By Sam Douglass

Campaign fundraising and funding sources have been a major focus for many Vermonters since the 2024 election. Groups like Americans for Prosperity drew heat from Democrats last year over concerns about outside organizations influencing Vermont politics and state government policies. Now, a July 1 campaign finance report indicates that the donor network behind one of the state’s most influential advocacy nonprofits has become a major financial force in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Aly Richards is running in the August 11 Democrat primary for governor. She served as chief executive officer of Let’s Grow Kids from 2015 to 2025, during which the nonprofit raised roughly $77 million in contributions from corporations, foundations and wealthy philanthropists. As CEO in 2024, Richards drew a salary of  $210,189, according to public records of tax filings. 

Previous reporting documented the connection between the Richards campaign and her decade of work leading the organization, but the campaign’s first finance report offers the clearest picture so far of how extensively her gubernatorial campaign relies on relationships built during her tenure with Let’s Grow Kids.

Of the $365,547.71 that Richards’ campaign reported raising through July 1 in monetary contributions, at least $126,740, slightly over one-third of the campaign’s total fundraising, came from just 40 overlapping individuals or people affiliated with organizations that Let’s Grow Kids chose to publicly display as donors during Richards’ tenure as CEO. However, due to a lack of publicly available records of Let’s Grow Kids as a nonprofit, the true extent of the overlap cannot be determined. 

While many of these individuals are donating the maximum of $5,180, it should be noted that the campaign has also raised funds from smaller donors. Roughly 11%, or $40,176.71, of the campaign’s contributions came from small donors in amounts less than $100.

Overall, Richards’ donor base has drawn heavily from relationships and donors developed while leading Let’s Grow Kids, an organization that became one of the state’s most influential lobbying and advocacy groups under her leadership.

Among Richards’ gubernatorial donors are Robert and Christine Stiller, founders of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, who made a landmark $20 million gift to Let’s Grow Kids in 2015 during Richards’ first year as CEO. Richards has described the Stillers’ contribution as an example of their “visionary leadership.” 

Campaign finance records show Robert Stiller, Christine Stiller and two of their children have now contributed a total of $13,360 to Richards’ campaign. The campaign did accept contributions from Christine Stiller over the $5,180 legal limit. When asked about the overage, campaign manager Drake Turner told the Vermont Daily Chronicle that the error was caught after filing their report. They addressed it by refunding the donor and amended the report on July 6, shortly after receiving the email inquiry from VDC.

The overlap extends beyond individual donors to business leaders of organizations that publicly backed Let’s Grow Kids during Richards’ tenure and are now supporting her campaign. Rick Davis, the philanthropist who founded Let’s Grow Kids, endorsed Richards during her campaign announcement, as well as Michele Asch and her husband Peter. Michele Asch, co-owner of Twincraft Skincare, likewise spoke in support of Richards when she launched her campaign. Davis and his wife, the Asch’s, and Twincraft Skincare are also major donors and supporters of Let’s Grow Kids.

Private equity firm co-founder Carl Ferenbach and his wife Judy are also major Richards campaign donors, with each donating the maximum amount of $5,180. Ferenbach founded the High Meadows Foundation in 2007, which is listed as a major donor of Let’s Grow Kids.

Under Richards’ leadership, the nonprofit’s notable policy victory came in 2023 with passage of Act 76, a statewide payroll tax to fund expanded child care subsidies. Let’s Grow Kids argued the legislation would stabilize Vermont’s child care system and expand access to affordable child care for Vermont families. Since the payroll tax took effect, Let’s Grow Kids reports that more than 100 child care programs and over 1,700 new child care spaces have been created. 

But at least one of Let’s Grow Kids’ donors has questioned whether the law has actually produced the promised expansion in child care capacity, while raising concerns about the financial burden placed on Vermont businesses. At a gathering of the manufacturing industry at the statehouse earlier this year, Janette Bombardier of Chroma Technology in Bellows Falls questioned whether the tax has expanded child care availability as intended.

“I’m not sure it’s doing what we’re all hoping it would do in terms of creating spaces,” Bombardier said.

Several of the same business leaders that financially supported Let’s Grow Kids’ campaign for Act 76 are now among the financial supporters of Richards’ gubernatorial campaign. The campaign, however, believes that the overlap in donations is a natural result of Richards’ hard work.

“This is a grassroots campaign, funded by people who believe in Aly’s vision for a thriving Vermont. Aly is grateful to everyone who has contributed to her campaign, whether financially or by volunteering their time, energy, and expertise. That support also includes many donors who contributed to Let’s Grow Kids. Their continued support is a testament to Aly’s leadership, experience, and effective advocacy, which resulted in the passage of Act 76 of 2023, which is working as intended and making child care more affordable for working families. They support Aly’s campaign because they believe in her leadership and know she can deliver results for Vermonters,” wrote Turner in an email to VDC on July 6.

Richards’ campaign manager, Drake Turner, also worked for Let’s Grow Kids for 4 years as a policy manager and then as a director of government relations, according to her work history on Linkedin.