Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Ground Works

EIN 47-5498537 · Sioux Falls, SD

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceFair66 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 47% of its spending went to programs.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

DEVELOP HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH SCHOOL TEACHING GARDENS

Income
$280,460
Spending
$232,099
Spent on programs
47%
Reserves
16.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
6
Volunteers
20
Highest pay
$82,070, executive dir.

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 41% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 16.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    47% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 17 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

Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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

    6 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 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 (1)
  1. $108,094 spent. TEACHING GARDENS: PROVIDED INNOVATIVE EDUCATION RESOURCES TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHING GARDEN PROGRAMS. CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS EXCEL ACADEMICALLY, PRACTICE THE SKILLS OF BEING A GREAT NEIGHBOR, BEGIN HABITS FOR PERSONAL WELLNESS, AND ENGAGE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP. SD AG IN THE CLASSROOM: DEVELOPED INNOVATIVE, CUTTING EDGE CURRICULUM TO EDUCATE STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE. SPECIFICALLY, CREATED THE SOUTH DAKOTA ROAD TRIP, WHICH IS AN INTERACTIVE VIRTUAL ROAD TRIP THAT TAKES STUDENTS AND CLASSROOMS THROUGH THE HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND TEACHING STUDENTS THE FOUNDATIONS OF GROWING. AGRICULTURE IN SOUTH DAKOTA'S HISTORY AND CURRENT ECONOMY.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on November 15, 2013 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on November 15, 2013.

    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 December 2024.

    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 January 2016.

    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.