Maximize the Impact of Your Giving with Local Knowledge

Every donor wants their giving to make a real difference. But how do you know if your support is truly reaching the people and places that need it most—or if it could go even further? That’s where the VCF’s Community Impact Team can help. With deep local knowledge, statewide connections, and expertise across Vermont’s most pressing issues, our team is here to help you give with confidence and clarity. 

You know how you can drive past the same mountain, river, or old bridge every day—so familiar it fades into the background—until one day, something makes you stop and take a closer look? Maybe it’s the way the light hits the ridgeline, the rush of spring melt in the river, or a fresh coat of frost on the bridge.

Giving can be like that, too. You support the causes that matter to you, but every so often, it’s worth taking a fresh look and pausing to ask yourself: 

• Am I making the impact I hope for? 

• Is my giving truly reaching the people and places that need it most? 

• Could my giving go even further for Vermont? 

That’s where local knowledge makes all the difference. 

When you give through VCF, you gain a partner who understands Vermont’s nonprofit landscape—what’s working, where the gaps are, and where philanthropy can accelerate real change. Our team listens to community leaders, studies emerging needs, and builds connections across the state so you can give with confidence.  

Informed, Connected, Impactful Giving  

As Vermont’s only community foundation, our commitment to fostering a vibrant and equitable future for all Vermonters is powered by a team of dedicated professionals who bring deep expertise and vision to stewarding discretionary grant dollars for their greatest impact. When you partner with VCF, you gain access to this wealth of knowledge and a network of connections that can significantly enhance your giving.  

How We Strengthen Your Giving 

Wherever you are on your giving journey, we’re here to help you: 

• Stay informed about emerging needs and opportunities. 

• Connect with nonprofits on the ground doing innovative work. 

• Shape a strategy that balances immediate response with long-term change. 

• Leverage insights from our focus areas—economic equity, education, health, climate, and democracy—to align your giving with Vermont’s greatest opportunities. 

Key Areas Where You Can Drive Change 

One of the central focuses of our work is closing the Opportunity Gap—the economic and social barriers that hold rural communities back. VCF knows that communities are strong when they have a shared sense of opportunity and potential for the future. 

• Economic Opportunity: Support affordable housing, small business development, and a strong safety net that helps families build stability and prosperity. 

• Education & Training: Strengthen student success, career readiness, and lifelong learning that fuel economic mobility and a thriving workforce. 

• Health & Wellbeing: Expand access to mental health services, healthy food, safe housing, and community-building programs that nurture resilience. 

• Climate & the Environment: Protect Vermont’s working lands, foster sustainable agriculture, and invest in climate resilience for future generations. 

• Democracy, Trust, and Leadership: Invest in civic engagement, community leadership, and efforts that build trust and collaboration across Vermont. 

Through this work, we center equity and the principles of trust-based philanthropy, respecting the expertise of community leaders who are closest to the challenges and solutions. 

A Partnership That Multiplies Your Impact 

Our philanthropic advisors work hand-in-hand with the Community Impact Team to bring you the latest insights, connections, and opportunities to ensure your giving is both meaningful and strategic. 

Regardless of the causes that interest you, when you establish a fund with VCF, you’re gaining a team of knowledgeable partners dedicated to helping you achieve your charitable goals. Our professionals work tirelessly to understand the landscape of need and opportunity in Vermont, so you can give confidently. 

Let’s Talk About Your Giving 

Your giving is personal. It reflects your experiences, your passions, and your hopes for Vermont’s future. If there’s an issue you’ve been thinking about—or if you’d like to explore new ways to make a lasting impact—we’d love to be part of that conversation.