Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Common Ground Alliance

EIN 41-1984081 · Alexandria, VA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE COMMON GROUND ALLIANCE IS DEDICATED TO PREVENTING DAMAGE TO UNDERGROUND UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROTECTING THOSE WHO LIVE AND WORK NEAR THESE IMPORTANT ASSETS THROUGH THE SHARED RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS.

Income
$7.5 million
Spending
$6.9 million
Spent on programs
73%
Reserves
5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 91%
Employees
14
Volunteers
650
Highest pay
$586,814, president & ceo

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 52% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% 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 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 68% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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 (4)
  1. $3.1 million spent. COMMON GROUND ALLIANCE HOSTED THE 2024 CGA CONFERENCE & EXPO APRIL 14-18TH, 2024 IN COLORADO SPRINGS, CO . OVER 1,200 PROFESSIONALS ACROSS 16 STAKEHOLDER GROUPS GATHERED IN-PERSON FOR THE DAMAGE PREVENTION EVENT. ATTENDEES TOURED THE EXTENSIVE EXHIBIT HALLS, ENGAGED IN HIGH-LEVEL INDUSTRY DISCUSSIONS ACROSS FIVE UNIQUE EDUCATION TRACKS AND PARTICIPATED IN CGA COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
  2. $477,090 spent. DAMAGE INFORMATION REPORTING TOOL (DIRT): COLLECTED AND ANALYZED DATA ON ALL EVENTS SUBMITTED INTO DIRT. PUBLISHED AND DISTRIBUTED THE ANNUAL DIRT REPORT AS WELL AS AN INTERACTIVE DASHBOARD.
  3. $816,292 spent. 811 CAMPAIGN/EDUCATION: DEVELOPED AND DISTRIBUTED THE 811 GUIDELINE FOR 811 OUTREACH THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. DEVELOPED A SERIES OF 811 TOOLKITS TO SUPPORT NATIONAL EFFORTS INCLUDING NATIONAL SAFE DIGGING MONTH AND 8/11 DAY. DEVELOPED NATIONAL DAMAGE PREVENTION CURRICULUM AND ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM.
  4. $687,716 spent. BEST PRACTICES: PUBLISHED BEST PRACTICES INCLUDING NEW PRACTICES AND MODIFICATIONS. PRINTED AND DISTRIBUTED 10,000 BEST PRACTICES FIELD MANUALS AS WELL AS THE ONLINE BEST PRACTICES MANUAL. REVENUE: $387,233EXPENSES: $76,688COMMITTEE & BOARD MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTREACHREVENUE: $16,000EXPENSES: $468,142OTHERREVENUE: $1,338,419EXPENSES: $142,886

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 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 December 2024.

    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 October 2001.

    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.