Vermont Parks Forever Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

In 2024, Vermont parks forever (vpf) continued its focus on fundraising to support enhancements to Vermont state parks by increasing access to parks for vermonters, providing innovative educational opportunities, and creating a more equitable outdoor experience in the state parks. Vpf also joined its partners in a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Vermont state parks in 2024! Vpf created a dedicated website to collect stories and promote the centennial programming in the state parks on social media, on the website, and through vpfs e-newsletter. Vpf also managed partnerships with local businesses to highlight the centennial and raise awareness and funds for vpf and its mission on behalf of the parks. To read the 100th anniversary stories submitted by park enthusiasts visit: https://www.vermontparksforever.org/100-years. Vpfs park access fund began in 2016 by providing state park passes for 100 foster families. In 2024, the fund provided free park entry for 45 community partner organizations with recipients in all 14 counties by granting over 14,000 free days in the state parks a 1250% increase since the fund began. The park access fund grants time in the parks to vermonters who otherwise might not have the chance to experience all that vermonts state parks have to offer and vpf commits to continually working towards a future where all people feel welcome and renewed through their visits to vermonts state parks. Vermonters served include foster families, families with young children coming together to experience group camping with the springfield area parent child center, adults receiving services from rutland county mental health after prolonged periods without housing, adults in recovery from substance use disorder at turning point recovery center of franklin county, teens in emergency shelter at windsor county youth services, and riders taking part in adaptive mountain bike clinics through Vermont adaptive ski and sports, to name just a few. To read the full 2024 park access impact report visit: www.vermontparksforever.org/park-access-fund/. Vpf also continued its research and planning in 2024 for a major expansion of the park access fund that will launch for the 2025 park season. This privately funded pilot program will allow 100,000 vermonters with lower incomes to use their ebt, wic, or pilot program card to have free day-use access to the state parks for the 2025 park season. To learn about the park access fund 2025 pilot program visit: https://www.vermontparksforever.org/paf-pilot. Vpfs first large partnership project to reimagine the groton nature center as part of vpfs natural connections initiative, opened in june of 2023 and, in 2024 vpf continued to support more programming and promotion of the events at the center. Vpf is helping to inspire stewardship and life-long connections to the natural world by investing in innovative, customized place-based education throughout the parks system. Learn more about natural connections at: https://www.vermontparksforever.org/natural-connections. Vpf also manages the william cameron hagedorn mt. Philo forever fund summer internship each year which creates a paid position for a young person to connect with nature, practice environmental stewardship, develop teamwork and collaboration skills, and experience working with the public. Interns often return to the park as part of their summer staff, speaking to the success of the program. To learn more about this internship visit: https://www.vermontparksforever.org/mt-philo-forever-fund. To read vpfs 2024 impact report visit www.vermontparksforever.org/impact.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 20.4%; rating input score 20
• Program expense ratio: 35.5%; rating input score 36
• Fundraising efficiency: $7.14 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 27; 27th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 91.7%; rating input score 92; 12th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 76th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 4 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: Fail
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 56.1%; rating input score 94; 94th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.61; rating input score 86; 86th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 66; 66th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 24.5%; rating input score 10; 10th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: -6.1% per year; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: -5.7% per year; rating input score 0; 5th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 3% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings