As you read through this repor t, please remember that you our donors and fundholders make this work possible. On behalf of ever yone at the VCF, thank you for your continued trust and par tnership. We also extend our hear tfelt gratitude to all of the nonprofit par tners who are making a difference in the lives of the Vermonters they ser ve. Generous donors and hardworking nonprofit staff are the community in the Vermont Community Foundation.
- Sp enc er K napp, B o ard C hair
Board of Directors
Our board of directors consists of communit y leaders from around th e s t ate with dive r s e t al e nt s an d exp e rie n c e.
Kathy Austin ( Treasurer), Morgan
L aurie B eyranevand, Woodstock
Tim Briglin, Thet ford
Kristin C arlson (Secretar y), Montpelier
Cindy Char, Montpelier
Nicole Cur vin, Middlebur y Linds ay D es L auriers, Richmond
C arolyn Dw yer, Burlington
M ark Foley, Jr. ( Vice Chair), Rutland
Dimitri Garder, B ennington
Richard Holschuh, Brat tleboro
Spencer Knapp (Chair), Shelburne
Allyson L aackman, Out of State
Alexandra M acLean, West Danville
Tammy Newmark , New H aven
John Vogel, Nor wich
Visit vermontcf.org/board to se e the latest information about our board and governance
For a complete list of the C ommunit y Foundation staff, please visit: vermontcf org/staff
Dear Friends,
Our work doesn’t follow a consistent pat tern; in realit y, there’s no such thing as a normal year C an you remember when things last felt normal?
And yet, year in and year out, we’re grounded by the generosity of our donors and the dedication of community partners The work of making a difference is never done It requires unwavering support and a shared vision in which Vermonters look out for one another, live in balance with the environment, and have equitable access to opportunities. Where civic engagement thrives, and every individual feels healthy, inspired, and full of potential.
Giving has never be en more critic al. The challenges we face test our civic structures and demand a commitment to communit y that lies beyond policy. Their solution rests in the s acre d cohesion for which Vermont communities are for tunately known
When so many forces threaten to pull us apar t, giving holds us together. During last summer ’s floods, we witnes se d communit y-focuse d giving of nearly $14 million to suppor t flood-affecte d families and busines ses.
That work c ontinue s and it ’s just one of the many ways the Foundation c onne cts p e ople and re s ourc e s to move communities for ward. Donors trust us to manage their funds professionally and be their knowledgeable a d v i s o r in gi v in g N o n p ro f it l
a d e r s l o o k to u s to e n s ure th e c riti c a l wo rk th ey d o c
e d Ve rm o nt leaders rely on us for insight, strategy, contex t, systems, and tools that make dollars work effectively We hope we are th e f ir s t p h o n e c all wh e n p e o p l e are wre s tling with a c o mp lic ate d i s s u e in any c o rn e r of th e s t ate.
Rather than focus on fragile things, we choose to celebrate The generosit y we se e, year in and year out, shows the durability of community a sense of connection transcending the effor ts of any single organization, family, busines s, or civic entit y. For those curious about how they c an make a difference, giving offers a profound way to stay connecte d to places and to people in the places you hold in your hear t It ’s why we encourage ever yone to give where your hear t live s
Your continue d suppor t and belief in Vermont communities inspire us daily
With gratitude,
Dan Smith President & C EO
Financial Report for 2023
At Work in the Community
✔ Grants: $43.9 Million
✔ Mission Investments: $19.7 Million
✔ Programmatic Activity: $3.3 Million
Grantmaking by Source
Fundholder Directe d ................................................... $24.6M grants recommende d by C ommunit y Foundation fundholders (Donor Advise d and D esignate d Funds)
Suppor ting Organizations ............................................. $4.7M including Let ’s Grow Kids, the M c Clure Foundation, and The Cur tis Fund C
y Foundation Directe d ............................... $10.9M grants from the Foundation’s Discretionar y funds
People & Places Funds ..................................................... $1.9M informe d by communit y members from around the state, such as the Vermont Women’s Fund, the Samara Fund, and others
Reser ve and endowment funds establishe d by nonprof it organiz ations around the state
Grantmaking by Year
C H A R ITA B LE FU N D S A N D TO O L S D E FI N E D
C ommitte e Advise d Fund s, sometimes known as People & Places Funds, empower communit y members to select grants suppor ting specif ic c auses, topic s, or regions
D e signate d Fund s provide ongoing suppor t to one or more specif ic nonprof it organiz ations in perpetuit y
Discretionar y Fund s (Field of Intere st & Unre stricte d) allow donors to select a c ause, region, or topic and have Foundation staff select grante es that match that goal
Donor Advise d Fund s provide the donor with an imme diate tax de duction and enable grantmaking by individuals, families, foundations, and busines ses to one or more organiz ations, in flexible amounts, at any time of year.
Mis sion Inve stments are designe d to ge ne rate b oth f inancial and s o cial returns and are made in alignme nt with the Foundation’s mission, values, and areas of focus
Nonprofit Fund s (Endowment & Re ser ve) are establishe d to take advantage of the Foundation’s investment management ser vices to generate income to suppor t the nonprof it for a period of time or in perpetuit y.
Supp or ting O rganizations offer the benef it of a private charitable foundation without the administrative burden They have their own board of directors and autonomy in grant and investment decisions.
Te stamentar y Fund s are establishe d through a provision in an individual ’s estate plan, which includes trusts, IR As, and other vehicles that outline the distribution of as sets for charitable purposes upon the donor ’s pas sing.
