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Groundswell Startups Inc

EIN 81-1417100 · Melbourne, FL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GROUNDSWELL PAIRS EARLY-STAGE COMPANIES WITH EXPERTS WHO KNOW THE INDUSTRY AND ARE READY TO HELP. WITH MENTORS RANGING FROM BUSINESS STRATEGY TO MANUFACTURING TO RAISING CAPITAL, GROUNDSWELL HAS THE RESOURCES FOR YOU TO IDEATE, START AND GROW.

Income
$633,648
Spending
$653,275
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
3

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 11% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no 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.

  • 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, 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 (1)
  1. $610,367 spent. PROGRAMMING: JOINING THE GROUNDSWELL NETWORK MEANS GAINING ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND WORKSHOPS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS. FROM WORKSHOPS FOR ASPIRING ENTREPRENEURS LOOKING TO TEST THEIR APTITUDE TO GROWING COMPANIES FINDING PROVEN STRATEGIES TO SCALE, GROUNDSWELL IS HERE TO HELP. MENTORSHIP: GROUNDSWELL PAIRS EARLY-STAGE COMPANIES WITH EXPERTS WHO KNOW THE INDUSTRY AND ARE READY TO HELP. WITH MENTORS RANGING FROM BUSINESS STRATEGY TO MANUFACTURING TO RAISING CAPITAL, GROUNDSWELL HAS THE RESOURCES FOR YOU TO IDEATE, START AND GROW. COWORKING: WHY WORK IN A COFFEE SHOP WHEN YOU CAN ACCESS FREE COFFEE AND BEER, SURF THE FASTEST WIFI IN TOWN AND COLLABORATE WITH OTHER LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS, ALL FROM A RIVERSIDE SPACE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF DOWNTOWN MELBOURNES MANY BARS AND RESTAURANTS. EVENTS: SOMETHINGS ALWAYS GOING ON AT GROUNDSWELL. FEATURED FOUNDER TALKS, LIGHTNING DISCUSSIONS AND MORE IN-DEPTH ROUNDTABLES OFFER UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES, KEY EXPERT INSIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOUNDERS TO SHARE THEIR CHALLENGES AND RECEIVE AN OUTSIDE OPINION. EVENTS: SOMETHINGS ALWAYS GOING ON AT GROUNDSWELL. FEATURED FOUNDER TALKS, LIGHTNING DISCUSSIONS AND MORE IN-DEPTH ROUNDTABLES OFFER UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES, KEY EXPERT INSIGHTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOUNDERS TO SHARE THEIR CHALLENGES AND RECEIVE AN OUTSIDE OPINION.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 November 6, 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 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 December 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 November 4, 2026.

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