Ground Education
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GROUND EDUCATION OFFERS A ROBUST, CURRICULUM-BASED TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN-5TH GRADE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM DELIVERED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AND IN SUMMER AND AFTER-SCHOOL SETTINGS.
- Income
- $1.3 million
- Spending
- $1.2 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 3.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 63%
- Employees
- 46
- Volunteers
- 12
- Highest pay
- $69,420, co-executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 7% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 30% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 15 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 July 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 (3)
- $552,515 spent. GROUND EDUCATION PARTNERS WITH LONG BEACH PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND GARDEN, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS EXPERIENCES FOR EVERY STUDENT DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. WE DIRECTLY ENGAGE YOUTH TO GROW THE CAPACITY FOR WONDER, CULTIVATE THE SPACE TO THINK, EXPLORE, AND CONNECT, AND NURTURE ROBUST DECISION-MAKING IN THE CONTEXT OF THE NATURAL WORLD. DURING THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR, WE PROVIDED LESSONS TO 15,000 ELEMENTARY STUDENTS IN THE LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT--A 15% INCREASE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR--AND NOW HAVE LEARNING GARDENS AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN 58% OF LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. WE ALSO MENTORED EIGHT INTERNS FROM CSULB, AND PLANTED AND MAINTAINED 32 GARDEN SITES. IN OUR END-OF-SCHOOL SURVEY, 99% OF TEACHERS REPORTED THAT PARTICIPATING IN GROUND EDUCATION SUPPORTS STUDENTS' SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL WELLBEING. WHILE WE BELIEVE EVERY STUDENT SHOULD SPEND TIME LEARNING OUTDOORS, OUR EXPANSION HAS FOCUSED ON SCHOOLS SERVING LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN UNDERSERVED LONG BEACH NEIGHBORHOODS. LEARN MORE AT WWW.GROUNDEDUCATION.ORG.
- $456,132 spent. IN RECENT YEARS, WE'VE EXPANDED OUR SCHOOL GARDEN PROGRAM TO PROVIDE NATURE-BASED AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT LONG BEACH. THROUGH THIS EXPANDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM (ELOP), WE PROVIDED "BE AN ANT" ACTIVITY DAYS TO NEARLY 3,000 STUDENTS AT 37 SCHOOL SITES DURING THE SUMMER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT SESSION. WE ALSO PROVIDE SPROUT CLUB LESSONS AND ACTIVITIES THAT IMPACT ALL 53 ELEMENTARY AND K8 SCHOOLS IN LBUSD DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR.
- $62,256 spent. WE DELIVER WEEKLY GARDEN ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS AT TWO BOYS & GIRLS CLUB LOCATIONS IN LONG BEACH. THESE AFTER-SCHOOL AND SUMMER YOUTH GROW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES - HARVESTING, COOKING AND EATING WITH OUR EDUCATOR STAFF.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, 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 July 2025.
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 March 2018.
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.