Retreat Farm

Tax-deductible

Brattleboro, VT501(c)(3)Community DevelopmentEIN 47-5042006Revenue $2.3M in FY2024

On file with the IRSretreatfarm.org45 Farmhouse Sq, 05301-4801 · Brattleboro, VTTax-exempt since Feb 2016Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Retreat Farm seeks to foster a just, healthy, and sustainable community in southern Vermont. We utilize our unique property, programs, and partnerships to connect people to the land and to one another, recognizing that the relationship between humans and the land is the foundation of our health, sustenance, and inspiration.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
88¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 19 volunteers and 26 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2024 · 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
FY2024
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2024, 2 tax years back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $1.7M a year · 45% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
88%
of spending
Looks good: 88% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$111K
to officers and key staff · 4% of spending
Top officer’s pay lower than 75% of similar orgs
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 4% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
2 mo
of spending, in cash
Fine: 2.5 months of spending in cash; 1 to 3.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
2
named funders · $27K
Fine: 2 funders name it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$2.3M
15% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 15% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
9
of 9 voting members
Looks good: 9 of 9 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$2.3M
-56% vs prior year
Spent
$3.0M
To programs
88%
Net assets
$13.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2024
Revenue
$2.3M
FY2024▼ -56%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$6.4M
FY2023$5.3M
FY2024$2.3M
Expenses
$3.0M
FY2024▲ +50%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.3M
FY2021$2.2M
FY2022$2.1M
FY2023$2.0M
FY2024$3.0M
Net assets
$13.2M
FY2024▼ -5%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$6.2M
FY2021$7.4M
FY2022$10.9M
FY2023$13.9M
FY2024$13.2M

From the FY2024 Form 990 · figures checked against the IRS filing · see the original

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Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2024. IRS ruling in Feb 2016.

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

Where the money goes

88 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 88% · $2.7M Management & general 8% · $244K Fundraising 4% · $127K

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

10 people listed on the 990; $111K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$110,619Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Secretary (start 01/2024)
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director (start 2024)
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Kristin Sullivan’s $111K as Executive Director is at the 25th percentile of top reported officer pay among 2832 $1–10M community development 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 · 2 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2024FY2023FY2022
Kristin Sullivan$110,619$100,000$14,615
Sage Ruth——$1,804

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.

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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 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aNo

Programs and updates

Connects people to land and community through programs and partnerships for a just, healthy, sustainable future.

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $2.7M · in their own filed words · FY2024
01

Community Services

Retreat farm comprises a vast, free, and accessible public common that served 56,000 unique visitors in 2024. In addition to maintaining public trails and waterways for outdoor recreation, retreat farm hosted community gatherings, outdoor concerts, performances, art installations, and private events in collaboration with local nonprofits…

$1.6Mprogram expense
02

Restoration and Conservation

With federal and state support, we completed the restoration of the historic north barn, opening a year-round space for community-advancing events and gatherings, boosting tourism, and strengthening social ties.

$603Kprogram expense
03

Food & Agriculture

With congressionally designated funds, we opened a multi-tenant food production space and retreat farm market, supporting over 100 farms and value-added businesses in the regional food system.

$426Kprogram 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 · FY2025
Total grants receivedfrom 2 funders$27K
Grants paid · 5 grants · $1.1M · 2022–2024
Community Food ProjectFY2024$484,230
Community Food ProjectFY2023$332,030
Susu Community Farm INCVT · FY2023$43,059
Atowi ProjectFY2023$9,037
Susu Community Farm INCVT · FY2022$204,814

