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Groundswell Network Inc

EIN 93-1682003 · Brooklyn, NY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak23 out of 100GovernanceStrong97 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

GROUNDSWELL NETWORKS MISSION IS TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOLS DEMONSTRATING THE GREATEST IMPACT WITH OUR COUNTRYS MOST UNDERSERVED STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED, STRENGTHENED, AND SCALED.

Income
$753,613
Spending
$935,130
Spent on programs
62%
Reserves
-2.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 99%
Employees
0
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$387,086, ceo/director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 23 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

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

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 117% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 24% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    62% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 93% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    4 of 5 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 June 30, 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. $575,976 spent. THE ORGANIZATION IS A NATIONAL NETWORK OF EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, POLICY EXPERTS, AND ADVOCATES COMMITTED TO EXPANDING ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY OPPORTUNITY SCHOOLS. THEY ARE UNITED BY THE BELIEF THAT STUDENTS FURTHEST FROM OPPORTUNITY DESERVE SCHOOLS DESIGNED FOR THEIR SUCCESS. BY SHARING BEST PRACTICES AND DRIVING INNOVATION, GROUNDSWELL NETWORK WORKS TO TRANSFORM PUBLIC EDUCATIONDEVELOPING ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE FRAMEWORKS, AND ELEVATING THE ROLE OF STRONG RELATIONSHIPS IN DRIVING STUDENT SUCCESS. OUR FOCUS IS ON STUDENTS AT HIGHEST RISK OF NOT COMPLETING HIGH SCHOOL, INCLUDING STUDENTS CHRONICALLY ABSENT, TRUANT, AND STUDENTS INVOLVED IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE OR FOSTER CARE SYSTEMS IN TENNESSEE, IT LED EFFORTS TO PASS A LAW CREATING "OPPORTUNITY SCHOOLS," LAUNCHED THE STATE'S FIRST ALTERNATIVE CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL, AND HOSTED A NATIONAL CONVENING OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATORS. NATIONALLY, GROUNDSWELL PUBLISHED A FRAMEWORK FOR SUCCESSFUL ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS, ORGANIZED BEST-PRACTICE COHORTS IN NEW YORK CITY, AND PARTNERED WITH CALIFORNIA'S STUART FOUNDATION TO IMPROVE SUCCESS METRICS FOR NEARLY 1,000 ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 June 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 November 2023.

    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.