Vermont Commons School FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

S Burlington, VT501(c)(3)Since 1996EducationEIN 04-3371660Revenue $3.5M in FY2021

On file with the IRSvermontcommons.org75 Green Mountain Dr, 05403-7824 · S Burlington, VTTax-exempt since Dec 1997School — 170(b)(1)(A)(ii)

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Scholarship. Community. Global responsibility.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
83¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$174K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
5 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $465K a year · 13% of revenue · last 5 filings
Looks good: a surplus in 5 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
83%
of spending
Looks good: 83% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$174K
to officers and key staff · 6% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 6% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
8 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
6
named funders · $329K
Looks good: 6 funders name it on their filings; 3 or more.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$1.9M
39% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 39% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
10
of 11 voting members
Looks good: 10 of 11 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$3.5M
Spent
$2.8M
To programs
83%
Net assets
$2.9M
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$3.5M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$3.5M
FY2022$3.8M
FY2023$3.3M
FY2024$4.3M
FY2025$3.7M
Expenses
$2.8M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$2.8M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$3.1M
FY2024$3.5M
FY2025$3.5M
Net assets
$2.9M
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$2.9M
FY2022$3.5M
FY2023$3.7M
FY2024$4.5M
FY2025$4.6M

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending June 2021) · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Dec 1997.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

83 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 83% · $2.3M Management & general 12% · $339K Fundraising 5% · $138K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

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Who runs it and what they're paid

12 people listed on the 990; $174K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
Head of Scho
$173,979Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Vice Preside
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Dexter Mahaffey’s $176K as Head of Scho is at the 76th percentile of top reported officer pay among 3394 $1–10M education nonprofits. Peer set: organizations in the same NTEE major field of work and revenue-size band, compared on each org’s own highest-paid officer/key-employee, from Form 990 Part VII / 990-PF Part VIII. Descriptive placement, not a verdict on whether the pay is appropriate.

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 3 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Dexter Mahaffey$176,274$152,910$158,488$177,148$173,979
Kristin Marchilena$67,307————
Kathryn McDermott—$57,051$58,016$55,856—

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Vermont Commons School executive salaries →

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Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2Yes
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Provides scholarships and fosters global responsibility through community engagement.

Questions for Vermont Commons School

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Provided by the organization

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1 program · $2.3M · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Vermont commons school (the school) is a nonprofit, private school incorporated in 1996 in south burlington, vermont dedicated to "scholarship, community and global responsibility." the school gives students in grades 6 through 12 the opportunity to "experience a unique blend of academics and global immersion, master fundamental academic…

$2.3Mprogram expense

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · received and paid
Grants received · FY2024
See all 6 funders →
Grants paid · 5 grants · $2.6M · 2020–2024
Unitemized GrantFY2024$638,759
Unitemized GrantFY2023$733,736
Unitemized GrantFY2022$382,697
Unitemized GrantFY2021$396,695
Unitemized GrantFY2020$425,175

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$3.5M
Ln 12
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.8M
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$608K
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Money outPt IX
$2.8M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.3M
Managementcol C$339K
Fundraisingcol D$138K
Owns and owesPt X
$2.9M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.9M
PeoplePt VI, VII
12
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a11
IndependentVI 1b10
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$608K
Government grantsLn 1e$390K
Noncash giftsLn 1g$5K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$2.8M
Investment incomeLn 3$5K
Total revenueLn 12$3.5M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$74K
SavingsLn 2$1.7M
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$3.0M
Other assetsLn 15$38K
Total assetsLn 16$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$1.9M
Net assetsLn 32$2.9M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 535
VolunteersI 650
Fiscal year endsHeaderJune
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.8M$1.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$2.6M$3.0M
Total assetsLn 16$4.5M$4.9M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.2M$1.9M
Net assetsLn 32$2.3M$2.9M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$425K$425K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$230K$69K$92K$69K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$1.1M$1.0M$55K$35K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$41K$38K$2K$1K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$279K$258K$13K$8K
Payroll taxesLn 10$98K$82K$9K$7K
Legal feesLn 11b$6K$6K
Accounting feesLn 11c$68K$68K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$23K$23K
Office expensesLn 13$36K$25K$3K$9K
Information technologyLn 14$21K$18K$2K$1K
OccupancyLn 16$109K$106K$2K$1K
TravelLn 17$14K$14K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$7K$2K$2K$2K
InterestLn 20$46K$46K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$107K$103K$2K$1K
InsuranceLn 23$40K$33K$4K$3K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$117K$106K$10K$1K
Total functional expensesLn 25$2.8M$2.3M$339K$138K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $3.7M$3.5M$121K$4.6M 990 PDF
FY2024 $4.3M$3.5M$773K$4.5M 990 PDF
FY2023 $3.3M$3.1M$242K$3.7M 990 PDF
FY2022 $3.8M$3.2M$534K$3.5M 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $3.5M$2.8M$654K$2.9M 990 PDF

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Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $3,458,588 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $179,331$607,730
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $2,713,227$2,845,733
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $11,014$5,468
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $1,900−$343
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,905,472$3,458,588
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $372,522$425,175
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,774,948$1,787,178
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $558,856$592,363
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,706,326$2,804,716
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $199,146$653,872
Part VI · Governance 10 of 11 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body11
VI-1b Independent voting members10
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsYes
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $3,458,588 across 8 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$390,194
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$217,536
VIII-1g Noncash contributions (included above)$5,366
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$607,730
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $2,845,733$2,845,733
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $5,468$5,468
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission −$343−$343
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $2,845,390 · Excluded from tax $5,468$3,458,588
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $2,804,716 across 18 lines filed
IX-2 Grants to domestic individualsPrograms $425,175$425,175
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $68,914 · Management $91,886 · Fundraising $68,914$229,714
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $1,049,083 · Management $55,301 · Fundraising $35,380$1,139,764
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $37,541 · Management $2,157 · Fundraising $1,400$41,098
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $258,395 · Management $12,504 · Fundraising $7,871$278,770
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $81,882 · Management $9,373 · Fundraising $6,577$97,832
IX-11b Legal feesManagement $6,185$6,185
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $67,636$67,636
IX-12 Advertising and promotionManagement $22,543$22,543
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $24,840 · Management $2,600 · Fundraising $8,727$36,167
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $17,768 · Management $2,034 · Fundraising $1,427$21,229
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $105,936 · Management $2,184 · Fundraising $1,092$109,212
IX-17 TravelPrograms $13,569$13,569
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $2,193 · Management $2,490 · Fundraising $1,848$6,531
IX-20 InterestManagement $46,297$46,297
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $103,482 · Management $2,133 · Fundraising $1,067$106,682
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $33,089 · Management $3,788 · Fundraising $2,658$39,535
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $105,504 · Management $10,138 · Fundraising $1,135$116,777
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,327,371 · Management $339,249 · Fundraising $138,096$2,804,716
Part X · Balance sheet $4,850,301 assets, 15 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $50,903$73,506
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $1,732,446$1,690,760
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $8,040$46,174
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $15,183$15,924
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $40,239$25,282
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $2,633,539$2,960,323
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $29,744$38,332
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $4,510,094$4,850,301
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $30,668$60,284
X-19 Deferred revenueStart of year $909,926$766,335
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $2,216,526$1,902,861
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,126,292$2,809,489
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $167,276$137,951
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $2,293,568$2,947,440
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $4,510,094$4,850,301
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $2,947,440 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$3,458,588
XI-2 Total expenses$2,804,716
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$653,872
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$2,293,568
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$2,947,440

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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