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GROUNDWORK USA INC
YONKERS, NY · EIN 810554362 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE S20 · Community Improvement · Medium ($1M-$10M)
revenue
$5.7M
expenses
$6.2M
net assets
$9.5M
employees
24
volunteers
11
program ratio
84%
mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS NETWORK IS TO BRING ABOUT THE SUSTAINED REGENERATION, IMPROVEMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT BY DEVELOPING COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS THAT EMPOWER PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND ORGANIZATIONS TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. DEDICATED TO CREATING GREEN, RESILIENT AND THRIVING COMMUNITIES FOR ALL, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS GRASSROOTS EFFORTS AT THE INTERSECTION OF PEOPLE, PLACES, AND SYSTEMS TO ENSURE RESIDENTS HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN DECISION-MAKING ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOOD INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALIGNED WITH RESIDENTS' NEEDS AND PRIORITIES.

profile · synthesized from sources

Groundwork USA Inc. supports a national network of community-based organizations focused on environmental justice, climate resilience, and equitable redevelopment. It funds and provides technical assistance to local affiliates for green space creation, urban forestry, stormwater management, and brownfield transformation. The organization emphasizes resident engagement, workforce development, and ecosystem restoration in underserved neighborhoods across the United States.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $3.35M
    BUILDING THRIVING AND RESILIENT NEIGHBORHOODS - THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATES WITH GROUNDWORK AFFILIATES TO TRANSFORM NEGLECTED LAND AND WATERWAYS INTO COMMUNITY ASSETS THAT REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL HARMS, INCREASE COMMUNITY WEALTH, AND CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOY AND CONNECTION OUTDOORS. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION AWARDED $2,457,200 TO SUPPORT MULTI-YEAR GREEN SPACE, URBAN FORESTRY, AND STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ACROSS THE NETWORK IN ADDITION TO SUPPORTING PLACE-BASED PROGRAMMING THROUGH COACHING, FACILITATED PEER-LEARNING, AND DATA AND EVALUATION SERVICES. THROUGH OUR CLIMATE SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD PROGRAM, GROUNDWORK AFFILIATES ENGAGED OVER 10,000 RESIDENTS - INCLUDING NEARLY 200 PAID RESIDENT ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS - IN THE CREATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD CLIMATE RESILIENCE ACTION PLANS. THROUGH THE LAND USE INNOVATION INITIATIVE, WE FUNDED FIVE AFFILIATE PROJECTS AIMED AT EXPANDING THE ROLE OF RESIDENTS IN BROWNFIELD TRANSFORMATIONS. AND, THROUGH OUR CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS AND LAND RESTORATION PROGRAM, WE'VE INVESTED $4.3M IN SEED FUNDING IN 13 PROJECTS AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE HUMAN IMPACTS OF EXTREME HEAT AND FLOODING. OUR RECENTLY COMPLETED EVALUATION OF THESE PROJECTS SHOWED THAT EVERY DOLLAR INVESTED IN THESE PROJECTS RETURNED $9.25 BACK TO THE COMMUNITY IN ECOSYSTEM BENEFITS.
  2. #2 $600K
    SUPPORTING THE GRASSROOTS ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT- THE ORGANIZATION ELEVATES THE LEARNINGS FROM OUR PLACE-BASED PROGRAMMING TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF MORE THAN 1,500 COMMUNITY-BASED PRACTITIONERS THROUGH WEBINARS, WORKSHOPS, RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, AND COACHING THROUGH OUR EPA BROWNFIELDS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND THE URBAN WATERS LEARNING NETWORK (UWLN). IN 2024, WE PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE ASSISTANCE TO 12 ORGANIZATIONS, LAUNCHED A SIX-MONTH LEARNING INTENSIVE WITH 8 ORGANIZATIONS, AND 1,250 PRACTITIONERS IN WEBINARS AND WORKSHOPS.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Climate Preparedness and Land Restoration Program
Provides seed funding for high-impact climate adaptation projects; invested $4.3M in 13 projects addressing extreme heat and flooding
Climate Safe Neighborhoods Program
Engages residents in creating neighborhood climate resilience action plans; supported over 10,000 residents in 2024, including nearly 200 paid advisory group members
Land Use Innovation Initiative
Funds affiliate projects that expand resident roles in brownfield transformations; supported five projects in 2024 and seven in 2023
National Urban Forestry Program
New initiative launched with $10M to align urban tree planting and green infrastructure with community climate priorities
Urban Waters Learning Network (UWLN)
Offers webinars, workshops, coaching, and resources to over 1,500 environmental justice and water equity practitioners nationwide
Youth and Workforce Development
Supports education, recreation, and job training for youth and young adults through affiliated Groundwork Trusts; engaged 4,534 youth in 2022
activities · 10 groups

