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Groundwork Jacksonville Inc

EIN 47-2342111 · Jacksonville, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak48 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS TO BRING ABOUT THE SUSTAINED REGENERATION, IMPROVEMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BY DEVELOPING COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING IN THE JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA AREA. THE ORGANIZATION IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, US NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND GROUNDWORK USA, INC. AND IS ONE OF 21 SUCH TRUSTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE IS SPECIFICALLY CHARGED WITH DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING A 30-MILE BICYCLE/PEDESTRAIN TRAIL AND LINEAR PARKS SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF MCCOYS AND HOGANS CREEKS. THE EMERALD TRAIL WILL CONNECT 14 URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS, INCLUDING DOWNTOWN, AND LINK TO 16 SCHOOLS, 2 COLLEGES AND 21 PARKS. THIS INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IS BEING MADE IN MAJORITY BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS WHERE 71% OF RESIDENTS ARE LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME AND 35% LIVE IN POVERTY.

Income
$5.0 million
Spending
$5.2 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
0 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 64%
Employees
15
Volunteers
425
Highest pay
$115,000, development

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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover -0.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 23% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • 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

    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 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 (5)
  1. $406,539 spent. EMERALD TRAIL: THE 2ND TRAIL SEGMENT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE CITY CENTER LINK IS A 1-MILE TRAIL THAT GOES THROUGH THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN ALONG HOGAN STREET FROM THE ST. JOHNS RIVER AND CONNECTS TO THE SPRINGFIELD NEIGHBORHOOD AND HOGANS CREEK. THE 100% DESIGN OF SEGMENT 3, THE RIVERSIDE LINK, WILL BE UNDERWAY IN THE 2ND QUARTER OF 2026. IT CONNECTS RIVERSIDE TO THE NORTH RIVERSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD AND MCCOYS CREEK. IT TRAVERSES BY A NUMBER OF CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS AND PARKS, INCLUDING THE CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS, THE JACKSONVILLE GARDEN CLUB, THE RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET, MEMORIAL PARK, AND RIVERSIDE PARK. THE TRAIL ALIGNMENTS FOR THE REMAINING SEGMENTS - 4, 6, 7 & 8 - IS COMPLETE AND THE SEGMENTS ARE NOW READY TO MOVE TO DESIGN.
  2. $25,332 spent. GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE SECURED 9M IN FEDERAL GRANTS TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN FOR THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OF HOGANS CREEK. THE DESIGN IS 90% COMPLETE AND WILL BE FINALIZED BY DECEMBER 2026. THE RESTORATION WILL REDUCE FLOODING, IMPROVE WATER QUALITY, CREATE FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT, AND CLEAN UP CONTAMINATION. IT ALSO WILL INCLUDE 3 MILES OF THE EMERALD TRAIL.
  3. $4.2 million spent. CONSTRUCTION HAS BEGUN ON THE MCCOYS CREEK BRANCHES PROJECT. THE BRANCHES SIT WITHIN A 30-ACRE CITY-OWNED PARK AND ARE THE CREEK'S HEADWATERS. CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETE BY MARCH 2028. TRAIL AND RECREATION CONSTRUCTION FOR PHASE 1 OF MCCOYS CREEK FROM I-95 WEST TO KING ST. WILL BEGIN IN 2026. SECTION.
  4. $2,861 spent. 46 HOMES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN THE NORTH RIVERSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE AND THE NORTH RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE COMPLETED WATERSHED PLANS FOR THE MCCOYS AND HOGANS CREEK WATERSHEDS. EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS DONE, INCLUDING FORMING A WATERSHED STAKEHOLDER GROUP WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE 10 NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THE WATERSHEDS.
  5. 46 HOMES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED IN THE NORTH RIVERSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE AND THE NORTH RIVERSIDE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE COMPLETED WATERSHED PLANS FOR THE MCCOYS AND HOGANS CREEK WATERSHEDS. EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS DONE, INCLUDING FORMING A WATERSHED STAKEHOLDER GROUP WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE 10 NEIGHBORHOODS WITHIN THE WATERSHEDS.

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 2015.

    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.