By the numbers

The FY2024 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$2.3M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.8M
Other incomeLn 4–11$370K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$66K
Money outPt IX
$3.0M
Ln 25
Programscol B$2.7M
Managementcol C$244K
Fundraisingcol D$127K
Owns and owesPt X
$13.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$626K
Total assetsLn 16$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
PeoplePt VI, VII
10
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a9
IndependentVI 1b9
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.8M
Government grantsLn 1e$1.2M
Fees for servicesLn 2g$66K
Investment incomeLn 3$61K
Other incomeLn 4–11$370K
Gains on assetsLn 7$18K
Total revenueLn 12$2.3M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$501K
SavingsLn 2$126K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$626K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$12.5M
Other assetsLn 15$197K
Total assetsLn 16$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$13.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 526
VolunteersI 619
Fiscal year endsHeaderDecember
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 FY24End FY24
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$2.9M$626K
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$6.7M$12.5M
Total assetsLn 16$14.8M$15.4M
LiabilitiesLn 26$887K$2.3M
Net assetsLn 32$13.9M$13.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$491K$491K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$111K$94K$10K$7K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$954K$808K$88K$57K
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$7K$6K$778$466
Other employee benefitsLn 9$40K$30K$7K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$98K$82K$11K$5K
Legal feesLn 11b$12K$10K$2K
Accounting feesLn 11c$105K$89K$16K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$244K$216K$9K$20K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$16K$16K$20$200
Office expensesLn 13$203K$151K$16K$36K
OccupancyLn 16$211K$211K
TravelLn 17$2K$2K$388
InterestLn 20$18K$15K$4K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$306K$291K$15K
InsuranceLn 23$64K$23K$40K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$146K$122K$24K
Total functional expensesLn 25$3.0M$2.7M$244K$127K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2024 Latest Viewing $2.3M$3.0M−$730K$13.2M 990 PDF
FY2023 $5.3M$2.0M$3.2M$13.9M 990 PDF
FY2022 $6.4M$2.1M$4.3M$10.9M 990 PDF
FY2021 $3.4M$2.2M$1.2M$7.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.0M$1.3M$665K$6.2M 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 FY2024 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $2,298,987 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $4,757,582$1,801,668
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $113,530$65,595
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $45,422$61,257
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $345,598$370,467
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $5,262,132$2,298,987
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $399,339$490,754
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $712,990$1,209,418
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $907,229$1,328,500
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,019,558$3,028,672
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $3,242,574−$729,685
Part VI · Governance 9 of 9 board members independent, 1 to look at
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body9
VI-1b Independent voting members9
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payNo
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $2,298,987 across 9 lines filed
Lines not itemized here account for $201,438 of total revenue; see the IRS return.
VIII-1e Government grants$1,236,313
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$565,355
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,801,668
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $47,030 · Excluded from tax $18,565$65,595
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $43,127$43,127
VIII-6 Net rental income or lossExcluded from tax $131,196$131,196
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assetsExcluded from tax $18,130$18,130
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $37,833$37,833
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $286,301 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $211,018$2,298,987
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $3,028,672 across 17 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $490,754$490,754
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $93,861 · Management $10,209 · Fundraising $6,656$110,726
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $808,454 · Management $87,902 · Fundraising $57,339$953,695
IX-8 Pension plan contributionsPrograms $6,174 · Management $778 · Fundraising $466$7,418
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $30,456 · Management $7,469 · Fundraising $1,707$39,632
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $81,821 · Management $11,099 · Fundraising $5,027$97,947
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $10,289 · Management $1,955$12,244
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $88,666 · Management $16,015$104,681
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $215,856 · Management $8,638 · Fundraising $19,675$244,169
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $16,102 · Management $20 · Fundraising $200$16,322
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $151,038 · Management $15,976 · Fundraising $36,308$203,322
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $211,054$211,054
IX-17 TravelPrograms $1,844 · Management $388$2,232
IX-20 InterestPrograms $14,781 · Management $3,598$18,379
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $290,824 · Management $15,307$306,131
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $23,436 · Management $40,465$63,901
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $122,117 · Management $23,948$146,065
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $2,657,527 · Management $243,767 · Fundraising $127,378$3,028,672
Part X · Balance sheet $15,414,947 assets, 16 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $330,432$500,586
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $2,562,164$125,653
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $3,022,047$1,927,775
X-4 Accounts receivableStart of year $33,966$17,232
X-8 Inventories for sale or useStart of year $20,804$86,610
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $9,897$14,573
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $6,710,309$12,545,511
X-15 Other assetsStart of year $2,108,786$197,007
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $14,798,405$15,414,947
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $558,532$174,095
X-19 Deferred revenue$42,690
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $886,744$2,260,395
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $12,476,200$12,942,002
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $1,435,461$212,550
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $13,911,661$13,154,552
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $14,798,405$15,414,947
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $13,154,552 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$2,298,987
XI-2 Total expenses$3,028,672
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$729,685
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$13,911,661
XI-8 Prior period adjustments−$162,802
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$135,378
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$13,154,552

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2024 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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