What they do

  • Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 3 activities
    • Convening and strengthening environmental justice networks
      Builds collaborative power among environmental justice organizations through convenings, shared learning, and network support; serves as a convener for stakeholders in places like Paris, Kentucky, and oversees the Urban Waters Learning Network.
    • Delivering technical assistance and grant implementation support to grantees
      Implements the Grantee Success Assistance program for the EPA’s Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program, providing one-on-one support, training, and mentoring to help community organizations effectively manage and implement environmental justice grants.
    • Providing capacity-building support for brownfield reuse and community revitalization
      Offers free cohort-based training, technical assistance, workshops, webinars, and coaching to nonprofits and community organizations on leading brownfield redevelopment projects with community-centered engagement; runs a six-month virtual learning series for 10–12 organizations annually and maintains a Community Resilience Resource Hub with tools and case studies.
  • Climate Finance Advisory & Research 1 activity
    • Conducting research and economic analysis on community environmental benefits
      Partners with research organizations like Earth Economics to evaluate the economic, social, and ecological returns of land restoration and climate adaptation projects; conducted an economic analysis of microforests and completed an evaluation showing $9.25 in ecosystem benefits returned per dollar invested.
  • Youth Workforce Development in Food & Environment 1 activity
    • Delivering youth workforce development and environmental education programs
      Provides paid job training, mentorship, and experiential learning in urban forestry, conservation, and green infrastructure through programs like Green Team and Green Corps; supported 4,534 youth and young adults in 2022 and engaged over 162,406 youth overall across network programs.
  • Tree Planting and Reforestation Initiatives 1 activity
    • Implementing nature-based climate adaptation projects
      Deploys green infrastructure such as microforests and stormwater filtration systems to reduce flooding, cool urban areas, improve air quality, and generate environmental and economic benefits; filters 706,000 gallons of stormwater and removes 460 pounds of air pollution annually, generating $378,000 in annual community benefits.
  • Climate Change Research and Advocacy Funding 1 activity
    • Launching national urban forestry initiatives aligned with community priorities
      Funds and supports large-scale urban tree planting and stewardship campaigns in underserved neighborhoods; secured $10 million in 2023 to launch a national urban forestry program and supports initiatives like adding 400+ trees and recruiting Tree Ambassadors in Lower Price Hill and mobilizing 5,000+ community members in the Chollas Blue Green Vision campaign.
  • Neighborhood Civic Engagement 1 activity
    • Mobilizing community engagement in climate resilience planning
      Engages residents in co-creating neighborhood climate resilience action plans through participatory processes; engaged over 10,000 residents, including nearly 200 paid advisory members, in 2024 via the Climate Safe Neighborhoods program.
  • Alumni Community Building 1 activity
    • Operating alumni networks for youth program participants
      Maintains an alumni hub and offers ongoing mentorship and networking opportunities for former participants of Green Team, Green Corps, and other youth programs.
  • Watershed Conservation & Stewardship 1 activity
    • Supporting community-led river and urban waterway restoration
      Cleans, restores, and conserves urban waterways in partnership with communities and local organizations; has restored or conserved 12,184,489 feet of river habitat.
  • Urban Park and Public Space Conservation 1 activity
    • Transforming brownfields and neglected lands into community assets
      Reclaims and improves derelict and contaminated lands by converting them into parks, gardens, trails, and multifunctional green spaces; has reclaimed or improved 1,260 acres of brownfield and derelict land and improved 15,243 acres of open space and parkland.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Distributing grants for community-driven land reuse and green space development
      Funds community engagement, resident empowerment, and planning initiatives for transforming brownfields and underutilized land into public greenspaces; awarded $2.46 million in 2024 and $2.5 million in 2023 for multi-year equity-centered climate, land, and water justice projects, and invested $4.3 million in seed funding for climate preparedness projects.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$5.75M
Contributions & grants$5.25M91%
Program service revenue$40K1%
Investment income$441K8%
Other revenue$13K
expenses
Total expenses$6.20M
Program expenses84%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$2.65M
Grants paid out$2.56M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$9.92M
Cash$2.02M
Investments$6.68M
Liabilities$428K
Net assets$9.49M
Liquid reserves16.8 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +45.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 8
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
HEATHER MCMANN CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 40 $206K
STACEY MORAN CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 40 $172K
CATHERINE MINGOYA CHIEF OFFICER OF COMMUNITY ADAPTATION AND LAND USE 40 $154K
ABIGAIL DUSSELDORP CHIEF DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 40 $153K
JEREMY HOFFMAN DIRECTOR OF IMPACT EVALUATION AND COMMUNITY SCIENC 40 $123K
GENEA FOSTER DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PLANNING 40 $117K
LAWRENCE HOFFMAN DIRECTOR OF GIS AND DATA SERVICES 40 $109K
XAVIER ATIZOL DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS 40 $109K
board members · 11
  • AMY STITELY — DIRECTOR THRU 6/24
  • CINDY CHANG — DIRECTOR
  • DEBORAH KOBES — DIRECTOR
  • DONALD L POMEROY — TREASURER
  • GEORGE DOUG EVANS — DIRECTOR
  • ODED HOLZINGER — DIRECTOR
  • ROBERT BARON — DIRECTOR THRU 9/24
  • SARAH CALDERON — PRESIDENT
  • STACEY TRIPLETT — SECRETARY
  • TODD REYNOLDS — VICE PRESIDENT
  • WENDA TAI — DIRECTOR
relationships · 37

