named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Agroforestry Workshop
Two-part workshop in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension teaching agroforestry practices, tree species selection, site design, and tree planting on the incubator farm.
Farmer Training Program
Part-time, 7-month program for BIPOC individuals focused on hands-on vegetable and livestock production, farm enterprise exposure, and understanding structural issues in the food system. Includes stipend support and leads to entry-level farming roles or self-sufficiency.
Farming for Justice Action and Discussion Group
Monthly group that explores food justice, equity, and systemic change in the food system, promoting community dialogue and action.
Incubator Farm Program
Provides land access and farming opportunities to beginning farmers, currently used primarily by Karen refugees from Burma, supporting viable small-scale farm businesses.
Intro to Farm Skills Workshop Series
Beginner-friendly, hands-on workshops covering practical farming skills such as tool use, soil health, irrigation, and post-harvest handling at the Groundswell Incubator Farm in Ithaca, NY.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Agricultural Training and Education Programs 3 activities
- Farming skills training workshops and coursesOffers hands-on, field-based workshops and training series covering practical farming skills such as soil health, composting, irrigation, harvesting, washing, cooling, storage, hand and power tool use, BCS tractor operation, and agroforestry. These include recurring programs like the Intro to Farm Skills Workshop Series and specialized trainings such as BIPOC carpentry and gender-oppression-focused tractor courses, designed to build technical proficiency, confidence, and community connections among new farmers.
- Incubator Farm Program for beginning and underserved farmersProvides beginning farmers, particularly Karen refugees from Burma and other historically underserved producers, with access to up to a 1/4 acre of farmland, shared infrastructure (including deer fencing, walk-in cooler, vegetable wash station, tools, and equipment), and supported farmwork with guidance from a farm manager for 4 hours per week from June to October. The program includes small group instruction in soil science, organic growing methods, water management, climate resilience, BCS operation, and tool maintenance.
- Land access and landowner education initiativesFacilitates equitable land access for beginning and underrepresented farmers through programs like the Incubator Farm Program and by educating landowners and realtors on leasing and transferring farmland. Activities include hosting webinars for landowners on legal and tax considerations, cooperative farming, and equity-centered land transfer, as well as organizing workshops for realtors to support historically disadvantaged buyers in acquiring farmland.
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Local Food Systems Development 1 activity
- Advancing food justice and racial equity in agricultureImplements programs that prioritize support for underrepresented producers—including people of color, refugees, women, and limited-resource individuals—and addresses systemic inequities in land and resource access. Participates in the Land Access, Reconciliation, and Reparations Working Group to advance rematriation of Gayogohono lands and community-led reparations, while centering local knowledge and confronting the impacts of white supremacy in U.S. agriculture through internal accountability structures like the Equity and Accountability Committee.
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Community Event Fundraising 1 activity
- Community events and fundraising activitiesHosts an annual fundraiser at Stone Bend Farm featuring food and beverages from Incubator Farmers to support local farming and food justice efforts. Also organizes virtual public events with speakers such as Dr. Carolyn Finney to explore race, environmentalism, and social challenges in agriculture.
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Community-Based Urban Agriculture 1 activity
- Cultivation and distribution of Southeast Asian vegetablesGrows Southeast Asian vegetables on the Incubator Farm for sale through wholesale channels and local markets, supporting cultural foodways and economic opportunities for refugee and immigrant farmers.
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Public Garden Tours and Events 1 activity
- Educational farm tours and public engagement eventsHosts guided farm tours from May through October at the Groundswell Incubator Farm and Sapwood Farm, offering visitors insights into sustainable farming, shared infrastructure, and support for beginning and underserved farmers. Tours are available for the general public, school groups, and corporate teams, and include educational components on regenerative practices and food system equity.
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Agricultural Grantmaking and Funding Programs 1 activity
- Grantmaking and financial redistribution to organizations led by people of colorFunds organizations led by people of color by redistributing 10% of annual private donations to support farmers, gardeners, growers of color, and immigrant and refugee farming initiatives.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$172K
Contributions & grants$163K95%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$860%
Other revenue$4K
expenses
Total expenses$176K
Program expenses65%
Admin / overhead20%
Fundraising15%
Salaries & benefits$99K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$141K
Cash$119K
Investments$0
Liabilities$79K
Net assets$69K
Liquid reserves8.1 mo
6 years on record · 2018–2024 · YoY revenue -0.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 8
- Ariana Taylor-Stanley — Director
- Bob Tuori — Director
- Claire Lynch — Director
- Debra Walsh — Director
- Jay Smith — Director
- Juliana Quaresma — Executive Director
- Marcus Coleman — Director
- Peter Bardaglio — Director
relationships · 46
Who they work with
- American Farmland Trust Funder — Funds Groundswell's Landowner Webinar series.
