Vermont Humanities Council

Tax-deductible

Montpelier, VT501(c)(3)Since 1975EIN 51-0187809Revenue $1.8M in FY2025

On file with the IRSvermonthumanities.org11 Loomis St, 05602-3021 · Montpelier, VTTax-exempt since Jul 1976Publicly supported charity — 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

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Using the Humanities, we connect with people across Vermont to create just, vibrant, and resilient communities, and to inspire a lifelong love of learning.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
72¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
Run by 17 volunteers and 14 employees.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · People: Part I, lines 5–6

Before you give

FY2025 · 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
3 of 6
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $120K a year · 6% of revenue · last 6 filings
Worth a look: a surplus in 3 of the last 6 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 6 filings
Spent on programs
72%
of spending
Fine: 72% of spending went to programs; 65% to 75%.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$141K
to officers and key staff · 7% of spending
Looks good: pay to officers and key staff is 7% of spending; 15% or less.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
7 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 7.1 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $250K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$65K
2% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 2% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
17
of 17 voting members
Looks good: 17 of 17 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$1.8M
-18% vs prior year
Spent
$1.9M
To programs
72%
Net assets
$3.2M
By yearFY2020–FY2025
Revenue
$1.8M
FY2025▼ -18%
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2020$2.0M
FY2021$2.6M
FY2022$1.9M
FY2023$2.0M
FY2024$2.2M
FY2025$1.8M
Expenses
$1.9M
FY2025▼ -16%
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2020$1.6M
FY2021$1.9M
FY2022$1.8M
FY2023$2.3M
FY2024$2.3M
FY2025$1.9M
Net assets
$3.2M
FY2025▲ +2%
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2020$2.9M
FY2021$3.4M
FY2022$3.2M
FY2023$3.1M
FY2024$3.1M
FY2025$3.2M

From the FY2025 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: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jul 1976.

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

Where the money goes

72 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 72% · $1.4M Management & general 16% · $312K Fundraising 12% · $221K

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

18 people listed on the 990; $141K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation
Executive Director
$140,276Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$350Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Co-Chair
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Director
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 5 named individuals · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021FY2020
Christopher Kaufman Ilstrup$140,276$132,336$132,246$114,539$105,000$102,000
Shanta Lee Gander——$700—$2,450—
Luis Vivanco$350—$1,350$750$2,300—
Vera Longtoe Sheehan—$930—$1,000——
Ellen Bethea—$600————

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

Programs and updates

Hosts statewide reading programs, literacy workshops, and humanities camps to foster lifelong learning and build stronger, more connected communities across Vermont.

Questions for Vermont Humanities Council

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Provided by the organization

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3 programs · $1.4M · in their own filed words · FY2025
01

Humanities Based Literacy Programs

Variety of programs to promote literacy in vermont. Programs include "vermont reads" a one book annual statewide reading, early literacy workshops for childcare providers, as well as family literacy trainings for parents.

$671Kprogram expense
02

Community Grants

Competitive grant rounds are held to support humanities projects throughout the state of vermont. Applications are evaluated by a board committee. Grant opportunities are available several times per year.

$451Kprogram expense
03

Lecture and Discussion Programs (including Snapshot)

These programs bring humanities presentation, discussions, and conferences to individuals across the state. Every year, speakers make more than 150 appearances at local libraries, schools, historical societies, senior centers, and other community spaces.

$266Kprogram 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 1 funder$250K
Grants paid · 154 grants · $1.4M · 2020–2025
Retreat FarmVT · FY2025$12,000
Clemmons Family FarmVT · FY2025$10,000
Abenaki Circle of CourageVT · FY2025$10,000
Junction Arts & MediaVT · FY2025$9,500
Gedakina INCVT · FY2025$9,500
Old Stone House MuseumVT · FY2025$8,000
Civic Standard INCVT · FY2025$7,900
Vets Town Hall CorporationVT · FY2025$7,500
Rutland County PrideVT · FY2025$7,500
Burnham Memorial LibraryFY2025$5,500
Bennington Multicultural Community CenterFY2025$5,500
See all 154 grants →