Grantmaking by Focus Area
$43.9M
Total 2023 Grantmaking from all VC F Funds
TOTAL G R ANTS: 4,4 42 TOTAL G R ANTEES: 2 ,003
Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)
Our donor advise d fundholders are giving generously and making a difference.
357
Total Donor Advise d Funds in 2023
$21.9M
2,980
Grantmaking by County
230+
Vermont Towns Ser ve d
$43.9M
total grant amount
STATEWIDE
1,013 grants
E xample s:
• G overnor ’s Institutes of Vermont
• 3 50Vermont
• NOFA-V T
• Vermont Profes sionals of C olor Net work
MULTIPLE COUNTIES
452 grants
E xample s:
• Tri-Valley Transit
• C entral Vermont C ouncil on Aging
• Unite d Way of Nor thwest Vermont
OUT OF STATE
848 grants
E xample s:
• N ational Park Foundation
• Doctors Without B orders
• Ox fam Americ a
• New H ampshire PB S
• League to Save L ake Tahoe
A Park for Everyone
B rattleb oro’s Living Memorial Park spans seasons, generations
The C udwor th Family
A five - dollar ski ticket may seem like a historical relic, but that ’s exactly what Ella Cudworth, age 13, pays at the Brattleboro Ski Hill. “I love to ski,” she said, “and all my friends go too.”
The ski hill is part of Brattleboro’s Living Memorial Park. The public park, originally opene d in 19 55, is also home to an ice rink , Olympic - size d swimming pool, baseball and sof tball fields, tennis and pickleball courts, a dog park, playground, skate park, and more. Brattleboro Recreation and Parks Director Carol Lolatte is intentional about keeping the park open to everyone regardless of income. “ That ’s what municipal recreation is about,” s aid Lolat te “ It ’s about communit y and making oppor tunities for ever ybody ”
“It’s about community and making oppor tunities for ever ybody.”
– C arol Lolat te
For the Cudwor th family, those oppor tunities have spanne d generations. Ella’s dad, Jay, move d to Brat tleboro af ter high school in the late 19 80 s “ That April, I knew one person,” he s aid “ By the end of sof tball season, I had a group of f if te en. If I look at my friend group today, more than 30 years later, they ’re all directly connecte d to that team ”
At 16, I ain C udwor th is hoping to work at the p o ol this summer H e has gre at memorie s of summer c amps at the p ark , but as a te enager, he is re ady for a job. “C arol has a pro gram to train kids,” said his mom, Jessy “ They learn how to work for the town, their communit y, and get their f irst job in a hand-held experience.”
Jes sy, Jay, Iain, and Ella all agre e that having so many recreational oppor tunities in one place is an impor tant par t of the town’s vitalit y “ Ever yone goes there,” s aid Ella. “ If the park wasn’t there, you’d have to travel really far to do fun stuff ”
“ It is so impor tant to have fun and engaging activities outside for ever yone,” s aid Jes sy, who grew up in Brat tleboro. “ It ’s huge in a time when we spend so much time on scre ens. C arol ke eps it relevant and expanding, like with the pickleball cour ts, base d on what people are intereste d in That ’s impor tant too.”
“ The park is use d by the whole town,” s aid Jay “ It ’s more than rec programs, it ’s literally ever ybody ”
“In Brattleboro, People Make Dreams Come True”
Withington Fund awards $1 million to public recreation
Few individuals bet ter epitomize the closing sentence of a 19 87 histor y of Brat tleboro’s Living M emorial Park than Nelson Eugene Withington. “ In Brat tleboro, people make dreams come true,” it reads
During his lifetime, Withington made donations that helpe d pay for Brat tleboro’s public tennis cour ts, baseball f ields, indoor skating rink , and even a Zamboni to resur face the ice The loc al businessman and former college lacrosse player was a f irm believer in the power of recreation to build health and bring people together.
He also felt strongly that municipal recreation s h o ul d b e o p e n to eve r yb o dy, re g ardl e s s of in c o m e To c o ntinu e th e wo rk h e s up p o r te d during his lifetime, Withington created a legacy fun d at th e Ve rm o nt C o mmunit y Fo un d atio n.
To d ay, 2 2 ye ar s af te r hi s d e ath, an a dvi s o r y c o mmit te e to th e fun d h a s award e d ove r $ 1 million to recreation in the town he loved and will continue to do so in perpetuity.
Empowering Youth to Transform Schools
UP for Learning works with students to reimagine their e ducation
While p olicym ake rs in M ontp e lie r t ackle st atewide challe nge s around e duc ation from funding formulas to aging infrastructure s tu d e nt s at Poultney Middle and High School are working to strengthen their school community from the inside out .
Sinc e 20 18, students in the gre ater Rutland are a, including Poultney, have engage d with U P for Le arning, a Vermont nonprof it that emp owers youth and adults to reimagine and transform e duc ation to gether.
“ Youth and adults ne e d to share power, voice, and responsibilit y in school change,” s aid Lindsey H alman,
Poultney High S c hool UP for Le arning Te am
executive director of U P for Learning “Schools are places where e duc ation has be en done to and for young people. We believe in a paradigm shif t.”
