Vermont Professionals of Color Network

What Vermont Professionals of Color Network does

Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2019 and headquartered at P.O. Box 4277, Burlington, Vermont, that serves BIPOC professionals, entrepreneurs, and skilled trades workers across the state. The organization addresses systemic professional disparities, retention challenges, and economic opportunity gaps through community building, networking, and direct programmatic support for an addressable population of approximately 40,000 BIPOC Vermonters. Its mission is operationalized through a 6-person board (Chair Nik Khosla, Treasurer David Tabaruka, plus C.D. Mattison, Steph Yu, Paul Sanford, and Chinelo Asanya) and a 7-person staff led by co-founder Executive Directors Tinotenda Charles Rutanhira (Business Development) and Weiwei Wang (Community and Policy).

Name

Vermont Professionals of Color Network

Legal name

The Vermont Professionals of Color Network

Website

https://vtpoc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019 that supports BIPOC professionals across Vermont through a web platform offering a 400+ BIPOC business directory, jobs and internships boards, events calendar, and the VT PoCket Guide relocation resource, supplemented by Newcomer Nexus, business support, and financial literacy programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Development Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cultural, Identity & Inclusion Programs (EDALAHAF)

Keywords

• BIPOC professional networking
• Community building services
• Workforce development programs
• Small business support services
• Diversity equity inclusion

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting BIPOC community advancement in Vermont. Uses Givebutter platform with no platform fees.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Support from corporations including Phi Gamma Delta, Champlain Investment Partners, M&T Bank, UVM Health Network, Vermont Mutual Insurance Group, and others.
3. Philanthropic Grants: Funding from foundations including Ben & Jerry's Foundation, Vermont Community Foundation, Argosy Foundation, Northfield Savings Bank Foundation.
4. Public Grants: Government funding from State of Vermont (ACCD), Small Business Administration (SBA), Department of Tourism (GROW Program), Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Vermont Professionals of Color Network is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds community, connection, and economic opportunity for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) professionals across Vermont. Its core offering centers on a free membership program ("The Fam") supported by signature events, networking opportunities, affinity spaces, and digital directories (BIPOC Business Directory, Jobs Board, Internships Board, Events Directory), complemented by programs such as the Newcomer Nexus concierge service, Financial Literacy workshops, Business Support Services, and a monthly newsletter.

Product overview

The Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers a portfolio of interconnected programs and platforms designed to advance the social and economic prosperity of BIPOC professionals in Vermont. The core product suite includes a BIPOC Business Directory (searchable directory of BIPOC-owned businesses), Jobs Board, Internships Board, Events Directory, VT PoCket Guide (digital welcome platform), Newsletter, and Membership Program (The Fam). These are supplemented by programmatic offerings including Newcomer Nexus (relocation concierge service), Business Support Services, Financial Literacy Program, BIPOC Survey & Listening Sessions, The Things in Between video series, and Flood Relief Resources. The organization does not operate as a technology product company but rather as a community-facing nonprofit providing networking, employment, business development, and resource navigation services to Vermont's BIPOC community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VT PoCket Guide: Vermont's BIPOC digital interactive welcome platform providing essential services, activities, and resources for new or prospective residents.
• Newcomer Nexus
• The Things in Between

