What Green City Force does

Green City Force (GCF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 2009 in Brooklyn, NY, that operates an AmeriCorps-affiliated workforce development program preparing 18-24 year-old residents of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and other low-income NYC housing for careers in the green economy. Its flagship Service Corps is a six-to-ten-month full-time paid program combining one day per week of classroom training (Roots of Success environmental literacy curriculum, OSHA-40 certification, sectoral skills in energy efficiency, urban agriculture, building operations, green infrastructure, composting, and green construction) with four days per week of field service. Since founding, GCF has trained over 700 graduates across 30+ cohorts, distributed 196,000+ pounds of produce to NYCHA residents through seven urban farms across all five NYC boroughs, and reached 50,000+ residents through the Love Where You Live resident-to-resident education campaign.

The organization's programmatic portfolio includes the Eco-Hubs framework (a closed-loop resilience model co-designed with UC Berkeley that integrates Farms at NYCHA, Love Where You Live, and additional food/water/waste/energy service modules), the GCF Social Enterprise program employing alumni in energy audits and waste management (including the award-winning GCF Illuminators energy-audit program in partnership with NYSERDA's EmPower NY), and Grad Careers alumni services including weekly job blasts and employer referrals to a 20+ partner hiring network spanning Con Edison, Franklin Energy, Willdan, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Compost Power, and others.

GCF's revenue model is diversified across four streams: (1) foundation and corporate grants (Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, HSBC, TD Bank, Patagonia, Merck Family Fund, and others), (2) government grants and AmeriCorps funding (via The Corps Network, NYC City Council via DYCD and DSNY, NYCHA, NYSERDA, NYC Human Resources Administration WPP, NYC Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety, Congressional Community Project Funding via Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, and Department of Energy solar training), (3) individual and corporate donations including monthly recurring gifts and tax-deductible contributions, and (4) Social Enterprise service contracts (sub-contracted energy audits, EmPower NY retrofits, urban forestry, zero-waste). Annual budget is targeted at $6M+. Operations are anchored in Brooklyn, NY, with program delivery across NYCHA developments in all five NYC boroughs.

Name

Green City Force

Legal name

Green City Force

Website

https://greencityforce.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Green City Force is a Brooklyn-based 501(c)3 nonprofit AmeriCorps program that trains 18-24 year-old NYCHA and low-income NYC housing residents for green-economy careers through workforce development, urban farming, and resident education across all five NYC boroughs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Readiness, Career Pathways & Youth Employment Nonprofits (BPAGADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Employment & Job Readiness Support Services (BPAGAEAJ)

Keywords

• Workforce development training
• Green economy programs
• Urban agriculture services
• Energy efficiency services
• Youth employment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Individual and Corporate Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals (one-time and monthly recurring) and corporate donors. Check donations, stock contributions, Donor Advised Fund giving, and corporate sponsorships. Monthly recurring donation program for year-round support.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Institutional grant funding from a broad base of foundations (e.g., Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Merck Family Fund, Solon E. Summerfield Foundation, Essex Avenue Foundation, Three Cairns Group, Lawrence Foundation, etc.) and corporate funders (HSBC, BNP Paribas, TD Bank, CIBC, KeyBank Foundation, McKinsey, Patagonia, Etsy, Webster Bank, Santander, etc.). Annual budget target referenced at $6M+.
3. Government Grants and AmeriCorps Funding: Public sector funding from AmeriCorps via The Corps Network (TCN), NYC City Council via DYCD and DSNY, NYC Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety, NYCHA, NYC Human Resources Administration (WPP), NYSERDA, NY Public Housing Preservation Trust, Department of Energy (Solar via TCN), and Congressional Community Project Funding via Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Includes 2024 Con Edison grant of over $4M to four NY non-profits training 1,200+ participants in clean energy.
4. Social Enterprise Service Contracts (Energy Audits and Retrofits): Sub-contracted energy services revenue from the GCF Illuminators / EmPower NY program, working with NYCHA, NYSERDA, and private energy services companies to deliver energy audits and retrofits to low-to-moderate-income households. Also includes other Social Enterprise contracts in urban forestry/tree inventory, zero-waste (Compost Power), and energy efficiency projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Green City Force operates an AmeriCorps service and training program that recruits young adults aged 18-24 from NYC public housing and low-income communities for six-to-ten month full-time paid service terms. Corps Members receive classroom training (Roots of Success, OSHA-40) and field-based service through three interlocking initiatives—Eco-Hubs, Farms at NYCHA, and Love Where You Live—building skills and certifications for green economy careers.