In Poultney, that shif t is happening through studentled initiatives to improve school culture and climate
“ The idea is not to push youth out,” said Halman, who encourages schools to invite students who may feel disengaged into the process, “but rather to wrap around them ”
That begins with youth par ticipator y action research, a proces s by which student-le d teams collect and analy ze data to understand is sues like bullying, physic al s afet y, and substance use in their school They then bring their analysis back to the school communit y and work collaboratively with adults to lif t solutions into action.
A Commitment to Place
Tom & Ina Smith Johnson suppor t strong communit y in Rutland C ount y
Deeply committed to the Poultney are a wh e re th ey live, To m an d
In a S mith J o hn s o n s up p o r t “e du c atio n al o p p o r tunitie s, children and families, and effor ts that foster cohesivenes s and sustainabilit y ”
“ The C ommunit y Foundation has be en ver y impor tant to our philanthropy,” s aid Tom. “ We
“Youth and adults need to share power, voice, and responsibility in school change.”
- Lindsey H alman
In recent years, youth in Poultney have reviewe d school board policies, establishe d a relationship with the Rutland C ount y C ommunit y Justice C enter, le d discus sions around gender identit y, and par ticipate d in a training on conflict resolution through restorative convers ations.
“ Through this work , over time, young people se e themselves and the adults in their communit y in a different way,” s aid H alman. “ It fosters a collective sense of responsibilit y. It ’s a really power ful shif t.”
share a common set of values and a belief in strengthening small, rural communities both in our national outreach as well as our Vermont-base d programs.”
In the greater Rutland area, the Johnson’s Hills and Hollows Fund supports local efforts to bring people together toward a common purpose. “ That might be something straightforward like a bus to bring kids to a museum or a kitchen for the senior center,” s aid Ina.
“Or it might be encouraging a statewide program to take notice of our communities in the Rutland area.”
One of those statewide programs is U P for Learning, which receive d a $20,0 0 0 grant from Tom and Ina in 2023 to continue its work with loc al schools.
“ Tom and Ina are incre dible humans and so generous,” s aid Lindsey H alman, executive director of U P for Learning. “ Engaging youth in their e duc ation and communit y is so impor tant It ’s about par ticipator y democracy, which Vermont really embraces.”
Stitching Together Community
“The winters are long and there is a lot of time when you’re retired,” said Julie. “I saw this class and thought it would be fun.”
Par ticipants
Morristown Fre e Universit y conne cts p e ople through craf ting
A retire d lib rarian, J ulie wa s am o ng th o s e at te n ding a Fe lte d H e ar t S ewing Wo rks h o p l e d by lo c al ar ti s t, Pe ggy S mith. O ffe re d thro ugh the new Morristown Free University, the workshop provided instruction for making felt hear ts and learning how to embroider
“ The idea is to give your hear t away,” s aid Smith, who encourage d par ticipants to anonymously gif t the f inishe d hear ts to friends, family, or complete strangers “ It ’s just to spread a lit tle happines s and joy around.”
Even before anyone had sewn their f irst stitch, glimmers of that joy were evident Against the backdrop of a rainy af ternoon in April, par ticipants introduce d themselves and s at down to learn a new skill together.
Karin, a 74 -year-old woman from Brattleboro attending with her daughter, Helmi, mentione d that her mother, originally from Estonia, had enjoye d embroidering With prompting from her tablemates, Karin share d her story Her parents fled Estonia during the War of Independence Born in a German refugee camp, she emigrated to the U.S. when she was one and learne d English from her sister, who was old enough to at tend school. Af ter working at Lehman Brothers in Paris and the U N in New York , she eventually set tle d in Vermont to raise her thre e children
“ I was intereste d in learning about hear t felting,” s aid Jill at the nex t table “ But hearing Karin’s stor y has be en the best par t ”
And that ’s the idea behind Morristown Fre e Universit y, s aid Kyle Nuse, director of development at River Ar ts “ It ’s about fostering a sense of communit y,” she s aid. “At times of polariz ation and disconnection, the ar ts help bring people back together to work , play, and create which has meaningful impacts on mental health and wellbeing ”
The clas ses offere d at Morristown Fre e Universit y range d from Afric an drumming to bread making, bringing people of all ages together to create ar t and new connections The program, which was fre e to par ticipants, was funde d in par t by a Vermont C ommunit y Foundation Ar ts & Social C ohesion grant.
The Healing Ar ts
Fundholders inspire new Ar ts & Social C ohe sion program
D evelope d in par tnership with an anonymous donor advise d fund, the Ar ts & Social C ohesion program recognizes that ar t ser ves societ y beyond beaut y and enter tainment.
