Vermont Interfaith Power And Light Inc

VERMONT INTERFAITH POWER AND LIGHT (VTIPL) SUPPORTS VERMONT FAITH AND SPIRIT COMMUNITIES WITH EDUCATION AND RESOURCES TO CONFRONT THE SPIRITUAL CRISIS POSED BY THE IMPACT OF THE CHANGING CLIMATE ON PEOPLE AND OTHER LIFE. VTIPL OFFERS EDUCATION AND FUNDING TO HELP CONGREGATIONS TAKE ACTION TO MITIGATE, ADAPT, AND RESPOND TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS.

IN 2021, VERMONT INTERFAITH POWER AND LIGHT (VTIPL) OFFERED CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN VERMONT AND SELECT COUNTIES OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, MATCHING GRANTS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS IN CHURCH-OWNED BUILDINGS. THIS PROGRAM IS FUNDED ENTIRELY BY THE VTIPL KATY GERKE MEMORIAL FUND (KGMF). VTIPL AWARDED SIX GRANTS, WHICH TOTALED $38,030, TO SIX VERMONT CHURCHES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR BUILDINGS. VIRTUALLY ALL (99%) OF THE MONEY DONATED TO THE KGMF WAS PROVIDED BY ONE MAJOR DONOR, WHO ESTABLISHED THIS PROGRAM TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF HIS WIFE. ADDITIONAL INCOME FOR THE KGMF CAME FROM DIVIDENDS RECEIVED FROM AND CAPITAL APPRECIATION OF FINANCIAL SECURITIES HELD WITH KGMF MONIES. THE DONOR HAS SPECIFIED HAT THE MONEY IN THE KGMF SHALL REMAIN FULLY INVESTED IN STOCK MARKET. AT THE REQUEST OF THE DONOR, THIS FUND IS COMMITTED EXCLUSIVELY TO SUPPORTING MATCHING GRANTS FOR CHRISTIAN CHURCHES. VTIPL MADE PROGRESS IN 2021 TOWARD DEVELOPING A PROGRAM THAT WILL SUPPORT MATCHING GRANTS FOR ALL FAITH COMMUNITIES NOT ELIGIBLE FOR GRANTS FROM THE KGMF (SEE ITEM 4C BELOW).

THE PRINCIPAL VTIPL MISSION IS TO HELP MEMBERS OF ALL VERMONT FAITH AND SPIRITUAL COMMUNITIES UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS. ALTHOUGH MORE FUNDS ARE EXPENDED IN THE KGMF MATCHING GRANT FUND, ALMOST ALL VOLUNTEER AND STAFF HOURS ARE COMMITTED TO CONDUCTING EDUCATION OF AND FACILITATING COMMUNICATION AMONG VERMONT'S DIVERSE FAITH COMMUNITIES TO TAKE ACTION TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS. VTIPL EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO ACT LOCALLY TO SUPPORT GLOBAL ACTION TO REDUCE THE PACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND TO PREPARE COMMUNITIES FOR THE UNAVOIDABLE CONSEQUENCES OF A CHANGING GLOBAL CLIMATE. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, THE VTIPL MONTHLY VERMONT FAITH COMMUNITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR BUILDINGS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE EMISSIONS AND ENERGY COSTS. THE IMPORTANT PROGRESS MADE IN 2021 LAYS A FOUNDATION FOR LAUNCHING AND SUSTAINING A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR FAITH COMMUNITIES NOT SERVED BY THE KGMF (SEE ITEM 4A ABOVE).

IN OCTOBER 2021, VTIPL RECEIVED A DONATION AND A PLEDGE FOR ADDITIONAL DONATIONS TO SUPPORT A NEW PROGRAM OF MATCHING GRANTS FOR FAITH COMMUNITIES INELIGIBLE FOR KGMF GRANTS. THIS FUNDING COMMITMENT RESPONDS TO A MULTI-YEAR EFFORT BY THE VTIPL BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO DEVELOP A NEW MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM THAT WILL ACCOMPLISH THE VTIPL GOAL OF PROVIDING MATCHING GRANTS TO ALL VERMONT FAITH COMMUNITIES TO ENABLE THEM TO MAKE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS IN THEIR BUILDINGS THAT WILL ENABLE THEM TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE EMISSIONS AND ENERGY COSTS. THE IMPORTANT PROGRESS MADE IN 2021 LAYS A FOUNDATION FOR LAUNCHING AND SUSTAINING A MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR FAITH COMMUNITIES NOT SERVED BY THE KGMF (SEE ITEM 4A ABOVE).