Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Groundwork Rhode Island

EIN 05-0397766 · Pawtucket, RI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair59 out of 100GovernanceGood72 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GROUNDWORK RHODE ISLAND (GWRI) IS A COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION HELPING BUILD HEALTHIER, MORE RESILIENT, AND MORE EQUITABLE URBAN COMMUNITIES IN RHODE ISLAND BY IMPROVING THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT AND CREATING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS THROUGH JOB TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT, AND SOCIAL VENTURE PROGRAMS.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.3 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 69%
Employees
53
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$58,638, executive director

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

Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 31% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 89% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 (4)
  1. ADULT JOB TRAINING PROGRAM - GROUNDWORK RHODE ISLAND'S (FKA GROUNDWORK PROVIDENCE) ADULT JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS GIVE PARTICIPANTS IN-DEPTH AND COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING IN THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO LAUNCH CAREERS IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SECTOR, SUCH AS LEAD ABATEMENT, SAFE TOXICS HANDLING, AND SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING.
  2. $35,187 spent. GREEN TEAM YOUTH PROGRAM - GROUNDWORK RHODE ISLAND'S (FKA GROUNDWORK PROVIDENCE) GREEN TEAM PROGRAM PROVIDES YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LOWER-INCOME AREAS OF PROVIDENCE, PAWTUCKET, AND CENTRAL FALLS.
  3. $198,376 spent. GROUNDCORP LANDSCAPE PROGRAM - HIRES SUCCESSFUL GRADUATES OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL JOB TRAINING PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING SOCIAL VENTURE, WHICH CONDUCTS LANDSCAPE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS ACROSS RHODE ISLAND.
  4. $1.9 million spent. - HARVEST CYCLE COMPOST PROGRAM - RESIDENTIAL FOOD SCRAP COLLECTION AND PROCESSING SERVICE THAT OFFERS SLIDING SCALE SUBSCRIPTIONS AND WORK SHARE ARRANGEMENTS SO THAT URBAN RESIDENTS CAN TURN THEIR FOOD SCRAPS INTO SOIL FOR USE BY LOCAL COMMUNITY GARDENS.- VARIOUS OTHER PROGRAMS

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since August 1983.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.