“ The fundholders se e the ar ts as a conduit to social connection something many Vermonters are craving post-pandemic,” s aid
Stacie Fagan, vice president for philanthropy at the C ommunit y Foundation “ They aske d us to think about how they could anonymously suppor t that basic, urgent human ne e d for connection through the ar ts ”
W ith $ 2 50,0 0 0 in grant s award e d to 2 9 o rg aniz atio n s s in c e it s in c e ptio n in 20 23, in c lu ding a grant to l aun ch M o rri s town Fre e U nive r s it y, it ’s clear the Ar ts & Social C ohesion program creates communit y
“ You don’t have to be an ar tist to benef it from making ar t,” s aid Fagan “ It bridges divides It ’s an antidote to lonelines s and a balm to mental health. The ver y act of creating, in and of itself, c an be c athar tic ”
Giving Back to the L and They Loved
Upholding a le gacy through a discretionar y fund
When her parents retired in 1969 and moved full-time to their summer house in Bridgewater, Sally Wister says they finally felt “at home ” The headmaster of a private school in Connecticut an d life lo ng e du c ato r, h e r fath e r wa s always drawn to th e o utdo o r s, s o th e 9 0 - a cre tre e farm in Ve rm o nt ap p e al e d to hi s n ature
“ B eing in the woods was a source of tremendous s atisfaction to him,” s aid
Sally “ They really treasure d Vermont and the people they met as a young marrie d couple, especially the loc al farmers. They appreciate d that connection to the land ”
Upon their pas sing, Sally ’s parents establishe d the Wynne and Joan Wister Fund, a discretionary fund at the Community Foundation As such, VC F staff make decisions about how grantmaking can honor the Wisters’ intention to “preserve Vermont ’s cherishe d environment and encourage the health and welfare of children ”
Among the 161 grants the fund has supported since its inception is one in 2023 to Stowe Land Trust to construct a greenhouse at Stowe Elementary School. “I think they would have loved that,” said Sally “They felt Vermont gave them so much and wanted to show their gratitude for the place and people they came to know and love.”
Planting Seeds and Pulling Weeds
Students in Stowe learn ab out food, agriculture in new gre enhou se
This spring, third- grade students at Stowe Elementary School started a Three Sisters Garden— corn, beans, and squash from seed, thanks to a new greenhouse in the school garden.
The se e dlings tie students back to a clas sroom les son on Abenaki agriculture. “ It ’s an ecologic ally genius way to plant in terms of crop timing and we e d control,” s aid Alex Michalka, the school district ’s garden coordinator “ When the students come back nex t fall, we’ll har vest and, hopefully, bring those crops into the c afeteria.”
Understanding where food comes from is an impor tant les son for kindergar ten teacher B eth Bradford “ We do a lit tle maple syrup unit, we do a mini-unit on farms,” she s aid. “ It ’s an impor tant life skill for kids to have. For them to se e it star t in the gre enhouse and end up in our dining area, it ’s so much fun ”
S towe L an d Tru s t p ar tn e r s with th e lo c al p ub lic s ch o o l s to cre ate o utdo o r Le arning L an d s c ap e s where students can make connections to classroom instruction and simply get their hands dir t y
Following the flooding last summer, which washe d away ever y thing students had plante d, the L and
Trust applie d for a grant to replace the original greenhouse, which was burned down by an arsonist in 20 16. Par t of a c omprehensive revit aliz ation of the space, the re quest was a per fect f it for the Wister Fund, which suppor ts the environment and young people in Vermont.
“ It ’s so exciting,” s aid Michalka. “ It ’s about to be completely turne d around. In Vermont, where there is a long agricultural focus, we’re in reach of les sons that connect kids to our histor y and, at the s ame time, make our future more self-reliant. Just bec ause they ’re young doesn’t mean they ’re not going to take away impor tant les sons They may not remember exactly how to se e d and plant, but they ’ll remember how good it felt to have their hands in the dir t or to hold a worm.”
“Kids love worms,” agreed Bradford “I like to say, we’re planting seeds and pulling weeds, but there are endless things you can do. Sometimes, we sit outside and sketch, noticing birds or a carrot somebody forgot to harvest It ’s very grounding for kids ”
Te ac he r B eth B radford and G arde n C oordinator
Alex Mic halka in front of the new gre e nhou s e
Making the Dream of Home Ow nership
a Realit y
Share d e quit y program has help e d more than 1,50 0 Vermonters buy their first home
In March 2023, Wanda Hines sold her home of 30 years in Burlington’s Old North End, passing both the keys and the security of homeownership to a new owner.
Among more than 1,50 0 Vermonters who have purchas e d their f irst home through C hamplain H ousing Trust (C HT ), Hine s als o p as s e d along a p or tion of the home’s e quit y, allowing the new owner the same oppor tunity provided to her three dec ades earlier.
The Shared Equity Program reduces mor tgage costs and uses state and fe deral funds to provide down payments for qualif ie d buyers In exchange, when
Small Grants with Big Impact
Lis a Schamberg and Pat Robins inve st in communit y
Pat Robins remembers his mother, Helen, writing checks to people who c ame into her store ne e ding a new coat or pair of boots. “ When she die d,” s aid Pat, “she had $1,0 0 0 in her account. She had given it all away ”
That legacy of giving continues with Pat and his wife, Lis a Schamberg, who have made more than 8 5 grants since 2019 through their donor advise d fund Pat and Lis a consider
themselves “for tunate people with a few ex tra bucks. We’re not million - dollar donors,” s aid Lis a. “So we have to be smar t ”
For Pat and Lis a, that means giving loc ally through the Vermont Community Foundation to a broad array of nonprof its. Whether they are suppor ting the ar ts, e duc ation, the environment, healthcare, or me eting the ne e ds of people in pover t y, they ask each organiz atio n to think cre ative ly ab o ut wh e re th e ir do n atio n c an h ave a multip lie r e ffe c t
The Champlain Housing Trust Share d Equit y Program is one of the nonprof its they suppor t “ My grandmother lef t me money
that person sells, they agree to pass on a percentage of the home’s appreciation to the nex t buyer
“ We es sentially recycle the initial investment and allow it to grow with the market, preser ving affordabilit y for future buyers,” s aid Michael Monte, C EO of Champlain Housing Trust
Housing is core to the organiz ation’s mis sion, but only par t of the picture “ It ’s really about communit y and f inding gaps in the system that we c an f ill using our real estate exper tise,” s aid Monte. “ People ne e d more than housing They ne e d connectivit y, discourse, and places where they c an gather ” Monte points to the Old Nor th End C ommunit y C enter, purchase d by C HT with suppor t from the C ommunit y Foundation in 2019, and a similar
to make a down payment on my f irst house,” s aid Lis a. “ But many people don’t have the wherewithal to come up with a down payment.”
