Groundwork Rva Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
MISSION: TO CULTIVATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF URBAN CONSERVATIONISTS IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. VISION: GROUNDWORK RVA WORKS WITH RICHMOND YOUTH TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING IN NEIGHBORHOODS BY TRANSFORMING BLIGHTED AND NEGLECTED OPEN SPACES INTO VIBRANT PUBLIC ASSETS. GROUNDWORK RVA SEEKS FOUR TANGIBLE RESULTS, WHICH ARE DEEPLY INTERRELATED; SUCCESS IN ONE OF THESE FACTORS LEVERAGES SUCCESS IN THE OTHER THREE. 1. YOUTH ARE PREPARED FOR SUCCESS. GROUNDWORK RVA HELPS YOUTH PREPARE FOR EDUCATIONAL AND/OR CAREER SUCCESS BY DESIGNING, INTERPRETING, BUILDING, AND MAINTAINING RICHMOND'S GREEN NETWORK. YOUTH LEAVE OUR PROGRAMS WITH KNOWLEDGE AND JOB SKILLS THAT WILL SERVE THEM. SOME WILL SUCCESSFULLY ENTER THE GREEN WORKFORCE, AND OVER TIME, MOVE INTO NEW OR ADVANCED ROLES. SOME WILL GO TO COLLEGE, AND OVER TIME, MAY FIND WORK IN CONSERVATION, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE, OR A RELATED FIELD. 2. RACIAL EQUITY. GROUNDWORK RVA PROMOTES RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE BY CULTI
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.1 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- 3.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 89%
- Employees
- 45
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $83,857, executive di
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 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.2 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 35% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 43% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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)
- $293,385 spent. GREEN TEAM THROUGH HANDS-ON, PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, GROUNDWORK RVA' GREEN TEAM IS HELPING TEENS INNOVATE IMPORTANT STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT RESILIENCE AND HEALTH IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND. 2024 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN OUR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IMMERSION PROGRAM. GROUNDWORK RVA WAS ABLE TO SEND TWO SETS OF 8 GREEN TEAM MEMBERS TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, AND GRAND TETONS NATIONAL PARK. AN EXCITING ADDITION WAS THAT ONE OF THE SISTERS, WHO HAD COME BACK A SUMMER LEADER, JOINED THE GWRVA TEAM AS A FULL-TIME GREEN TEAM EDUCATOR. THIS ABILITY TO TRAIN AND "HIRE FROM WITHIN" IS MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ABILITIES. GREEN TEAM SERVICE-LEARNING WORK CONTINUED LOCALLY AT SHENADOAH NATIONAL PARK ON TWO DIFFERENT TRIPS. AN ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHT FOR 2023 WAS GREEN TEAM'S CONTINUED WORK ON URBAN AGRICULTURE AND LEARNING AT THE HILLSIDE MINI FARM. IN ADDITION TO THE FARM PRODUCING THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY, A FOCUS THIS YEAR WAS ON THE DYNAMIC COMMUNITIES ASPECT OF THE SPACE. GREEN TEAM ASSISTED IN THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A NATIVE PLANT BIO-SWALE, AS WELL AS AN ACCESSIBLE PERMEABLE PATHWAY AND LEARNING SPACE. THE GREEN TEAM SERVED OVER 40 YOUTH IN 2024. GREEN TEAM THROUGH HANDS-ON, PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, GROUNDWORK RVA' GREEN TEAM IS HELPING TEENS INNOVATE IMPORTANT STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT RESILIENCE AND HEALTH IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND. 2024 HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED INCREASED PARTICIPATION IN OUR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IMMERSION PROGRAM. GROUNDWORK RVA WAS ABLE TO SEND TWO SETS OF 8 GREEN TEAM MEMBERS TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, AND GRAND TETONS NATIONAL PARK. AN EXCITING ADDITION WAS THAT ONE OF THE SISTERS, WHO HAD COME BACK A SUMMER LEADER, JOINED THE GWRVA TEAM AS A FULL-TIME GREEN TEAM EDUCATOR. THIS ABILITY TO TRAIN AND "HIRE FROM WITHIN" IS MAKING A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS ABILITIES. GREEN TEAM SERVICE-LEARNING WORK CONTINUED LOCALLY AT SHENADOAH NATIONAL PARK ON TWO DIFFERENT TRIPS. AN ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHT FOR 2023 WAS GREEN TEAM'S CONTINUED WORK ON URBAN AGRICULTURE AND LEARNING AT THE HILLSIDE MINI FARM. IN ADDITION TO THE FARM PRODUCING THOUSANDS OF POUNDS OF FOOD THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY, A FOCUS THIS YEAR WAS ON THE DYNAMIC COMMUNITIES ASPECT OF THE SPACE. GREEN TEAM ASSISTED IN THE DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF A NATIVE PLANT BIO-SWALE, AS WELL AS AN ACCESSIBLE PERMEABLE PATHWAY AND LEARNING SPACE. THE GREEN TEAM SERVED OVER 40 YOUTH IN 2024.
