VtSHARES

Vermont State Employees Workplace Giving Campaign

Every year, Vermont’s State Employees give hundreds of thousands of dollars to Vermont’s nonprofits. Since 1978, these donations have totaled nearly $11 million!

Green Mountain United Way works with a committee of State employees and United Ways around the state to organize this fundraising campaign each year. The campaign offers employees with the State of Vermont the opportunity to designate payroll deduction donations to nonprofit organizations serving Vermonters, including United Ways around the state and their partners.

The 2026 VtSHARES nonprofit application is now closed. If you would like to be added to the list for next year, please contact Sarah Galbraith at (802) 613-3989 or sgalbraith@gmunitedway.org.

Application Dates

Nonprofit organizations must apply each year to participate in the program. When the application is open, the schedule will be posted here.

Eligibility Criteria

A committee reviews each application. To be eligible to participate, nonprofits must:

• be a registered 501c3 nonprofit,

• have been in operation for at least two years,

• serve Vermont, and

• be in good standing with the Secretary of State.

Application Process

Every year, each nonprofit must apply by completing the following:

1. The VtSHARES online application form. (A link is posted when the application is open.)

2. A compliance form. (Available for download here when the application is open.)

3. For nonprofits that did not participate in the previous year, please email your letter from the IRS showing federal tax-exempt status.

4. Good standing with the Secretary of State. Make sure your listing is current and in good standing before applying.

5. Submit a story and photo (optional). The online form invites nonprofits to submit a story about that demonstrates the impact of your organization’s work. A photo may also be submitted.

Results and Payouts

The VtSHARES campaign starts in the fall, when state employees make a pledge to the nonprofit of their choice. Those funds are then collected through payroll deductions during the following calendar year.

An important change has been made: For pledges and payments that are collected during 2027, all correspondence will come from and should be directed to Green Mountain United Way. This is the only United Way overseeing the statewide program, going forward.

For pledges and payments being collected during 2026, nonprofits will continue to receive their results and payments from their Umbrella United Way, which is the United Way that serves their region. These payments are from the campaign that ran in fall of 2025, which is when employees make their pledges to be collected during the 2026 calendar year.

If you have a question regarding a payment amount for 2026, please contact your umbrella United Way":

• Green Mountain United Way: Bennington, Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Orleans, and Washington counties

• United Way of Northwest Vermont: Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties

• United Way of Addison County

• United Way of Lamoille County

• United Way of Rutland County

• United Way of Windham County

Administrative Fees

For payments made on the funds collected during 2026, a small administrative fee of 0.76% deducted from each payment to each nonprofit. No administrative fee will be deducted in 2027.

Retirement and Termination

In the event that a State Employee retires or leaves their job, Green Mountain United Way will fulfill their pledged donation amount. This is a significant liability, and is why we collected funds in full before we begin making payments.