“ We have suppor te d them for many years,” adde d Pat. “ They ’ve had more than 1,50 0 trans actions in 40 years Imagine that 1,50 0 people and their families who would other wise not have be en able to afford a home. We think it ’s a great program ”
project under way in Winooski as examples. It ’s Hines’ life, however, that illustrates how the pieces become much greater than the sum of their par ts
With a stable home and place to raise her children, Hines bec ame a be drock f igure in the communit y. She was the director of Fe e ding Chit tenden, ran the Cit y of Burlington’s Social Equit y Investment Project, and ser ve d on the Champlain Housing Trust board of directors.
“One thing I love d about being par t of C HT was this share d idea of inclusivenes s,” she s aid in a 2023 inter view “ To not par ticipate in your life is not an option.”
“Because of the equity I earned,” she said, “I’ve been able to move on to my nex t phase of life in comfor t ”
Closing the Oppor tunity Gap H e alth & We llb eing 36%
At the hear t of our mis sion is closing the oppor tunit y gap the divide that leaves many Vermonters struggling to build bright, secure futures no mat ter how hard they work. This gap is roote d in systemic is sues, and addres sing it re quires collaborative effor ts and strategic inter ventions Through par tnerships with nonprof its, we have develope d a framework aime d at tackling the root c auses of this gap, ensuring that ever y Vermonter has the chance to thrive Together, we c an ensure that no Vermonter is lef t behind and that the promise of a brighter future becomes a realit y for all
IMPACT ARE A: Health & Wellb eing
Helping Vermonters Thrive
Strateg y Highlights
In 2023, health and wellbeing grants from the VC F family of funds suppor te d various effor ts, including addres sing critic al ne e ds for food, shelter, and other neces sities af ter the summer floods Additionally, VC F grants strengthene d systems and resources for mental health, par ticularly aiding Vermonters in crisis. Some of these include d grants suppor te d by a par tnership with the Kat z Amsterdam Charitable Trust to increase e quitable acces s to behavioral and mental health ser vices in Stowe, Ludlow, Mount Snow, and other communities
Signif ic ant funding also targete d youth mental health, suppor ting leadership activities, suicide prevention training, and e quine therapy. Grants were also made to suppor t older Vermonters through projects such as Windham Aging’s Strategic Plan for Aging Well. The Foundation also provide d substantial suppor t to substance use recover y organiz ations, funding initiatives such as the VAM HAR ( Vermont As sociation of M ental Health and Addiction Recover y) Recover y- Friendly Workplace pilot program
$15.9M awarde d in 2023
Why This Is Impor tant
MENTAL HE ALTH
31% of Vermonters ages 18 -25 have a mental illnes s, with higher rates among marginalize d groups. 20% of children ages 12-17 in Vermont had a major depres sive episode 1
SOC IAL C ONNECTION
Social isolation and lonelines s among adults are rising, contributing to increase d substance use and suicide
REC OVERY PROG R AM S
About 12,0 0 0 Vermonters come out of substance misuse treatment programs each year That is double the average number of Vermont students graduating from high school 2
IMPACT ARE A: Democracy, Trust, & Community Leadership
Creating Connected Communities
Strateg y Highlights
C onnection and sense of place are critic al to creating belonging, where residents take pride in their communities, and where leadership skills and oppor tunities are growing In 2023, VC F suppor te d various democracy-relate d events and projects to explore innovative communit y leadership and engagement Grants funde d D emocracy Creative’s pilot for a Citizens’ Assembly, where residents are selected by lotter y, traine d, and compens ate d to solve loc al is sues
The SoV T G et on B oard! program suppor te d new loc al leaders with training and net working oppor tunities Craf tsbur y ’s workshop series and small grant program aims to re duce division through increase d dialogue and communit y problem - solving. From M ay 202 2 through 2023, the B et ter Places program, in par tnership with the State of Vermont and Patronicity, awarded 38 grants in 33 communities. These grants suppor ted neighborhood engagement and beautification, including building town pavilions and playgrounds, and designing accessible parks of ten improving underused community areas.
$1.3M awarde d in 2023
Why This Is Impor tant
REPRES ENTATION
A 202 1 C enter for Research on Vermont study found that women and residents under 50 were underrepresente d in higher-ranking town leadership positions 4
C OMMUNIT Y C ONNECTION
In a 2023 sur vey of VC F grante es, 41% responde d that the lack of communit y connection was among their top concerns 3
IMPACT ARE A: Climate & Environment
Protecting Farms, Forests, and Wetlands
Strateg y Highlights
In 2023, the Foundation and its fundholders awarde d over $10 M in single and multi-year grants to 30 0 + organiz ations focuse d on climate and the environment, suppor ting initiatives to protect Vermont ’s farms, forests, lakes, and rivers; enhance communit y and watershe d resiliency; and addres s environmental justice VC F provide d multi-year grants to bolster farm viabilit y and food systems, aiming to expand markets, suppor t rural livelihoods, build healthy soil, protect clean water, and re duce gre enhouse gas emis sions. Six regional watershe d groups receive d grant funding to improve statewide coordination and protect vulnerable downstream communities. Additionally, the Foundation embrace d trust-base d philanthropy by awarding unrestricte d, thre e -year operating grants to seven key organiz ations aligne d with the Climate & Environment strategy.
