EIN 03-0228267

Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG)

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(4)
Num. employees
98
City
Montpelier
State
Year formed
1972
Most recent tax filings
2023-12-01
NTEE code, primary
Description
The common mission of VPIRG and VPIREF is to promote and protect the health of Vermont’s people, environment and locally-based economy by informing and mobilizing citizens statewide.
Total revenues
$1,503,442
2023
Total expenses
$1,858,428
2023
Total assets
$2,111,159
2023
Num. employees
98
2023

Program areas at VPIRG

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.
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 2023, vpirg led the campaign to win voter approval to expand the use of ranked choice voting in Vermont's largest city, burlington. The ballet question won the support of more than 64% of voters. Vpirg also ran a voter education campaign in burlington as voters used the system for the first time in council races across the city. Statewide, vpirg successfully advocated in the senate for the passage of legislation to implement ranked choice voting in the 2028 presidential primary.
Climate and energy:our climate & energy work is driven by the understanding that we must fully decarbonize both Vermont and the nation, and that everyone deserves access to clean and affordable energy and transportation. Breaking down barrierscontributing torural, bipoc, and low-income communities being left behindin this transition is a core part of our efforts.continued on schedule oin 2023, vpirg pressed for a clean heat standard that would reduce vermonters' reliance on fossil fuels, shift to more affordable clean energy and lock in long term energy savings. Vpirg also supported efforts to update Vermont's clean electricity requirements with one of the strongest renewable energy standards in the nation.
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 2023, vpirg's work to modernize Vermont's popular bottle bill program culminated in legislative approval in the house and senate for a bill that would expand the scope of the program, make redemption more convenient for consumers, and reduce the burden on small retailers. The governor vetoed the bill late in the session and an override was scheduled for 2024.
Environmental health: vpirg works to protect Public health and our environment from the hidden dangers of toxic chemicals that we're exposed to every day. In 2023, vpirg launched a major new campaign to protect pollinators in Vermont by phasing out the use of toxic neonic pesticides. And in a significant win for our environmental health program, outdoor retailer rei announced that it would pfas in all textile products and cookware from its suppliers. This was a campaign vpirg, and other groups nationally had been working on for several years.
Consumer protection: vpirg 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 2023, 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.
Other miscellaneous programs

Grants made by VPIRG

GranteeGrant descriptionAmount
Vermont Public Interest Research and Education FundGeneral Support$500,000
League of Women Voters of VermontGeneral Support$10,000

Who funds Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG)

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
Article IVGeneral Support$200,000
Patagonia.orgTo Support Environmental Projects.$15,000
The Sears Swetland Family FoundationResearch and Education$10,000
...and 3 more grants received

Personnel at VPIRG

NameTitleCompensation
Paul BurnsExecutive Director$50,926
Becca MandigoFinance and Administration Director
Zachary TomanelliCommunications and Engagement Director
Ben HudsonDevelopment Director
Elijah KushenCommunications Manager
...and 3 more key personnel

Financials for VPIRG

RevenuesFYE 12/2023
Total grants, contributions, etc.$1,497,687
Program services$0
Investment income and dividends$4,795
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$0
Net rental income$1,893
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$0
Net income from fundraising events$0
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$-933
Miscellaneous revenues$0
Total revenues$1,503,442

Form 990s for VPIRG

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2023-122024-11-14990View PDF
2022-122023-11-14990View PDF
2021-122022-11-14990View PDF
2020-122021-11-12990View PDF
2018-122020-02-07990View PDF
...and 8 more Form 990s
Data update history
March 21, 2025
Received grants
Identified 3 new grant, including a grant for $200,000 from Article IV
January 7, 2025
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2023
January 4, 2025
Updated personnel
Identified 2 new personnel
January 3, 2025
Used new vendors
Identified 1 new vendor, including
October 25, 2024
Updated personnel
Identified 9 new personnel
Nonprofit Types
Social advocacy organizationsBusiness and community development organizationsHeadquarter / parent organizations
Issues
EnvironmentCommunity improvementEconomic developmentVoting rights
Characteristics
Political advocacyState / local levelRelated 527
General information
Address
141 Main St 6
Montpelier, VT 05602
County
Washington County, VT
Website URL
vpirg.org/ 
Phone
(802) 223-5221
Facebook page
VPIRG 
Twitter profile
@vpirg 
IRS details
EIN
03-0228267
Fiscal year end
December
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1972
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
No
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
S30: Economic Development
NAICS code, primary
813319: Social Advocacy Organizations
Parent/child status
Central organization
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