- $426,942 spent. GREEN WORKFORCE IN 2024, GROUNDWORK RVA'S GREEN WORKFORCE WAS A FULL-YEAR, WORKPLACE-BASED WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM. GREEN WORKFORCE PROVIDED OVER 6,000 HOURS OF PAID WORK TO RICHMOND YOUNG ADULTS THE YOUTH CONTINUED BUILDING THEIR SKILLS AND TRAINING IN THE SAFE USE OF TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, WHILE LEARNING VALUABLE LEADERSHIP, CRITICAL THINKING AND PROJECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS. GREEN WORKFORCE TEENS DESIGNED AND INSTALLED RAIN CAPTURE SYSTEMS, AND PERMEABLE PATHWAYS IN COMMUNITY GARDENS AND OTHER FACILITIES AROUND THE CITY, TO HELP MANAGE STORM WATER RUN-OFF AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE JAMES RIVER. THESE YOUNG PEOPLE - SHOWED UP EVERY DAY, COLLABORATED IN DESIGNING THE DAY'S AND WEEK'S TASKS, DROVE TO SITES, LOADED AND UNLOADED THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, USED THOSE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT SAFELY TO BUILD, INSTALL OR MAINTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND OFTEN MANAGED THE VOLUNTEERS WHO CAME TO HELP. THROUGH THE GREEN WORKFORCE, GROUNDWORK RVA HELPED PREPARE YOUTH FOR CAREERS IN CARPENTRY AND BUILDING TRADES, LANDSCAPING AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS TO BUILD SKILLS IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. THE GREEN WORKFORCE'S "WATER-TO-THRIVE," FEE-FOR-SERVICE EFFORTS GREW IN 2024, WITH WATER AND CARE BEING PROVIDED TO OVER 300 TREES IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND. GREEN WORKFORCE IN 2024, GROUNDWORK RVA'S GREEN WORKFORCE WAS A FULL-YEAR, WORKPLACE-BASED WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM. GREEN WORKFORCE PROVIDED OVER 6,000 HOURS OF PAID WORK TO RICHMOND YOUNG ADULTS THE YOUTH CONTINUED BUILDING THEIR SKILLS AND TRAINING IN THE SAFE USE OF TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, WHILE LEARNING VALUABLE LEADERSHIP, CRITICAL THINKING AND PROJECT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS. GREEN WORKFORCE TEENS DESIGNED AND INSTALLED RAIN CAPTURE SYSTEMS, AND PERMEABLE PATHWAYS IN COMMUNITY GARDENS AND OTHER FACILITIES AROUND THE CITY, TO HELP MANAGE STORM WATER RUN-OFF AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE JAMES RIVER. THESE YOUNG PEOPLE - SHOWED UP EVERY DAY, COLLABORATED IN DESIGNING THE DAY'S AND WEEK'S TASKS, DROVE TO SITES, LOADED AND UNLOADED THE NECESSARY TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT, USED THOSE TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT SAFELY TO BUILD, INSTALL OR MAINTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND OFTEN MANAGED THE VOLUNTEERS WHO CAME TO HELP. THROUGH THE GREEN WORKFORCE, GROUNDWORK RVA HELPED PREPARE YOUTH FOR CAREERS IN CARPENTRY AND BUILDING TRADES, LANDSCAPING AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AS WELL AS CREATED OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS TO BUILD SKILLS IN FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT. THE GREEN WORKFORCE'S "WATER-TO-THRIVE," FEE-FOR-SERVICE EFFORTS GREW IN 2024, WITH WATER AND CARE BEING PROVIDED TO OVER 300 TREES IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND.