$10. 2M awarde d in 2023
Why This Is Impor tant
FORESTED L ANDS
78% of Vermont ’s lands are foreste d. Private landowners own more than 80% of forestland in Vermont; busines s or industr y owns 1%; and loc al, state, and fe deral governments own 19% 5
C LIMATE
Vermont ’s per c apita climate pollution is more than t wice the global average.6
AG RIC ULTURE
Vermont farms are managing 250,0 0 0 total acres, generating over $240 million per year in economic activit y. 15% of Vermont farms have a young operator, age 3 5 or younger.7
IMPACT ARE A: Education & Training
Increasing Educational Access
Strateg y Highlights
In 2023, the C ommunit y Foundation and its supp or ting organiz ations made signif ic ant inve stments in child c are, youth opp or tunit y, and c olle ge ac c e s s Let ’s G row K ids, supp or te d by a fe deral H U D grant, will exp and child c are c enters in Middlebur y, Randolph, and B arre, adding 28 5 sp ots for young children Effor ts by Let ’s G row K ids als o le d to st ate le gislation c ommit ting subst antial public funding to child c are and af ters cho ol pro grams The VC F family of funds provide d subst antial supp or t to organizations ser ving children and youth, funding various programs from teen centers to ar ts and leadership oppor tunities The Cur tis Fund awarded scholarships to 76 5 students across Vermont. Shor t-term, career-focused education and training programs resulted in 70% of unemployed students who received a Cur tis Fund cer tificate scholarship finding full-time or par t-time employment. The McClure Foundation’s Free Degree Promise enabled over 235 seniors to pursue free associate degrees, which includes a near doubling of firstgeneration student enrollment.
$7.9M awarde d in 2023
Why This Is Impor tant
CHILD CARE
6 1% of infants in Vermont who are likely to ne e d child c are while their parents work don’t have acces s to any regulate d programs 8
COLLEGE CONTINUATION
Fewer than half of Vermont ’s high school students are transitioning directly to college. The continuation rate among economic ally dis advantage d students is 30 7 % 9
IMPACT ARE A:
Economic Equit y
Building a Strong Economy
Strateg y Highlights
In 2023, nearly $2.7M in grants from VC F and its fundholders suppor te d economic e quit y in Vermont Grants were made to protect housing through initiatives like the Woodstock Hub’s Loc al D e e ds Program, the Housing and Homeles snes s
C o alitio n of Ve rm o nt, an d e n e rgy e ff icie n cy up gra d e s fo r m anufa c ture d h o m e re s id e nt s
T h e Fo un d atio n fun d e d f ive e ntre p re n e ur s hip p ro gram s a cro s s th e s t ate: D o N o r th C owo rk ing,
G e n e rato r, L aun chV T, M e rcy C o nn e c tio n s, an d S p a c e o n M ain, offe ring s e r vic e s fro m e ntre p re n e ur s hip b a s ic s to p e e r c o a ching th at c o nn e c t s rural b u s in e s s e s with grow th - s t a g e
Vermont businesses seeking services and suppliers
Ad ditio n ally, grant s s up p o r te d th e C e nte r fo r
Wo m e n & Ente rp ri s e, th e Ve rm o nt Emp loye e Ownership Center, and the Vermont Professionals of C olor Net work , fostering diverse entrepreneurship.
Refe re n c e s: 1 M e nt al H e alth Am e ric a: Prevale nc e D at a 20 2 2 2 Frie n d s of
Re c ove r y Ve rmont 3 . Ve rmont C ommunit y Foun d ation 20 23 G rante e S ur vey
4 . U V M C e nte r for Re s e arch on Ve rmont 5. Ve rmont Age ncy of N atural
Re s ourc e s, D e p ar tm e nt of Fore s t s, Parks, an d Re cre ation 6 En e rgy Ac tion
N et work Annu al Pro gre s s Re p or t for Ve rmont 20 23 7 Think Ve rmont 8 Let ’s
G row K id s 9 N ew Englan d S e c on dar y S cho ol C on s or tium’s Annual C ommon
D at a Proje c t 20 2 2 Re p or t 10 U S C e n su s B ure au 20 18 Am e ric an C ommunit y
S ur vey 11 Ve rmont D e p ar tm e nt of L ab or, U S B ure au of L ab or S t atis tic s
$2 .7M awarde d in 2023
Why This Is Impor tant
HOUSING
N e arly a third of Vermont hous eholds are c ostburdene d, sp ending over 3 0 % of their inc ome on housing expenses. For renters, it ’s even worse at 51% . 1 0
STAFFING AND EMPLOYMENT
Vermont still has more jobs than people to fill them According to the U S Bureau of L abor Statistic s, Vermont workplaces had 2.7 job openings in October 2023 for ever y unemploye d person.11
BUSINESS TR ANSITIONS
As owners near retirement, busines s transitions present oppor tunities to ke ep busines ses loc al and build people’s f inancial securit y through employe e ownership and other models.
