
  • Former: Jim Hill (2020–2022) — Recording Se
  • Former: Damien Henry (2022) — Director & Grants
  • Former: Douglas Jacobs (2022) — Director & Win
  • Former: Jeffrey Halpin (2022) — Director & Was
  • Former: David Ladd (2020–2021) — Director & Grants
  • Former: Drew Fraser (2020–2021) — Director & Win
  • Former: Ken Gammell (2020–2021) — Director & Cal
  • Former: Mike Daley (2020–2021) — Director & Ess
  • Former: Richard Jewett (2020–2021) — Director & Win
  • Former: Scott Westlake (2020–2021) — Director & Ben
  • Former: Tim Mills (2020–2021) — President
  • Former: Ellis O'Hear (2021) — Director & Lam
  • Former: Sonia Koehler (2020) — Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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

Cynthia Locke — Executive Di: $87KCynthia LockeExecutive Di$87K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $87K, to Cynthia Locke (Executive Di).

Contact

Mailing address: 26 Vast Lane, Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 229-0005
Website: https://vtvast.org

Frequently asked questions about VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc

How much does VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc give each year?

VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc gave $828K across 42 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $862K across 50 grants.

What is VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc's typical grant size?

VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc's median grant in 2025 was $14,768, and its average grant was $19,706, across 42 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc that year got $17K on average.

Where does VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc give grants?

VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc gives mostly in Vermont: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.

Does VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 42 grants with a stated purpose on VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Trail Maintenance" (42 grants).

Who are VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc's largest grantees?

VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Mad River Ridge Runners ($70,815), Connecticut Valley Sno-Riders ($54,826) and Snow Flake Ridge Runners Club ($52,267), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc?

VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc reported $6.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.2M.

What does VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc fund?

VAST’s stated mission is to coordinate the development, maintenance, and management of Vermont’s statewide snowmobile trails system, educate snowmobilers about safe and responsible operation, and promote protection of Vermont’s environment. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc?

VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check vtvast.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc's EIN?

VT Association of Snow Travelers Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7157363. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

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