Who they work with

  • 1% for the Planet Network — Member of the 1% for the Planet network, which connects nonprofits and philanthropy to protect the planet.
  • Baltimore Urban Waters Partnership Partner — Collaborates on cleaning up waterways and transforming vacant lots for community benefit in Baltimore.
  • Center for Creative Land Recycling Partner — Co-leads the Land Reuse Learning Cohort with Groundwork USA.
  • Community Resilience Resource Hub Network — Platform hosting Groundwork USA's technical assistance resources for land reuse projects.
  • EPA Government — Implements grantee support programming for the EPA's Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program
  • EPA Brownfields Technical Assistance Program Government — Delivers equitable development technical assistance in brownfields redevelopment through partnership with the EPA Brownfields program.
  • Earth Economics Partner — Collaborated on an economic analysis of community benefits from microforests.
  • Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association Partner — Supports restoration of Ellerbe Creek in Durham, NC through nature-based solutions and EPA grant funding.
  • Green Corps Network — Youth program network member whose participants are included in the Roots & Routes alumni hub
  • Green Team Network — Youth program network member whose participants are included in the Roots & Routes alumni hub
  • Groundwork Affiliates Network — National network of local organizations collaborating on community revitalization and environmental projects.
  • Groundwork Atlanta Network — Receives funding through the Land Use Innovation Initiative to engage residents in land redevelopment.
  • Groundwork Bridgeport Network — Receives funding to collect community input on waterfront restoration.
  • Groundwork Hudson Valley Network — Receives funding to engage community members in designing Ludlow Park.
  • Groundwork Jacksonville Network — Hosts the Emerald Trail Stewards program funded by the Land Use Innovation Initiative.
  • Groundwork Lawrence Network — Receives funding to engage residents in transforming the former Cyr Oil property.
  • Groundwork Milwaukee Network — Receives funding to educate residents about brownfields and land reuse.
  • Groundwork Network Network — Implements climate preparedness projects across a national network of local Groundwork trusts.
  • Groundwork Network Network — National network of community-centered nonprofits focused on environmental and community revitalization.
  • Groundwork New Orleans Network — Receives funding to engage youth in brownfield inventory and site improvements.
  • Groundwork Ohio River Valley Network — Affiliate organization implementing tree planting and stewardship programs in Lower Price Hill
  • Groundwork Ohio River Valley Network — Receives funding for community organizing and capacity building in Roselawn and South Cumminsville.
  • Groundwork Rhode Island Network — Affiliate organization training youth in urban forestry through micro-forest planting
  • Groundwork Rhode Island Network — Receives funding to plan educational programming at the West End Compost Hub.
  • Groundwork San Diego Network — Receives funding to develop a concept plan for transforming a 17-acre brownfield site.
  • Groundwork San Diego, Chollas Creek Network — Affiliate organization leading community engagement and tree planting through the Chollas Blue Green Vision campaign
  • Groundwork Trusts Partner — Collaborates with Groundwork Trusts to increase access to green spaces, healthy food, clean water, and climate resilience initiatives.
  • Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Partner — Partners on the River Ambassador program engaging youth in stewardship of the Los Angeles River.
  • NASA Partner — Collaborates on national youth programming initiatives
  • National Park Service Partner — Collaborates on national youth programming initiatives
+ 7 more
strategies · 4

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 Co-Creation Model
    methodology: community_co_creation
    By engaging residents as equal partners in designing and implementing environmental projects, we produce more equitable and sustainable outcomes because local knowledge ensures solutions are culturally relevant, address real needs, and foster long-term ownership.
  • Cross-Sector Network Convening for Collective Impact
    methodology: network_convening
    By convening peer practitioners and building coalitions across sectors, we accelerate innovation and systems change because shared learning and collaboration amplify the reach and effectiveness of localized environmental justice efforts.
  • Nature-Based Integrated Community Development
    methodology: nature_based_climate_adaptation
    By using urban forestry and green space reuse as a platform for climate adaptation and land revitalization, we produce co-benefits for health, equity, and economic opportunity because nature-based infrastructure addresses interconnected social and environmental challenges in underserved neighborhoods.
  • Youth-Led Environmental Leadership Development
    methodology: youth_led_environmental_leadership
    By training youth in ecological stewardship and supporting them to lead community change initiatives, we produce lasting environmental and personal transformation because hands-on leadership builds agency, workforce skills, and intergenerational impact.