Spotlight on Housing
Investing in community revitalization and affordable housing
Mission investments put charitable dollars at work alongside grantmaking for greater impact with a return that is far more than just financial. As par t of VCF’s mission investing strategy, we s u p p o r t a m b i ti o u s p
s th
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nto Vermont ’s historic downtowns and incre as e the availabilit y of affordable housing E xample s include:
• The renovation of a 19 0 0 s- era dance hall in St Johnsbur y into middle -income apar tments and an ar tist-in -residence program
• C ontinue d rehabilitation of the historic Putnam Block (phase t wo) in B ennington to provide housing and retail space
• Restoration of the New Avenue building in St. Johnsbur y, creating apar tments, communit y rooms, and commercial space downtown
The Community Foundation’s unique role is providing what is know as patient c apital for sof t costs while f inancing packages are develope d In some c ases, VC F gets money back when a project is complete d and uses those funds to invest in the nex t project. In others, we leave that c apital in place until there is suff icient appreciation In addition to specif ic projects, we ke ep c apital in the Vermont Housing Finance Authorit y and other interme diaries
VC F’s strategy is to invest in low and moderate -income projects, work force housing that does not have the benef it of subsidies, and projects that improve life not only for residents, but for the entire communit y, such as as sets like parks, walking and bike paths, child care, and grocery stores
Learn more at vermontcf.org/mis sioninvesting.
Vermont Community Foundation Mission Investments
$19.7M
Total
Vermont Pool
At least 5% of ever y fund at the C ommunit y Foundation is investe d in the Vermont Mis sion Investment Pool
$17M
Non- Pool Inve stments
Additional mis sion -relate d investments made in par tnership with our donor advise d fundholders and similar assets donated to VCF
$2.7M
Our Family of Funds & Foundations
The Community Foundation is made up of more than 1,000 funds and foundations. These are some of them.
The Mc Clure Foundation wants all young people in Vermont to know that colle ge is within reach Donovan Arnold will graduate with his fre e degre e in accounting in 2025. Learn more about Vermont ’s Free Degree Promise through the state’s Early College program at CCV at mcclurev t .org.
For the Kingdom, by the Kingdom. The NEK Fund makes grants to support the people and communities of C ale donia, Es sex, and Orleans counties The decision -making commit te e is comprise d of youth and adult N EK residents Read more in the stories section at vermontcf.org/NEK .
Northeast
Kingdom Fund
In 2023, Let ’s G row Kids celebrate d the pas sing of the C hild Care Bill (Act 76). Learn more at letsgrowkids org With the organiz ation’s planne d sunset in 2025, the VC F Grants and C ommunit y Impact team will c arr y on the work of suppor ting early childcare and education through our Closing the Opportunity Gap framework vermontcf.org/OppGap
Providing scholarship s to Vermont students pursuing a postsecondar y e ducation, The Cur tis Fund aims to level the playing field so every Vermonter has a chance to obtain the education they need Meet Colleen a Curtis Fund Scholar and first- generation college student studying early childhood education at vermontcf.org/Curtis-Scholar- Colleen
Advancing gender e quit y for Vermont women and girls. The Women’s Fund Rise & Thrive C ampaign awarde d $230,0 0 0 in grants in the f irst round to women busines s owners affecte d by 2023 floods, helping them recover and thrive. Learn more at vermontcf.org/riseandthrive.
Promoting athletic s and healthful behaviors in Addison C ount y by suppor ting tennis and other health e duc ation programs for youth and adults. Learn more at vermontcf.org/ACAF
Opportunity Fund for Southshire Youth
The Oppor tunit y Fund for Southshire Youth suppor ts dynamic and innovative te en programs in B ennington, Nor th B ennington, Pownal, Shaf tsbur y, and Woodford Learn more about youth -le d grantmaking priorities and funding at vermontcf.org/OFSY
The Samara Fund is a group of Queer and Trans Vermonters committed to a vision of transformation grants and scholarships to people and groups throughout Vermont who demonstrate their dedication to the empowerment, health, and safety of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+), and HIV-positive people Learn more at vermontcf.org/Samara
C orporate Gif ts
V T- B ase d Gif ts
Out- of- State Gif ts
VC F D onor Advis e d Funds
$14M
Gif ts into the V T Floo d Re s p on s e & Re c ove r y Fund a s of June 202 4
8,914
D onors, B u sine s s e s, Foundation s, & N onprofits
Collective Giving Powers Flood Recover y Across Vermont
In 2023, communities across Vermont experienced severe landscape and life - changing events caused by torrential rains The C ommunit y Foundation re sp onde d through the generosit y of donors and the V T Flo o d Re sp ons e & Re c over y Fund.
M ade pos sible by nearly 9,0 0 0 VC F fundholders, corporations, and individual donors who entrusted the Foundation to distribute grants, the fund suppor te d effor ts in over 10 0 Vermont towns, demonstrating a signif ic ant collective effor t in aiding the state’s recover y
One of the key lessons from this disaster is the critical role required of philanthropy in addressing gaps. Notably, neither federal nor state funds directly suppor t long-term recover y groups (LTRGs) even though they are central to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster recover y model.
VC F’s flood fund provide d es sential c apacit ybuilding grants to help establish seven LTRG s acros s Vermont These groups handle individual as sistance, building as ses sments, home repair cost estimates, and construction material acquisition. They also coordinate loc al volunte ers, charities, and religious groups in rebuilding and repairing homes, ensuring effective use of volunte er effor ts and resources.