Products and services

• BIPOC Business Directory A searchable directory of Vermont-based, BIPOC-owned businesses organized by category, with an interactive map showing business locations across the state, designed to drive visibility for BIPOC-owned businesses.
• Jobs Board A job board listing employment opportunities in Vermont, filterable by industry and county, with resources for resume writing, cover letters, and interview preparation, for BIPOC job seekers.
• Internships Board A board for internship opportunities in Vermont, supporting emerging BIPOC professionals in their career development.
• Events Directory A calendar of community events including signature events like August Kickback and State of the Network, networking events, and affinity spaces for BIPOC Vermonters.
• VT PoCket Guide Vermont's BIPOC digital interactive welcome platform providing a database of essential services, activities, and resources for new or prospective BIPOC residents in Vermont.
• Newcomer Nexus A one-on-one BIPOC concierge connection program in which BIPOC candidates considering relocation to Vermont are paired with VT PoC Ambassadors to create a sense of welcomeness and belonging.
• Membership Program (The Fam) Free membership program providing structure, relationships, affinity, safety, and openness for BIPOC professionals in Vermont, including access to member directory and contact databases.
• Business Support Services Technical assistance, resource navigation, and direct support for BIPOC-owned businesses, including workshops, webinars, legal resources, and a comprehensive business toolkit.
• Financial Literacy Program A free monthly workshop series focused on developing financial literacy skills, including banking basics, investing, insurance, and estate planning.
• The Things in Between (TTIB) A video series exploring dynamic topics for BIPOC in Vermont including entrepreneurship, cultural hubs, personal financial literacy, and more, distributed via YouTube.
• BIPOC Survey & Listening Sessions A statewide survey and series of listening sessions to understand opportunities and challenges for BIPOC community members living in Vermont, producing data used for advocacy and programming.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 700 BIPOC community survey responses collected
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Vermont Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrowing partnership to help people of color adjust to life in Vermont and connect medical residents of color with community. Includes Newcomer Nexus program connecting BIPOC candidates with VT PoC ambassadors.
• Groundswell ChangecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLed year-long organizational strategic planning process (2024) to create equity-driven roadmap for next stage of growth. Brought expertise and structured methodology to help VT PoC clarify objectives and define strategic focus.
• State of Vermont (ACCD - Agency of Commerce and Community Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner for BIPOC Survey & Listening Sessions (2024) and BIPOC Workforce and Business Development Program launched in 2023.
• Vermont Department of Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership (2023) to provide technical assistance and development services to businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and people of color throughout Vermont.
• Leahy Institute for Rural PartnershipscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with UVM faculty and students for Vermont Community Data Assessment combining community-collected and publicly available data to make BIPOC experiences and contributions in Vermont more visible.
• Vermont Arts CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization increasing accessibility of opportunities and resources to professionals of color across Vermont.
• Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization increasing accessibility of opportunities and resources to professionals of color across Vermont.
• The Nature Conservancy VermontminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization increasing accessibility of opportunities and resources to professionals of color across Vermont.
• Vermont Health Equity InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization managed by VT PoC addressing health disparities including COVID-19 vaccination clinics for BIPOC.
• EastRise Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors Civic Engagements page on VT PoC website, supporting board position listings for BIPOC professionals.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Vermont Community Foundation: Vermont-based community foundation providing grants and leadership for statewide philanthropic initiatives. Listed as an active VT PoC funder; comparable as a Vermont nonprofit ecosystem participant supporting BIPOC community outcomes through grantmaking.
• National Council of Nonprofits: National network of state and regional nonprofit associations supporting the nonprofit sector. Adjacent peer to VT PoC as a 501(c)(3) operating within the same ecosystem; relevant for sector benchmarking rather than direct service overlap.

Broad incumbents

• League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC): Largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the US providing advocacy, education, and economic programs through local councils. Comparable to VT PoC in serving a specific BIPOC community with networking, business support, and civic engagement programs.
• National Urban League: National historic civil rights and economic empowerment organization with a network of affiliates delivering workforce, business development, and community programs. Comparable in mission and broad program mix to VT PoC, but operates at national scale with affiliated local Urban Leagues.

Emerging players

• Color of Change: Racial justice advocacy organization mobilizing Black Americans and allies through campaigns and digital organizing. Overlaps with VT PoC in BIPOC community organizing and policy engagement, but is advocacy-led rather than service- and event-led.

Direct peers

• National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): Membership organization for Black engineering professionals and students offering conferences, programming, and member services. Comparable to VT PoC in combining community, signature events, job boards, and structured member programs for a specific BIPOC professional community.
• National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP): National membership-based professional network for Asian American professionals offering networking events, leadership development, and career resources. Comparable to VT PoC as a community/membership organization delivering professional networking, events, and member services to a specific BIPOC constituency.
• National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA): Member-based organization providing professional development, networking events, and career resources for Black professionals. Comparable operating model to VT PoC with signature events, member directories, and employer engagement, focused on a defined BIPOC professional demographic.
• Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC): Business and professional support organization serving Asian American entrepreneurs and professionals with business directories, networking events, and technical assistance. Closely comparable to VT PoC's BIPOC Business Directory, networking events, and business support programming.
• Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR): Nonprofit advancing Hispanic inclusion through corporate engagement, professional development, and community programs. Comparable to VT PoC's model of building economic opportunity and visibility for a BIPOC constituency through partnerships with employers and corporate sponsors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/vtpoc_network
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vtpoc_network
• Facebookfacebook.com/VTPoC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vermont-professionals-of-color-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/vtpoc_network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vermont Professionals of Color Network