Skip to content
Nonprofiteer
← VERMONT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by VERMONT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$1,373,523
Total expenses
$1,989,634
Contributions and grants received
$1,360,336
Grants paid
$500,000
Program service revenue
$0
Investment income
$10,172
Other revenue
$3,015
Total assets, end of year
$1,486,274
Total liabilities, end of year
$37,813
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$1,448,461
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$1,375,131
Management and general expenses
$420,853
Fundraising expenses
$193,650
Program service expenses (Part III)
$1,375,131

Program services were 69.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $22,851

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,337,485

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $1,983

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $10,172 · excluded $10,172

  • 6a · Gross rents

    real property $544

  • 6b · Less rental expenses

    real property $110

  • 6c · Rental income or loss

    real property $434

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $434 · excluded $434

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $1,115

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $22,851

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $1,938

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$823 · excluded -$823

  • 10a · Gross sales of inventory

    $5,331

  • 10b · Cost of goods sold

    $1,927

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $3,404 · excluded $3,404

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $500,000 · program services $500,000

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $58,703 · program services $44,795 · management and general $9,930 · fundraising $3,978

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $833,515 · program services $489,815 · management and general $232,643 · fundraising $111,057

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $9,319 · program services $5,368 · management and general $2,862 · fundraising $1,089

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $226,187 · program services $117,778 · management and general $83,730 · fundraising $24,679

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $77,873 · program services $46,804 · management and general $20,989 · fundraising $10,080

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $176 · program services $139 · management and general $37

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $3,588 · management and general $3,588

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $9,127 · program services $3,892 · management and general $2,105 · fundraising $3,130

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $6,829 · program services $4,507 · management and general $871 · fundraising $1,451

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $52,652 · program services $32,346 · management and general $8,455 · fundraising $11,851

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $48,319 · program services $29,969 · management and general $8,792 · fundraising $9,558

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $57,453 · program services $34,105 · management and general $17,548 · fundraising $5,800

  • 17 · Travel

    total $34,358 · program services $21,654 · management and general $6,235 · fundraising $6,469

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $1,471 · program services $193 · management and general $471 · fundraising $807

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $10,653 · program services $6,324 · management and general $3,254 · fundraising $1,075

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $8,413 · program services $4,456 · management and general $3,177 · fundraising $780

  • 24a · Other expenses: PROGRAM & PROMOTIONAL

    total $20,164 · program services $16,552 · management and general $2,118 · fundraising $1,494

  • 24b · Other expenses: BANK, CREDIT CARD, & OT

    total $15,469 · program services $1,142 · management and general $13,989 · fundraising $338

  • 24c · Other expenses: NEWSLETTER & PUBLICATIO

    total $15,365 · program services $15,292 · management and general $59 · fundraising $14

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $56,638 · end of year $443,309

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $426,170 · end of year $105,975

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $22,344 · end of year $40,171

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $101,038

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $75,789

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $32,941 · end of year $25,249

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $1,573,066 · end of year $871,570

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $45,352 · end of year $36,717

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $1,235 · end of year $1,096

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $1,988,195 · end of year $1,441,804

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $76,377 · end of year $6,657

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

FOUNDED IN 1972, THE VERMONT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP (VPIRG) IS THE LARGEST NONPROFIT CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN VERMONT. FOR FIVE DECADES, VPIRG HAS BROUGHT THE VOICES OF EVERYDAY VERMONTERS TO PUBLIC POLICY DEBATES CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH CARE, CONSUMER PROTECTION, AND DEMOCRACY. VPIRG'S MISSION IS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE HEALTH OF VERMONT'S PEOPLE, ENVIRONMENT, AND LOCALLY-BASED ECONOMY BY INFORMING AND MOBILIZING INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

Activities or mission (Part I)

CONSUMER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN VERMONT

  • GENERAL MEMBERSHIP SERVICES: AS THE LARGEST MEMBERSHIP-BASED ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION IN THE STATE, VPIRG PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES ON OUR CAMPAIGNS AND RELATED ISSUES TO TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS ANNUALLY. VPIRG CONTINUES TO SERVE AS THE GO-TO RESOURCE FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS TO LEARN ABOUT PUBLIC INTEREST POLICY ISSUES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD ON ISSUES AT CRITICAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

    Expenses $395,873

  • CLIMATE AND ENERGY:OUR CLIMATE & ENERGY WORK IS DRIVEN BY THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE MUST DECARBONIZE BOTH VERMONT AND THE NATION, AND THAT EVERYONE DESERVES ACCESS TO CLEAN AND AFFORDABLE ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION. BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS CONTRIBUTING TO RURAL, BIPOC, AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES BEING LEFT BEHIND IN THIS TRANSITION IS A CORE PART OF OUR EFFORTS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OIN 2024, VPIRG PRESSED TO HOLD THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DAMAGE IT HAS CAUSED TO VERMONT RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH CLIMATE CHANGE. VPIRG ALSO SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO UPDATE VERMONT'S CLEAN ELECTRICITY REQUIREMENTS WITH ONE OF THE STRONGEST RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARDS IN THE NATION.

