VERMONT LAND TRUST INC Charity Report

Public IRS 990 nonprofit record

VERMONT LAND TRUST INC

EIN 03-0264836 · Environment (C340)

What they do

ROOTED IN VERMONT SINCE 1977, THE VERMONT LAND TRUST UNITES LAND and LIVES for THE ENDURING BENEFIT of PEOPLE and THE PLACE WE SHARE. WE HELP PEOPLE PROTECT, CARE FOR, and CONNECT to LAND. THIS INCLUDES THE FARMS, FORESTS, NATURAL AREAS, and COMMUNITY SPACES THAT DEFINE US.

Before you give

Should I give to this charity?

Easy charity check

Look at where the money went

Of every $100 spent, about $87.20 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.

Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.

Basic facts we verified

IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.

Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.

They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.

They name their leaders22 people are listed in the latest report.

You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.

Money made simple

79.07%of revenue went to mission work87.2% of expenses · Program services

2.57%of revenue went to fundraising2.8% of expenses

$90.70spent for every $100 of revenueRevenue covered expenses this year.

9.05%of revenue went to management and office costs10.0% of expenses

$3.48in assets for every $1 spent this yearSome assets cannot be spent right away.

87.4%of its money came from giftsOther money may come from services or investments.

Ask these three easy questions

Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.

Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $143,354 for TRACY ZSCHAU (PRESIDENT AND CEO). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.

Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.

Money

Financial picture

Tax year 2024

A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.

$100revenue

How each $100 of revenue was used

The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.

Total reported revenue$20,570,203

Mission workProgram services$16,264,52779.07% of revenue87.2% of expenses

ManagementOffice and general costs$1,862,3549.05% of revenue10.0% of expenses

FundraisingAsking for donations$529,2912.57% of revenue2.8% of expenses

Revenue left after expensesReported annual surplus$1,914,0319.30% of revenueShown in gray on the chart

Total expenses$18,656,17290.70% of revenue

Gray means reported revenue left after expenses for this filing year. It does not necessarily mean cash sitting in a bank account.

Has the pattern changed?

Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.

YearExpense mixDetails

2024CurrentExpense mix: 87.2% mission · 10.0% management · 2.8% fundraisingTotal expenses: 90.70% of revenue

2023Expense mix: 89.8% mission · 7.6% management · 2.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 78.81% of revenue

2022Expense mix: 89.5% mission · 8.4% management · 2.1% fundraisingTotal expenses: 119.20% of revenue

2021Expense mix: 87.4% mission · 10.3% management · 2.3% fundraisingTotal expenses: 72.17% of revenue

2020Expense mix: 87.1% mission · 10.0% management · 3.0% fundraisingTotal expenses: 87.29% of revenue

2019Expense mix: 85.1% mission · 11.3% management · 3.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 90.36% of revenue

2018Expense mix: 90.4% mission · 7.0% management · 2.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 95.18% of revenue

2017Expense mix: 87.7% mission · 8.7% management · 3.6% fundraisingTotal expenses: 97.88% of revenue

Money in and money out

Revenue$20,570,203

Expenses$18,656,172

Annual surplus $1,914,031 Revenue was higher than expenses for this filing year.

Reported spending amounts

Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.

Mission work (program services)$16,264,527 · 87.2% of expenses

Management and office costs$1,862,354 · 10.0% of expenses

Fundraising$529,291 · 2.8% of expenses

See all reported dollar amounts

Revenue$20,570,203

Expenses$18,656,172

Assets$64,850,972

Income$24,469,913

Contributions$17,987,510

Mission work (program services)$16,264,527

Fundraising$529,291

Grants given$3,458,473

Average grant$133,018

Management and general$1,862,354

Stocks and bonds$15,142,147

Accounting fees$170,549

Investing fees$338,273

People

Leadership and board

Tax year 2024

Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.

People reported as paid

Person and titleCompensation

TRACY ZSCHAUPRESIDENT AND CEO · 40 hrs/week $143,354Base $131,250 · Other $12,104

ABBY WHITEVP FOR ENGAGEMENT · 40 hrs/week $133,961Base $130,780 · Other $3,181

TYLER MILLERVP FOR LAND ACTIVATION · 40 hrs/week $123,560Base $104,185 · Other $19,375

CHRISTINE MCSHEALEGAL DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $106,933Base $104,418 · Other $2,515

DANIEL KILBORNLANDS DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $105,831Base $103,467 · Other $2,364

ALLAN KARNATZPROJECT DIRECTOR · 40 hrs/week $104,730Base $102,397 · Other $2,333

JESSICA ESTESBOARD SECRETARY · 40 hrs/week $84,075Base $65,989 · Other $18,086

JOHN LIVINGSTONDIRECTOR OF FINANCE- OUTGOING · 40 hrs/week $78,620Base $68,271 · Other $10,349

Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.

See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (22)

TRACY ZSCHAUPRESIDENT AND CEO

ABBY WHITEVP FOR ENGAGEMENT

TYLER MILLERVP FOR LAND ACTIVATION

CHRISTINE MCSHEALEGAL DIRECTOR

DANIEL KILBORNLANDS DIRECTOR

ALLAN KARNATZPROJECT DIRECTOR

JESSICA ESTESBOARD SECRETARY

JOHN LIVINGSTONDIRECTOR OF FINANCE- OUTGOING

JOHN KASSELTRUSTEE

ABBIE CORSETRUSTEE

RAMSEY LUHRTREASURER

PAUL COSTELLOTRUSTEE

MIKE DONOHUEBOARD CHAIR

MERIWETHER HARDIEVICE CHAIR

MARIA YOUNGTRUSTEE

KARIN CHAMBERLAINTRUSTEE

CAROLYN GILBERTTRUSTEE

JESS PHELPSTRUSTEE

HANNAH SESSIONSTRUSTEE

FRED NELSONTRUSTEE

DAWN MORGANTRUSTEE

CHERYL MORSETRUSTEE

About this charity

Recognized since: January 1977
Location: 8 BAILEY AVENUE, MONTPELIER, VT 05602
County: Washington
In care of: TRACY ZSCHAU
Primary officer: TRACY ZSCHAU, CEO/PRESIDENT

How to reach them

WebsiteVisit the charity’s website Phone(802) 223-5234

Filing and classification

Latest tax year: 2024
Tax period began: July 1, 2024
Return type: 990
Tax preparer: NATHAN WECHSLER & COMPANY PA
NTEE classification: Environment (C340)
Grant-giving organization: Yes