Product overview

Green City Force (GCF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization offering a unified, integrated suite of service-and-workforce-development programs rather than a single software product. Its flagship offering, the Service Corps, is a six-to-ten-month full-time paid AmeriCorps program for 18-24 year-old NYCHA and low-income NYC housing residents. The Service Corps powers three interlocking service initiatives: Eco-Hubs powered by Green City Force (the unifying vision that combines the others into closed-loop resilience systems), Farms at NYCHA (six current urban farms across all five NYC boroughs plus the Red Hook site), and Love Where You Live (a resident-to-resident education campaign). After graduation, alumni move into Grad Careers / Alumni Services for ongoing career support, and many work in the GCF Social Enterprise Program (including the award-winning GCF Illuminators energy-services program and the NYSERDA EmPower New York partnership), as well as the affiliated Compost Power social enterprise. All programs are anchored in training partnerships (Roots of Success, OSHA-40) and a network of employer, government, foundation, and corporate funders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GCF Service Corps: GCF's flagship AmeriCorps service and training program that prepares young adults aged 18-24 for careers in the green economy through a six-to-ten-month full-time paid workforce development experience.
• Farms at NYCHA
• Love Where You Live
• Eco-Hubs
• GCF Illuminators
• GCF Social Enterprise

Products and services

• Service Corps GCF's flagship AmeriCorps service and training program. A structured six-to-ten-month full-time, paid workforce development experience where Corps Members aged 18-24 from NYCHA and low-income NYC housing serve an average of four days/week in the field and one day/week in classroom training, gaining certifications (Roots of Success, OSHA-40) and launching careers in the green economy.
• Farms at NYCHA Urban farms built and maintained by GCF Service Corps Members across NYCHA properties in all five boroughs of NYC. Serves as horticulture, agriculture, and green infrastructure training grounds while growing organic produce for local residents. Corps Members have distributed over 196,000 lbs of produce to NYCHA residents since 2013 across six current sites plus the inaugural Red Hook Houses Farm.
• Love Where You Live (LWYL) Resident-to-resident 'credible messenger' education and action campaign that has reached over 50,000 NYCHA residents since 2013. Modules cover energy efficiency, water (Cease the Grease), and waste/recycling (NYCHA Recycles!) in partnership with NYCHA, NYC DEP, DSNY, and GrowNYC. Recognized as a national model aligned with HUD's STEM, Energy, and Economic Development (SEED) initiative.
• Eco-Hubs powered by Green City Force Unifying framework combining Love Where You Live and Farms at NYCHA into closed-loop systems supporting environmental resilience and community health in NYCHA developments. Aligns local green service for food, water, waste, and energy behavior change with local, city, state, national, and global climate goals.
• GCF Social Enterprise Program (GCF Illuminators) Employs GCF alumni in next-step career opportunities through project contracts ranging from energy-efficiency to urban forestry to waste management. The award-winning GCF Illuminators program helped thousands of low-income New Yorkers reduce their energy bills annually in partnership with energy service providers and NYSERDA, executing large-scale energy audit and retrofit projects.
• EmPower New York (GCF Partnership) Partnership with NYSERDA's EmPower NY Program through which GCF alumni energy auditors provide free home energy assessments and upgrades (ENERGY STAR refrigerators/freezers, 16 LED bulbs, water-saving showerheads, CO/smoke detectors) to eligible low-to-moderate income Con Edison customers.
• Grad Careers / Alumni Services Career and alumni services for Service Corps graduates including career counseling, weekly sectoral job blast, education award assistance for the AmeriCorps Segal Education Award, personal support through GCF's social work team, and access to employer partners across Energy Efficiency, Urban Agriculture, Building Operations, Zero Waste, Infrastructure & Resiliency, Construction, Renewables, and Union careers.
• Compost Collection (Eco-Hub Composting) Closed-loop composting at Eco-Hubs where NYCHA residents drop off organic waste (fruit/vegetable scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds) in exchange for fresh produce. GCF partner, alumni-led social enterprise Compost Power processes the scraps into soil ('black gold') for use on the farms.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 700 GCF graduates have changed their communities and their lives (since founding in 2009)
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