The VC F’s early commitment to ensure funding reache d ever y town on the state’s list of impacte d communities was pivotal in shaping the team’s subse quent outreach and strategy design It enable d VC F to strengthen net works and gain a de eper understanding of the unique challenges faced by Vermont’s small, rural communities These insights into the strengths and challenges of these communities during a major disaster will continue to guide VCF’s strategies and enhance its effectiveness in future dis aster responses, as well as in the Foundation’s work to close the oppor tunit y gap
Strateg y Highlights
$2 .7 M+
grante d or allo c ate d for c ritic al ne e d s & individual a s sistanc e
Critical Needs & Individual Assistance
The initial re sp ons e from the fund prioritize d quickly dire cting re s ourc e s to exp erienc e d st atewide and re gional p ar tners adept at managing imme diate crisis situations Key b ene f iciarie s include d the Re d C ros s and Vermont ’s f ive c ommunit y action agencie s. The s e organiz ations ensure d that affe cte d individuals were sheltere d, fe d, and clothe d In the s e c ond phas e, the fund b e gan to is sue grants to addre s s the psycholo gic al imp act of the flo o ding The s e grants c ontinue to supp or t ongoing ment al he alth s er vic e s and pro grams aime d at re storing a s ens e of c ommunit y and s o cial c onne ction, crucial for the holistic re c over y of individuals and c ommunitie s during the rebuilding phas e
“People were really scared. We knew we’d hear more about anxiety and depre ssion setting in later, and that ’s what happened.”
- M ar y M oulton, E xe cutive D ire ctor Washington C ount y M ent al H e alth S er vic e s
$3 . 8 M
grante d or allo c ate d for hou sing and hom e re pair
Housing & Home Repair
To suppor t Vermonters whose homes were damage d or destroye d by the flooding, grantmaking has focuse d on temporar y housing for displace d individuals and families, replacing critic al systems like heating and electric al, and strengthening loc al and regional long-term recover y groups such as the HOPE C oalition and Kingdom Unite d Resilience & Recover y Effor t (KU RRVE) that are bringing in construction teams to help with repairing and rebuilding homes VC F has also par tnere d with the Vermont Dis aster Recover y Fund ( VD RF ) to fund an alloc ations director role. This director collaborates with recover y groups and c ase managers to as ses s c ases, identif y resources, and as sist individuals in applying for VD RF funds when other resources are exhauste d
“The flooding exacerbated an already serious housing shor tage in C entral Vermont . We worked quickly to make repairs so that we could get familie s back home as quickly as possible.”
- R yan M orit z , D ire ctor of D evelopment and C ommunic ations at D ownstre et H ousing & C ommunit y D evelopment
Farms & Agriculture
E arly grantmaking in the imme diate af termath of the flooding focuse d on effor ts to dis seminate information to farmers about navigating fe deral funding oppor tunities. In August 2023, the Foundation use d funds from the V T Flood Response & Recover y Fund to create the Farm Dis aster Relief Grant Program aime d at providing direct aid to farmers The program suppor te d farms and farmers acros s the state who lost e quipment or crops and sustaine d proper t y damage during the flooding, succes sfully making grants to ever y eligible farm that applie d.
“Ten thousand dollars would not be a lot to ever ybody, but for us, it ’s a sub stantial help.” - M at t B r yan and O livia G las c o e, Lower N otch B err y Farm, B ristol
Business & Nonprofit Recover y
The fund provide d substantial suppor t for busines ses and nonprof its affecte d by flooding Grants were directe d to the Vermont M ain Stre et Flood Recover y Fund and local funds like the Barre Community Relief Fund and Montpelier Strong Recover y Fund, which offer direct f inancial aid to small busines ses for rebuilding effor ts Additionally, grants were made to nonprofits whose physical spaces were directly affected by the flooding to help get them back up and running so they could ke ep ser ving their communities, ensuring es sential ser vices continue d uninterrupte d.
“In so many ways it gave us the confidence to know that we could reopen, knowing that there was funding coming in.”
- S arah D e Felic e, B ailey Ro ad, M ontp elier
Community & Climate Resilience
Since Tropic al Storm Irene, Vermonters have be en working together to be bet ter prepare d for more fre quent and intense storms. The 2023 floods refocuse d at tention on the real threats that the changing climate poses to Vermont ’s communities and economy Communities will need to continue to adapt to mitigate even more dramatic changes in the future In 2024, the Foundation is par tnering closely with organiz ations such as Watershe ds Unite d Vermont to suppor t loc al groups in identif ying risks, re ducing vulnerabilit y to future storms, and helping to facilitate relationships acros s sectors and town borders to ensure a strong recover y
“If you don’t remove home s from the floodplain, you are going to keep having them de stroyed by flooding.”
- Michelle B raun, E xe cutive D ire ctor of Friends of the W ino oski River on b et ter planning for low-inc ome housing, which is of ten lo c ate d in f lo o dplains
$2 .4M+
grante d or allo c ate d for farm s & agriculture
$1 . 3 M+ grante d or allo c ate d for b u sine s s & nonprofit re c ove r y
$3 .4M
grante d or allo c ate d for c ommunit y & clim ate re silie nc e
3 C our t Stre et Middlebur y, V T 0 575 3 vermontcf.org
Ke ara K re ss er c our te sy of K ingdom Trails , J e ssic a O jala c our te sy of River Ar ts , Addison C ommunit y Athletic s Foundation, D ownstre et H ousing & C ommunit y D evelopment
