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Groundwork New Orleans

EIN 90-0456300 · New Orleans, LA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak45 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

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

What it says it does

GROUNDWORK NEW ORLEANS ENGAGES LOCAL RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOODS AND TRANSFORM COMMUNITY LIABILITIES INTO COMMUNITY ASSETS. BY CHANGING PLACES WE CHANGE LIVES. SINCE 2006, GWNOLA HAS FOCUSED ON NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES, OR "BMPS", IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS THAT MITIGATE STORM WATER THREATS WHILE IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE, RESTORING ECOSYSTEMS, AND CONTRIBUTING TO A HEALTHIER WATERSHED THAT INCLUDES SURROUNDING WETLANDS AND THE GULF OF MEXICO ESTUARIES. AT THE CORE OF OUR PROGRAMING IS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH JOB AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING. THE GREEN TEAM PROGRAM EMPLOYS YOUTH AGES 14-18, THE GROUND CREW PROGRAM EMPLOYS YOUNG ADULTS 19-25, IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WHICH FOCUS ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN NEW ORLEANS.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
-0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 74%
Employees
2
Volunteers
8
Highest pay
$102,400, executive director

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

Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 9% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 102% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 80% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    8 of 8 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

    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

    0 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 (4)
  1. $489,954 spent. EPA GMD TFW - GWNOLA WAS AWARDED A EPA GRANT TO REMOVE TRASH FROM WATERWAYS IN TEXAS, LOUISIANA AND ALABAMA- 97K LBS OF TRASH REMOVED. RIBBON-CUTTING ON THE NEW VISION 2 REALITY STORMWATER MANAGEMENT PARK - 400K.
  2. $241,742 spent. CPLR - CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS LAND RESTORATION PROGRAM TO BUILD A COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT PARK. EXPANDED TREE PLANTING TO 500 TREES IN 2024 AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING TO 45 NEW POSITIONS.
  3. $43,836 spent. CSN - GWNOLA ESTABLISHED A NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION IN THE 7TH WARD OF NEW ORLEANS. FIRST OPERATIONAL "BEEHIVE" MICROGRID RESILIENCE HUB IN THE COUNTRY 425K.
  4. $451,496 spent. SOLAR MICROGRID COMMUNITY HUB (EPA EJPS) - GROUNDWORK NEW ORLEANS AND ITS PARTNERS SEEKS TO PREVENT SUCH TRAGIC DEATHS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE. NEW ORLEANS RANKS AMONG THE TOP 10 CITIES IN THE U.S. FOR POWER OUTAGES FROM SEVERE WEATHER, WHICH HAVE DOUBLED NATIONWIDE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND THE FREQUENCY AND LENGTH OF POWER FAILURES ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS SINCE RELIABILITY TRACKING BEGAN. FOLLOWING HURRICANE IDA, NEARLY ONE MILLION NEW ORLEANIANS LOST POWER; SOME RESIDENTS REMAINED IN THE DARK MORE THAN ONE MONTH LATER. WHEN POWER OUTAGES OCCUR, GROUNDWORK NEW ORLEANS WILL BE ABLE TO CONDUCT NEEDS ASSESSMENTS AND PROVIDE FOR THOSE NEEDS BY OFFERING CHARGING STATIONS AND SMALL BATTERY DISTRIBUTION, FOOD PREPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION, COOLING/HEATING STATIONS, AND WIFI ACCESS. TOTAL EPA EJPS ($116,878) WITH ALL OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES IS $451,496.

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 May 15, 2023 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2023.

    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 March 2024.

    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.