42 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep operational partnership with NYCHA, the largest public housing authority in North America. GCF operates 6 of 7 urban farms on NYCHA property across all five NYC boroughs, and NYCHA is GCF's primary recruitment pool. NYCHA is also a major institutional funder. Founded in 1935; home to 1 in 17 New Yorkers.
• Con EdisonflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor employer partner that hires GCF alumni; awarded $4M+ in 2024 grants across 4 NY nonprofits for clean energy training of 1,200+ participants over three years. Con Edison VP Nicole Leon serves on GCF Board of Directors. Long-standing partnership through Young Adult Sectoral Employment Project (2013) and Illuminators energy efficiency program.
• AmeriCorps via The Corps Network (TCN)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmeriCorps is GCF's foundational federal service infrastructure (GCF is an AmeriCorps program). The Corps Network (TCN) is the national association of service and conservation corps and accredits GCF. TCN also channels Department of Energy Solar training funding to GCF. TCN honored GCF with a Corps Member of the Year Award in 2019.
• Franklin EnergycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner that recruits GCF alumni; David Wolk of Franklin Energy provided a testimonial praising the work ethic, eagerness to learn, and follow-through of GCF alumni. Long-standing energy efficiency hiring partner.
• Brooklyn Botanic Garden (BBG)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner hiring GCF alumni. Hosted a composting internship for GCF alumnus Hakim Jeffrey. Active career destination for horticulture-trained GCF graduates.
• Compost PowerflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGCF alumni-founded and alumni-led Social Enterprise co-employed with GCF. Founded by Domingo Morales (GCF Cohort 10 alumnus and inaugural David Prize winner). Operates 9 community composting sites across NYC, processes household food scraps at NYCHA sites, and supports GCF's zero-waste programming at Eco-Hubs. A co-employed Crew Member position is currently open.
• SUNY New Paltz / AmeriCorps Public Allies New York (Luisanna Sosa Caraballo alum link)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStaff member Luisanna Sosa Caraballo is an alumna of AmeriCorps Public Allies New York, indicating a sister-program relationship in the national service ecosystem.
• AccordPowerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner that hires GCF alumni in the energy sector.
• Brooklyn Navy YardminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner providing career opportunities for GCF alumni in the Brooklyn Navy Yard's industrial and commercial ecosystem.
• GrowNYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmployer and service partner; collaboration on Love Where You Live waste/recycling/compost education and Farm Stands at NYCHA sites. Active long-standing partner.
• Harrison GreenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner that hires GCF alumni.
• Lower East Side Ecology CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner providing green sector job placements for GCF alumni.
• New York Restoration Project (NYRP)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner hiring GCF alumni in urban forestry and green space management.
• Prospect Park AllianceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner that hires GCF alumni in parks, horticulture, and maintenance roles.
• Queens Botanical GardenminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner that hires GCF alumni in horticulture and urban agriculture roles.
• Toro Construction Services LLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner in green construction that hires GCF alumni.
• The Trust for Governors IslandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmployer partner that hires GCF alumni for green and parks roles.
• WilldancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth an employer partner and a training partner; hires GCF alumni in energy services. Former GCF staff member Alshawn Williams worked at Willdan and Franklin Energy/Con Edison before returning to GCF.
• Solar OnecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner that helps GCF deliver technical training to Service Corps Members in green energy, sustainability, and environmental education.
• Roots of SuccesscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner providing the foundational Roots of Success environmental literacy/pre-apprenticeship curriculum to all Service Corps Members.
• Menotti EnterpriseminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner supporting GCF's technical training delivery.
• Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner supporting pathways for women in green and construction trades.
• DataCampminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDataCamp Donate program training partner.
• Soulful SynergyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner supporting Corps Member development.
• Urban Green CouncilminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner supporting GCF's green building training.
• NYC Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService partner collaborating on the Cease the Grease water module of Love Where You Live, educating NYCHA residents on FOG (Fats, Oils, Grease) impact.
• NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService partner on Love Where You Live recycling and zero-waste programming, NYCHA Recycles! roll-out, Brownsville Zero Waste in Shared Space NYCx Challenge, and Brownsville door-to-door recycling pilot.
