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Groundworks Collaborative Inc

EIN 03-0267404 · Brattleboro, VT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceGood77 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GROUNDWORKS COLLABORATIVE, INC. PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER, HOUSING ASSISTANCE & A FOOD SHELF FOR HOMELESS PERSONS.

Income
$4.6 million
Spending
$4.0 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
70
Volunteers
90
Highest pay
$100,955, executive dir.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 77 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $3.2 million spent. Groundworks Collaborative was established in 2015 following the merger of the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center and Morningside Shelter. We provide ongoing support to families and individuals facing housing and food insecurities in the greater Brattleboro, Vermont area. We envision a community in which every person has their basic needs met, including a safe and dignified place to call home. Our programs include:Foodworks - Providing supplemental food to over 1000 individuals per month, Foodworks is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for curbside pickup. Tuesdays are reserved for deliveries to those who are unable to pick up food during open hours.Groundworks Shelter - Our year-round, 30-bed shelter for families and individuals supports residents as they secure sustainable housing. Seasonal Overflow Shelter Open nightly from November through April, the SOS provides a warm place to sleep and a hot meal each night for those with nowhere else to go.Day Shelter The Day Shelter is typically open Monday through Friday from 7am5pm and Saturdays from 7amnoon, offering a safe place where our neighbors experiencing homelessness can come in out of the weather and access services such as email, telephones, a mailing address, laundry, showers, coffee and a kitchen to prepare a meal.Housing Support Case Management Our Case Management team works with over 200 area households toward finding and maintaining stable housing.Representative Payee Program provides financial management to individuals receiving Social Security disability payments (SSI & SSDI) to ensure rent and basic living expenses are paid on time each month, maintaining housing and good financial standing.Healthworks Our collaborations with the Brattleboro Retreat, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, and Health Care & Rehabilitation Services (HCRS) host a Licensed Mental Health Clinician, a Registered Nurse, and a Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (respectively), each providing 1640 hours per week of critical support to our clients. Changeworks We conduct various activities to promote empowerment for individual needs and advocacy for systems change.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since January 1979.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.