    Expenses $600,080 · Grants $369,998

  • DEMOCRACY:VPIRG ACTIVELY SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO MAKE OUR DEMOCRACY MORE OPEN AND TRANSPARENT. WE SEEK TO ENSURE THAT ELECTIONS ARE FAIR AND ACCESSIBLE, AND WE ARE COMMITTED TO REDUCING THE UNDUE INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN OUR POLITICAL PROCESS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OIN 2024, VPIRG SUPPORTED EFFORTS STATEWIDE THAT WOULD REDUCE THE INFLUENCE OF CORPORATIONS IN OUR ELECTIONS, INCREASE TRANSPARENCY FROM POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES, PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF TRADITIONALLY DISENFRANCHISED INDIVIDUALS, AND IMPROVE THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY PROCESS IN THE STATE BY ADOPTING RANKED CHOICE VOTING.

    Expenses $137,057 · Grants $31,816

  • ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTHVPIRG WORKS TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND OUR ENVIRONMENT FROM THE HIDDEN DANGERS OF TOXIC CHEMICALS THAT VERMONTERS ARE OFTEN EXPOSED TO IN OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. IN 2024, VPIRG SUCCESSFULLY HELPED TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT POLLINATORS IN VERMONT BY PHASING OUT THE USE OF TOXIC NEONIC PESTICIDES. WE ALSO PRESSED SUCCESSFULLY FOR NEW LEGISLATION TO PROTECT VERMONTERS FROM PFAS TOXINS IN A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS INCLUDING COSMETICS, MENSTRUAL PRODUCTS, TEXTILES, AND MORE.

    Expenses $156,620 · Grants $67,758

  • ZERO WASTE VPIRG WORKS TO ADVANCE POLICIES AND SOLUTIONS THAT HOLD MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PRODUCTS THEY PUT INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT AND MOVE US CLOSER TO ZERO WASTE IN VERMONT. IN 2024, VPIRG CONTINUED TO SUPPORT THE MODERNIZATION OF VERMONT'S POPULAR BOTTLE BILL PROGRAM. WE ALSO FOCUSED SIGNIFICANT ATTENTION ON THE PROBLEM OF PLASTIC POLLUTION, AIMED PRIMARILY AT REDUCING THE QUANTITY AND TOXICITY OF PLASTICS, PARTICULARLY SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

    Expenses $49,812 · Grants $30,428

  • HEALTH CARE REFORM AND MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAMSVPIRG WORKS TO REFORM OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SO THAT IT PROVIDES ALL VERMONTERS ACCESS TO QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE WHEN THEY NEED IT. WE REMAIN COMMITTED TO ADVANCING POLICIES THAT ENSURE NO VERMONTER EVER HAS TO DECIDE BETWEEN RECEIVING A PAYCHECK OR CARING FOR A LOVED ONE.

    Expenses $3,297

  • CONSUMER PROTECTIONVPIRG SERVES AS A WATCHDOG, PROTECTING THE PUBLIC INTEREST WHEN CORPORATIONS ATTEMPT TO PUT PROFITS OVER PEOPLE, AND ENSURES THAT THE POLICIES AND LAWS THAT WE DO PASS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST ARE, IN FACT, ENFORCED. IN RECENT YEARS, VPIRG'S CONSUMER PROTECTION PROGRAM HAS PLACED A SPECIFIC EMPHASIS ON WORKING FOR POLICIES THAT PROTECT CONSUMERS IN THE DIGITAL SPACE. IN 2024, VPIRG SUPPORTED COMPREHENSIVE CONSUMER DATA PRIVACY LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN VERMONT CONSUMERS GREATER CONTROL OVER IF AND HOW COMPANIES USE THEIR SENSITIVE PERSONAL INFORMATION. WE ALSO SUPPORTED FAIR REPAIR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS TO PROVIDE FARMERS AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR PROVIDERSON FAIR AND REASONABLE TERMSACCESS TO THE PARTS, TOOLS AND INFORMATION NECESSARY TO FIX THEIR EQUIPMENT.

    Expenses $32,392

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • CHRIS MILLER

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • MEG NOONAN

    SECRETARY

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • MARIANNE BARTON

    TREASURER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    2

  • AIKO SCHAEFER

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • ASHLEY ORGAIN

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • BIFF MITHOEFER

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DIANA GONZALES

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DREW HUDSON

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • DUANE PETERSON

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • EMMA HUVOS

    TRUSTEE (END 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KANIKA GANDHI

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MATHEW RUBIN

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • WILLIAM QUINN HOUSTON

    TRUSTEE (END 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • TIKO BEDROSIAN

    TRUSTEE

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KRISTIN WARNER

    TRUSTEE (START 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • KATIE ERBE

    TRUSTEE (START 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • MIA MOORE

    TRUSTEE (START 2024)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

  • PAUL BURNS

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

    Total calculated
    $130,537
    From this org
    $112,000
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $18,537
    Hours/week
    19.97 + 20.03 related

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those.

Grants on this return

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

  • VT PUBLIC INTEREST RES & EDUC FUND INC

    501(C)(3) · EDUCATION · VT · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by VERMONT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP INC

  • VPIRG VOTES

    527 · POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE · VT · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by VERMONT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP INC

  • VPIRG VOTES ACTION FUND

    527 · POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE · VT · controlled entity

    Directly controlled by VERMONT PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP INC

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
13 November 2025
IRS schema version
2024v5.2
Source object
202533189349301718

Check it against the return as filed: the GivingTuesday Data Lake hosts a public copy of the original XML.

The source document this was parsed from is served over the API, which is where bulk and document access live.