- $124,434 spent. BELLEMEADE COMMUNITY BIKE SHOP THE BELLEMEADE COMMUNITY BIKE SHOP IS A PROGRAM OF GROUNDWORK RVA THAT BEGAN IN 2017 WITH THE GOAL TO BRING MORE ACCESS TO BIKING AND BIKING RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THE BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH OF RICHMOND'S SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITIES. WHAT STARTED OUT WITH THE GOAL OF MAINLY GETTING YOUTH ON BIKES HAS GROWN INTO A MULTI-FACETED PROGRAM THAT OFFERS YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTEER IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO EARN A BIKE, PARTICIPATE IN BIKE TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES, AND HAVE ACCESS TO FREE BIKE REPAIRS, WHERE THEY ALSO GET HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO FIX THEIR OWN BIKE. IN 2023 THE BIKE SHOP CONTINUED AND EXPANDED IT'S CAMP SPOKES PROGRAM, TARGETED SPECIFICALLY AT YOUNG WOMEN AND GENDER-NONCONFORMING YOUTH. EXPERIENCE HAD SHOWN THAT THESE YOUTH REALLY BENEFITTED FROM THIS SAFE SPACE TO EXPERIENCE THE WORLD OF BIKES AND BIKING WITHOUT THE COMPETITION AND "PUSHINESS" THAT YOUNG MEN CAN BRING. THIS WEEK-LONG CAMP WAS PROVIDED FREE AND WITH ONE WEEK SERVING HIGH SCHOOLERS AND THE 2ND WEEK SERVING MIDDLE-SCHOOL AGED YOUNG PEOPLE. AN EXCITING ASPECT OF 2023'S PROGRAMMING WAS THE RETURN OF HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS AS STIPENDED BIKE LEADERS FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WEEK. THE BIKE SHOP MADE OVER 150 BIKES ACCESSIBLE TO SOUTH RICHMOND YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN 2024 . BELLEMEADE COMMUNITY BIKE SHOP THE BELLEMEADE COMMUNITY BIKE SHOP IS A PROGRAM OF GROUNDWORK RVA THAT BEGAN IN 2017 WITH THE GOAL TO BRING MORE ACCESS TO BIKING AND BIKING RESOURCES, EDUCATION, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO THE BLACK AND BROWN YOUTH OF RICHMOND'S SOUTHSIDE COMMUNITIES. WHAT STARTED OUT WITH THE GOAL OF MAINLY GETTING YOUTH ON BIKES HAS GROWN INTO A MULTI-FACETED PROGRAM THAT OFFERS YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES TO VOLUNTEER IN THEIR COMMUNITY TO EARN A BIKE, PARTICIPATE IN BIKE TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES, AND HAVE ACCESS TO FREE BIKE REPAIRS, WHERE THEY ALSO GET HANDS-ON INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO FIX THEIR OWN BIKE. IN 2023 THE BIKE SHOP CONTINUED AND EXPANDED IT'S CAMP SPOKES PROGRAM, TARGETED SPECIFICALLY AT YOUNG WOMEN AND GENDER-NONCONFORMING YOUTH. EXPERIENCE HAD SHOWN THAT THESE YOUTH REALLY BENEFITTED FROM THIS SAFE SPACE TO EXPERIENCE THE WORLD OF BIKES AND BIKING WITHOUT THE COMPETITION AND "PUSHINESS" THAT YOUNG MEN CAN BRING. THIS WEEK-LONG CAMP WAS PROVIDED FREE AND WITH ONE WEEK SERVING HIGH SCHOOLERS AND THE 2ND WEEK SERVING MIDDLE-SCHOOL AGED YOUNG PEOPLE. AN EXCITING ASPECT OF 2023'S PROGRAMMING WAS THE RETURN OF HIGH SCHOOL PARTICIPANTS AS STIPENDED BIKE LEADERS FOR THE MIDDLE SCHOOL WEEK. THE BIKE SHOP MADE OVER 150 BIKES ACCESSIBLE TO SOUTH RICHMOND YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES IN 2024 .
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
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.
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.
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2013.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.