- American Farmland Trust Partner — Collaborates to support beginning farmers and landowners with land access.
- Annual Report Network — References an annual report as a source of organizational information.
- Appalachian Regional Commission Funder — Provides grant funding to support Groundswell's programs.
- Board of Directors Network — Provides leadership, strategic planning, and fundraising assistance to support Groundswell's mission.
- Cornell Botanic Gardens Partner — Co-sponsored the Class of 1945 lecture featuring Dr. Carolyn Finney.
- Cornell Cooperative Extension Partner — Co-hosts a two-part agroforestry workshop with Groundswell Center for Local Food and Farming.
- Development Committee Network — One of three committees guiding Groundswell's work through strategic input and oversight.
- EcoVillage Ithaca Government — Landlord and land partner; Groundswell leases farmland from EcoVillage Ithaca.
- Ecovillage Ithaca Partner — Leases land for the Incubator Farm at 100 Rachel Carson Way, Ithaca.
- Edible Acres Partner — Provides workshop instruction, farm tours, mentorship, and participates in farmer-to-farmer networks.
- Environmental Advocates NY Partner — Hosts a policy workshop in collaboration with Groundswell Center, led by Claire Walsh Winsler from Environmental Advocates NY.
- Equity and Accountability Committee Coalition — Internal committee composed of staff, board members, and community members that guides equity efforts and meets bi-monthly to assess organizational culture and composition.
- Equity and Accountability Committee Network — One of three committees guiding Groundswell's work through strategic input and oversight.
- Farmland for a New Generation Partner — Collaborates with Groundswell to provide expert guidance at landowner webinars on leasing farmland.
- Finger Lakes Land Trust Partner — Co-sponsored the Class of 1945 lecture featuring Dr. Carolyn Finney.
- Incubator Farm Committee Network — One of three committees guiding Groundswell's work through strategic input and oversight.
- Ithaca Children’s Garden Partner — Co-sponsored the Class of 1945 lecture featuring Dr. Carolyn Finney.
- Ithaca Realtor Partner — Collaborates with Groundswell on a workshop to support farm ownership among historically disadvantaged buyers.
- Karen Community Partner — Supports Karen farmers through collaboration, knowledge sharing, and cultivation of Southeast Asian vegetables.
- Land Access, Reconciliation, and Reparations Working Group Partner — Collaborative initiative working to rematriate Gayogohono lands, connect land to stewards, and advance community conversations on reparations and reconciliation
- New York Soil Health Partner — Collaborates on the Soil Health 101 workshop to teach foundations of healthy soil in organic farming systems.
- New York Soil Health Partner — Partners with Groundswell Center for the Soil Health 101 workshop.
- Not specified Partner — Collaborates with partners to advance food justice and equity.
- Our Children's Future Partner — Collaborates on hosting events, cross-promoting programming, and supporting underserved beginning farmers.
- Park Foundation Funder — Provides foundation support to Groundswell.
- Remembrance Farm Partner — Provides workshop instruction, farm tours, mentorship, and participates in farmer-to-farmer networks.
- Rock Steady Farm Partner — Provides a guest instructor, Sarah Groat, for the Tractor Intensive workshop.
- Rocky Acres Community Farm Partner — Provides workshop instruction, farm tours, mentorship, and participates in farmer-to-farmer networks.
- Rootwork Herbals Partner — Provides workshop instruction, farm tours, mentorship, and participates in farmer-to-farmer networks.
+ 16 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Systems Changemethodology: community-centered_designBy integrating community needs, lived experience, and long-term relationships into program design and organizational culture, the organization advances a just and sustainable food system because durable change emerges from within communities rather than being imposed externally.
- Equity-Centered Access and Participationmethodology: equity-centered_admissionsBy prioritizing access for historically marginalized groups—including BIPOC, women, trans*, non-binary, immigrants, and refugees—through compensated training, flexible scheduling, and inclusive admissions, the organization increases equity in farming because removing systemic barriers enables participation and leadership from those most affected by injustice.
- Farmer-Led, Experiential Education Modelmethodology: experiential_learningBy using farmer- and mentor-led, hands-on field training, the organization builds practical farming skills, confidence, and community connections because experiential learning grounded in real-world practice produces deeper engagement and retention than classroom-only models.