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Groundwork USA Inc

EIN 81-0554362 · Yonkers, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF GROUNDWORK USA (THE ORGANIZATION) IS TO BRING ABOUT THE SUSTAINED REGENERATION, IMPROVEMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BY DEVELOPING COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS THAT EMPOWER PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. THE ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO CHANGING PLACES, CHANGING LIVES, AND CHANGING SYSTEMS TO MEET OUR VISION OF A WORLD IN WHICH EVERYONE CAN LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT IS HEALTHY, GREEN, JUST AND RESILIENT.

Income
$5.7 million
Spending
$6.2 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
14.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 56%
Employees
24
Volunteers
11
Highest pay
$206,144, chief executive officer

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: 89 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 14.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 46% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

    9 of 9 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. $555,533 spent. GROWING AND STRENGTHENING OUR AFFILIATE NETWORK - THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS AND STRENGTHENS AN AFFILIATE NETWORK OF PLACE-BASED NONPROFITS, THE GROUNDWORK NETWORK, THROUGH REGRANTING PROGRAMS, COACHING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, FACILITATION OF KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, AND PROVISION OF SHARED SERVICES. IN 2024, WE LAUNCHED A NEW INTRANET PLATFORM, FACILITATED FIVE PEER-TO-PEER LEARNING COHORTS, AND PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE COACHING TO NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS AND ORGANIZATIONS NAVIGATING LEADERSHIP TRANSITIONS.
  2. $3.4 million spent. BUILDING THRIVING AND RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOODS - THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATES WITH GROUNDWORK AFFILIATES TO TRANSFORM NEGLECTED LAND AND WATERWAYS INTO COMMUNITY ASSETS THAT REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS, INCREASE COMMUNITY WEALTH, AND CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOY AND CONNECTION OUTDOORS. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION AWARDED $2,457,200 TO SUPPORT MULTI-YEAR GREEN SPACE, URBAN FORESTRY, AND STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ACROSS THE NETWORK IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING PLACE-BASED PROGRAMMING THROUGH COACHING, FACILITATED PEER-LEARNING, AND DATA AND EVALUATION SERVICES. THROUGH OUR CLIMATE SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM, GROUNDWORK AFFILIATES ENGAGED OVER 10,000 RESIDENTS - INCLUDING NEARLY 200 PAID RESIDENT ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS - IN THE CREATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD CLIMATE RESILIENCE ACTION PLANS. THROUGH THE LAND USE INNOVATION INITIATIVE, WE FUNDED FIVE AFFILIATE PROJECTS AIMED AT EXPANDING THE ROLE OF RESIDENTS IN BROWNFIELD TRANSFORMATIONS. AND, THROUGH OUR CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS AND LAND RESTORATION PROGRAM, WE'VE INVESTED $4.3M IN SEED FUNDING IN 13 PROJECTS AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE HUMAN IMPACTS OF EXTREME HEAT AND FLOODING. OUR RECENTLY COMPLETED EVALUATION OF THESE PROJECTS SHOWED THAT EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN THESE PROJECTS RETURNED $9.25 BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS.
  3. $600,174 spent. SUPPORTING THE GRASSROOTS ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT- THE ORGANIZATION ELEVATES THE LEARNINGS FROM OUR PLACE-BASED PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF MORE THAN 1,500 COMMUNITY-BASED PRACTITIONERS THROUGH WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, AND COACHING THROUGH OUR EPA BROWNFIELDS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE URBAN WATERS LEARNING NETWORK (UWLN). IN 2024, WE PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE TO 12 ORGANIZATIONS, LAUNCHED A SIX-MONTH LEARNING INTENSIVE WITH 8 ORGANIZATIONS, AND 1,250 PRACTITIONERS IN WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS.
  4. $728,548 spent. CREATING PATHWAYS TO OPPORTUNITY- THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATES WITH THE GROUNDWORK NETWORK TO CREATE NEW PATHWAYS TO ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND SKILL-BUILDING PROGRAMS THAT PREPARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR GOOD JOBS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY STRENGTHENING THE LOCAL ECONOMY. IN 2024, WE SUPPORTED THE 700+ YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS EMPLOYED IN THE NETWORK'S PAID LEADERSHIP AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, LAUNCHED A NEW ALUMNI COMMUNITY, AND BROUGHT 106 GREEN TEAMERS AND 40 GROUNDCORPS MEMBERS FROM 11 AFFILIATE COMMUNITIES TO NATIONAL PARKS AND HISTORIC SITES FOR OUR NATIONAL CORPS PROGRAMS.

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 2003.

    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.

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