• NYC Mayor's Office of the Chief Technology OfficerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on the Love Where You Live waste module.
• Mothers on the Move / Inner City Green TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner on Love Where You Live waste/recycling education.
• Building Healthy Communities (BHC) / Fund for Public Health NYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity-wide partnership (2015-2020) that hosts the Farms at NYCHA initiative; 12 neighborhoods across NYC. Fund for Public Health NYC is a current partner.
• Red Hook InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates the Red Hook Houses Farm (originally co-developed with GCF, NYCHA, and Added Value starting 2013); ongoing community partner in Red Hook.
• Harlem GrownminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast and current Farms at NYCHA partner.
• Universe CityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast and current Farms at NYCHA partner.
• La Finca Del SurminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast and current Farms at NYCHA partner.
• East New York Farms (UCCENY)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast and current Farms at NYCHA partner.
• Isabahlia Ladies of Elegance FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPast and current Farms at NYCHA partner.
• JobsFirstNYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-convener of the Young Adult Sectoral Employment Project (2013) which GCF anchored with Con Edison, Franklin Energy, L+M Development Partners, C+C Management, and NYCHA REES. Major foundation funder.
• L+M Development Partners, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on the Young Adult Sectoral Employment Project (2013).
• C+C ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on the Young Adult Sectoral Employment Project (2013).
• New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner and funder; major implementation partner for the EmPower NY program, providing energy efficiency services to low-income NYC residents. Hosts training partnerships and joint programming.
• New York Public Housing Preservation Trust via WXY StudiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting preservation and resilience work in NYCHA communities.
• NY Jobs CEO CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner; Chief Partnerships Officer Degan Mercado Leopold serves on GCF Board. Focused on hiring 100,000 New Yorkers into family-sustaining jobs by 2030.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• City Year: National AmeriCorps program placing young adults (typically 18-25) in full-time service addressing educational equity. Highly comparable to GCF's AmeriCorps model, member demographics, stipend + education award structure, and cohort-based service year, though City Year focuses on schools rather than green economy.
• GrowNYC: NYC environmental nonprofit running urban farms, farmers markets, compost, and zero-waste programming. Already a GCF service and employer partner, with overlapping urban agriculture and resident-education missions across NYCHA properties.
• GRID Alternatives: National nonprofit delivering solar installation and clean energy job training in underserved communities. Directly comparable to GCF's clean energy workforce training mission; GCF co-founder Erika Symmonds is currently a Workforce Program Advisor at GRID.
• Public Allies: AmeriCorps national service program for young adults (18-30) with an explicit leadership development and equity focus. Closely comparable cohort model, stipend/education award structure, and nonprofit/agency placement pattern to GCF's Service Corps.
• Solar One: NYC-based green energy and environmental education nonprofit. Already a GCF training partner, it operates overlapping green workforce training, sustainability education, and NYC environmental programming, making it a direct functional peer despite partnership relationship.
• Red Hook Initiative: NYCHA-community nonprofit in Red Hook, Brooklyn, providing youth programs, workforce development, and community services. Operates the Red Hook Houses Farm since 2020 (originally co-developed with GCF), making it a direct peer on both workforce and urban agriculture dimensions.

Broad incumbents

• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free tech training and career placement to adults from low-income communities. Comparable tuition-free training model, employer partnership approach, and workforce development mission, though Per Scholas focuses on IT rather than green economy.
• Year Up: Large national workforce development program for young adults (18-24) from low-income communities, with employer-driven placement into technology and professional careers. Comparable target demographic, training-plus-internship model, and employer network structure, though focused on tech/corporate roles rather than green economy.

Others

• The Corps Network: National association of service and conservation corps (GCF is an accredited member). Not a direct competitor but a structural peer ecosystem and accreditor; comparable corps members include conservation-focused programs like California Conservation Corps and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps.

Regional players

• Harlem Grown: NYC nonprofit operating urban farms and food-education programming in Harlem public housing. Comparable urban agriculture, youth development, and NYCHA-adjacent mission to Farms at NYCHA; listed as a current/past GCF partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GreenCityForce
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/green-city-force

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Green City Force