By the numbers

The FY2025 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$1.8M
Ln 12
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.7M
Investment incomeLn 3$66K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$35K
Money outPt IX
$1.9M
Ln 25
Programscol B$1.4M
Managementcol C$312K
Fundraisingcol D$221K
Owns and owesPt X
$3.2M
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M
Total assetsLn 16$3.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$65K
PeoplePt VI, VII
18
listed · VII A
PaidVII A2
Voting boardVI 1a17
IndependentVI 1b17
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$1.7M
Government grantsLn 1e$631K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$35K
Investment incomeLn 3$66K
Other incomeLn 4–11$27K
Total revenueLn 12$1.8M
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$877K
SavingsLn 2$260K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$1.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$169K
Total assetsLn 16$3.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$65K
Net assetsLn 32$3.2M
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 514
VolunteersI 617
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 FY25End FY25
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$1.1M$1.1M
InvestmentsLn 11–13$1.7M$1.8M
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$186K$169K
Total assetsLn 16$3.2M$3.2M
LiabilitiesLn 26$94K$65K
Net assetsLn 32$3.1M$3.2M
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$454K$454K
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$141K$86K$35K$20K
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$555K$282K$150K$122K
Other employee benefitsLn 9$184K$117K$38K$29K
Payroll taxesLn 10$65K$36K$16K$13K
Legal feesLn 11b$511$167$258$86
Accounting feesLn 11c$22K$7K$11K$4K
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$37K$12K$19K$6K
Office expensesLn 13$46K$38K$398$8K
OccupancyLn 16$28K$21K$4K$3K
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$33K$25K$3K$5K
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$17K$17K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$315K$292K$14K$9K
All other expensesLn 24e$25K$18K$4K$3K
Total functional expensesLn 25$1.9M$1.4M$312K$221K

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest Viewing $1.8M$1.9M−$88K$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2024 $2.2M$2.3M−$62K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2023 $2.0M$2.3M−$354K$3.1M 990 PDF
FY2022 $1.9M$1.8M$79K$3.2M 990 PDF
FY2021 $2.6M$1.9M$725K$3.4M 990 PDF
FY2020 $2.0M$1.6M$418K$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 FY2025 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $1,833,885 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $2,118,157$1,705,838
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $37,500$34,905
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $60,844$66,145
I-11 Other revenuePrior year $11,466$26,997
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $2,227,967$1,833,885
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paidPrior year $556,251$453,525
I-14 Benefits paid to membersPrior year $0$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $1,027,257$944,657
I-16a Professional fundraising feesPrior year $0$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $706,243$523,892
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $2,289,751$1,922,074
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year −$61,784−$88,189
Part VI · Governance 17 of 17 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body17
VI-1b Independent voting members17
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
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $1,833,885 across 7 lines filed
VIII-1e Government grants$630,765
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$1,075,073
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$1,705,838
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $34,905$34,905
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $66,145$66,145
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Excluded from tax $26,997$26,997
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $34,905 · Unrelated business $0 · Excluded from tax $93,142$1,833,885
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $1,922,074 across 14 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizationsPrograms $453,525$453,525
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $86,058 · Management $34,880 · Fundraising $19,688$140,626
IX-7 Other salaries and wagesPrograms $282,290 · Management $150,354 · Fundraising $122,242$554,886
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $116,595 · Management $38,454 · Fundraising $29,144$184,193
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $36,483 · Management $15,846 · Fundraising $12,623$64,952
IX-11b Legal feesPrograms $167 · Management $258 · Fundraising $86$511
IX-11c Accounting feesPrograms $7,032 · Management $10,845 · Fundraising $3,624$21,501
IX-11g Other fees for servicesPrograms $12,206 · Management $18,825 · Fundraising $6,290$37,321
IX-13 Office expensesPrograms $38,269 · Management $398 · Fundraising $7,818$46,485
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $21,497 · Management $3,818 · Fundraising $2,695$28,010
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetingsPrograms $24,573 · Management $3,440 · Fundraising $4,939$32,952
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationManagement $16,881$16,881
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $291,659 · Management $14,015 · Fundraising $9,160$314,834
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $18,032 · Management $4,317 · Fundraising $3,048$25,397
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $1,388,386 · Management $312,331 · Fundraising $221,357$1,922,074
Part X · Balance sheet $3,219,605 assets, 13 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $829,146$877,258
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $250,000$260,258
X-3 Pledges and grants receivableStart of year $217,146$51,660
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred chargesStart of year $27,535$45,667
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $185,563$168,682
X-12 Other securitiesStart of year $1,668,824$1,816,080
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $3,178,214$3,219,605
X-17 Accounts payable and accrued expensesStart of year $93,672$64,895
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $93,672$64,895
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $2,271,226$2,375,989
X-28 Net assets with donor restrictionsStart of year $813,316$778,721
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $3,084,542$3,154,710
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $3,178,214$3,219,605
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $3,154,710 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$1,833,885
XI-2 Total expenses$1,922,074
XI-3 Revenue less expenses−$88,189
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$3,084,542
XI-5 Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$193,293
XI-7 Investment expenses−$34,934
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$0
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$3,154,710

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2025 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

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