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Gathering Ground Inc

EIN 87-2492428 · Neptune, NJ

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GATHERING GROUND CREATES IRRESISTIBLE, JUSTICE-CENTERED GATHERINGS THAT IGNITE DIALOGUE, LEARNING, ACTION, AND COLLABORATION, IN SOLIDARITY WITH ALL PEOPLE, AND IN SERVICE TO THE CREATION OF A FAIR AND JUST WORLD.

Income
$489,123
Spending
$579,708
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
7.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
4
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$130,680, executive director

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

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 9 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

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 88% 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

    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

    12 of 15

    Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.

  • 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 (3)
  1. $159,809 spent. OUR ELEVATING EQUITY ANTI-OPPRESSION PROGRAM (ELEVATING EQUITY) SERVES AS AN UMBRELLA INITIATIVE COMPRISED OF DIVERSE EQUITY-FOCUSED OFFERINGS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS AT VARIOUS STAGES OF THEIR EQUITY JOURNEY, WHILE FOSTERING A GROWING COMMUNITY DEDICATED TO REALIZING A LIBERATED SOCIETY WHERE ALL MEMBERS CAN THRIVE. THIS MULTIFACETED PROGRAM INCLUDES VARIOUS COMPONENTS, FROM TAILORED LEARNING PATHWAYS (INTRODUCTORY TO ADVANCED LEVELS), SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT LECTURES ON ADVOCACY, PEER DIALOGUE GROUPS, AND A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE.
  2. $141,593 spent. COMMUNITIES IN CONVERSATION (CIC) PROVIDES A VIRTUAL PLATFORM FOR DIALOGUE ON CRITICAL ISSUES IN A VIBRANT, FAST-PACED, ACTION-FOCUSED, CROSS-SECTOR THINK TANK, WITH A STATEWIDE COMMUNITY.
  3. $93,670 spent. OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM IS THE COMMUNITY-WIDE CALL TO COLLABORATION (C2C) WHICH WELCOMES BETWEEN 150 AND 400+ COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR A 2-DAY MEETING. WE UTILIZE A MODIFIED VERSION OF OPEN-SPACE TECHNOLOGY A DYNAMIC AND DEMOCRATIC WAY OF MEETING USED WORLDWIDE AS A TOOL TO TACKLE COMPLEX PROBLEMS THAT REQUIRE DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS TO SOLVE THEM. GATHERING IN THIS WAY ALLOWS PARTICIPANTS TO COLLABORATE AND STRATEGIZE IN A MANNER THAT CALLS FOR THE INPUT AND LEADERSHIP OF ALL, MOVING AWAY FROM THE HIERARCHICAL MANNER IN WHICH DECISIONS TEND TO BE MADE, AND LEADING TO CONCRETE ACTIONS AND SOLUTIONS.

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 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 2025.

    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 March 2022.

    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.

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.