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Groundwork Hudson Valley Inc

EIN 11-3579493 · Yonkers, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair69 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GROUNDWORK HUDSON VALLEY'S MISSION IS TO TRANSFORM URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS THAT INSPIRE YOUNG LEADERS AND SUPPORT LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

Income
$1.7 million
Spending
$2.0 million
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 51%
Employees
69
Volunteers
300
Highest pay
$152,438, executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 22% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 19 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (3)
  1. $766,754 spent. COMMUNITY ADAPTATION: GROUNDWORK HUDSON VALLEY TRANSFORMS AND REVITALIZES UNDERUSED AREAS TO CREATE BENEFITS FOR BOTH RESIDENTS AND LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS. WE COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO IMPROVE URBAN ENVIRONMENTS, FOSTERING LONG-TERM RENEWAL AND ENHANCING THE WELL-BEING OF NEIGHBORHOODS. TOGETHER, WE CLEAN AND RESTORE POLLUTED RIVERS, REMOVE INVASIVE VINES, PLANT NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS, AND COLLABORATE WITH RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES SUCH AS FLOODING, EXCESSIVE URBAN HEAT, AND AIR QUALITY. YOUTH PLAY A KEY ROLE IN MANY OF OUR RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION PROJECTS, GAINING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE AND BECOMING STEWARDS OF THEIR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. IN 2024 TEN NEW AIR QUALITY MONITORS IMPROVED POLLUTION TRACKING, COMPLETED GREEN STORM WATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS BOOSTED RESILIENCE TO NATURAL HAZARDS, 1,326 TREES WERE INVENTORIED DOCUMENTING THEIRS SPECIES, SIZE, HEALTH, AND ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS ACROSS SOUTHWEST YONKERS AND 3,961 YONKERS RESIDENTS WERE ENGAGED TO BECOME CLIMATE ADVOCATES AND AMBASSADORS, INCREASING COMMUNITY AWARENESS AND ACTION.
  2. $392,106 spent. SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION: GROUNDWORK HUDSON VALLEY PROVIDES EXPERIENTIAL HANDS-ON OPPORTUNITIES TO PROMOTE PRACTICAL SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION CONCEPTS AND COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS. AT THE SCIENCE BARGE, OUR FLOATING EDUCATION CENTER, WE TRANSFORM THEORY INTO PRACTICE BY MAKING HANDS-ON SOLUTIONS TANGIBLE AND RELEVANT TO THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS EACH YEAR. OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS BRING RESOURCE CONSERVATION, EXTREME WEATHER PREPAREDNESS STRATEGIES, AND STEM EDUCATION DIRECTLY TO LOCAL CLASSROOMS, BOTH IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE REGION PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAMS EACH YEAR, TRANSFORMING CONCEPTS THEY ARE LEARNING IN BOOKS INTO REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS. IN 2024, OUR EDUCATORS DELIVERED 3,529 HOURS OF IMPORTANT EDUCATION TO THESE YOUNG PEOPLE. THE SCIENCE BARGE ALSO SERVES AS A FLOATING URBAN FARM GROWING OVER 75 SPECIES USING ALTERNATIVE GROWING METHODS TO TEACH OUR NEIGHBORS AND THEIR FAMILIES HOW TO GROW THEIR OWN FOOD IN AN URBAN SETTING. THE WEEKLY HARVESTS WERE SHARED WITH LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES.
  3. $321,992 spent. YOUTH LEADERSHIP: GROUNDWORK HUDSON VALLEY TRAINS, MENTORS, AND EMPLOYS YOUTH IN CONSERVATION, LEADERSHIP, AND REAL-WORLD SKILL-BUILDING PREPARING THEM FOR CAREERS IN SUSTAINABILITY AND BEYOND. THROUGH THE GREEN TEAM PROGRAM, YONKERS PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GAIN PAID, HANDS-ON JOB EXPERIENCE IN CONSERVATION, STEM, AND URBAN RENEWAL. WITH SMALL TEAM SIZES, WE FOSTER STRONG RELATIONSHIPS, TEAMWORK, AND LONG-TERM GROWTH. FOR OVER A DECADE, THE GREEN TEAM HAS SET THE STANDARD FOR YOUTH CONSERVATION PROGRAMS NATIONWIDE. BEYOND LOCAL PROJECTS, STUDENTS GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN AMERICA'S ICONIC NATIONAL PARKS INCLUDING YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, AND LENAPE WILDLIFE NATIONAL REFUGE COMPLEX. IN 2024, 45 YOUTH WERE HIRED FOR PAID POSITIONS. THEY BUILT AND INSTALLED THREE BIOSWALES AND FOUR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN AREAS OF GREAT NEED, PLANTED 65 TREES, AND DEDICATED 4,890 HOURS TO IMPROVING PARKS, GARDENS, GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES AND 210 HOURS TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 November 6, 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 December 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 September 2001.

    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 November 4, 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.