Groundwork USA

What Groundwork USA does

Groundwork USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 81-0554362) founded in 2003 and headquartered in Yonkers, NY, serving as the national capacity-building entity for the Groundwork Network — a federation of 16+ community-centered environmental nonprofit affiliates (Groundwork Trusts) operating across U.S. cities including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Colorado, Ohio, California, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Connecticut, Florida, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. The organization coordinates programs and disseminates best practices to affiliates working in low-resource urban neighborhoods on environmental justice, climate resilience, urban forestry, brownfield transformation, and youth workforce development. Its primary beneficiaries are residents of historically disinvested communities, with municipal government and Groundwork Trust affiliates functioning as institutional partners.

The organization's core programs include Climate Safe Neighborhoods (overlaying historical redlining data with modern climate vulnerability), the National Service Corps (placing youth in conservation roles at national parks such as Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier), the Climate Preparedness and Land Restoration Initiative (anchored by $3.1M in Bezos Earth Fund grants distributed across eight Trusts in 2022), the Land Use Innovation Initiative (a joint NPS-EPA grant program with Hydro Flask as a corporate co-funder), the Urban Waters Learning Network (co-coordinated with River Network), and urban forestry work as a national passthrough partner for the USDA Forest Service IRA program. The technology footprint is built around GIS-driven mapping tools rather than proprietary software, with field guides such as "From Brown to Blooming" and the Community Resilience Resource Hub serving as practitioner resources. Microforest economic analysis is performed in partnership with Earth Economics, documenting $4.60-$13.80 in community benefits per $1 invested over 50 years across sites in Elizabeth, NJ; Yonkers, NY; and Providence, RI.

The business model is grant- and donation-funded: Groundwork USA accepts tax-deductible charitable contributions from individuals (via stock, check, DAF Direct, and 1% for the Planet channels) and receives foundation grants (Kresge, JPB, Robert Wood Johnson, National Park Foundation) as well as federal funding from EPA, NPS, and USDA Forest Service. All community-facing services are delivered free of charge. The organization operates as a hybrid between a national intermediary/funder-passthrough and a direct technical assistance provider to municipalities and Groundwork affiliates, with no commercial pricing model. Headcount is in the 11-50 range, with a senior leadership team that includes a CEO (Heather McMann), Chief Operations Officer, Chief Development and Communications Officer, Chief Officer of Community Adaptation and Land Use, Chief Youth and Workforce Officer, and specialized directors in GIS, Impact Evaluation, Community Planning, and Grants Administration.

Name

Groundwork USA

Legal name

Groundwork USA

Website

https://groundworkusa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Groundwork USA is a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit that builds capacity for a network of 16+ community-centered affiliates working on environmental justice, climate resilience, brownfield transformation, urban forestry, and youth workforce development in low-resource U.S. urban neighborhoods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Environmental Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Environmental justice services
• Brownfield remediation programs
• Urban forestry initiatives
• Youth workforce development
• Climate resilience planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Yonkers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Charitable Contributions and Donations: Groundwork USA accepts tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals, including stock donations, check donations, and donor-advised fund contributions through DAF Direct. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 81-0554362).
2. Foundation and Federal Government Grants: The organization receives significant grant funding from foundations and federal agencies. Notable grants include $3.1 million combined from the Bezos Earth Fund for Climate Preparedness and Land Restoration, USDA Forest Service IRA Urban and Community Forestry funding as a national passthrough partner, EPA brownfields technical assistance grants, National Park Foundation youth corps grants, and Land Use Innovation Grants co-funded by NPS-RTCA and EPA. The Land Use Innovation Initiative also received Hydro Flask Parks For All program funding.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Groundwork USA is the national 501(c)(3) capacity-building organization for the Groundwork Network of community-centered environmental nonprofits, delivering free programs and technical assistance that transform brownfields, expand urban forestry and microforests, build community climate resilience in environmentally overburdened neighborhoods, and develop youth green workforce pathways through National Service Corps and Green Team programs. Its work is funded by charitable donations and grants from foundations and federal partners (EPA, NPS, USDA Forest Service, National Park Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund).

Product overview

Groundwork USA is a national nonprofit network organization (not a technology product company) that serves as the national capacity-building organization for a cross-country network of community-centered environmental justice organizations. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected programs and services rather than a unified software product. Core programs include: Climate Safe Neighborhoods (climate resilience planning), the Urban Waters Learning Network (waterway restoration learning), National Service Corps (youth conservation employment), Land Use Innovation Initiative (brownfield transformation grants), and Climate Preparedness and Land Restoration Initiative. Technical assistance services support affiliates and external organizations with brownfield remediation, equitable development, and community engagement. Youth programs include Green Team Youth Corps for employment and leadership development. Urban forestry efforts encompass microforests and the Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with USDA Forest Service. The organization also produces publications like the 'From Brown to Blooming' guide and maintains the Community Resilience Resource Hub. These offerings function as programs and services, not technology products or modules on a unified platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Climate Safe Neighborhoods A place-based program that works with residents to map historical housing data (redlining) with modern-day climate risk (extreme heat and flooding), partnering with communities to advocate for equitable infrastructure investments in vulnerable neighborhoods. Engaged over 2,000 community members in its initial two-year pilot.
• National Service Corps A youth employment program that partners with national parks across the country, connecting young people from the Groundwork Network to conservation work such as repairing trails, restoring habitat, and collecting environmental data. In 2019, 88 youth and youth leaders from 16 Groundwork Trusts participated.
• Urban Waters Learning Network A national network co-coordinated by Groundwork USA and River Network that documents impacts of urban waters programs and provides learning opportunities (in-person and virtual convenings, resources) for urban water practitioners across the country.
• Land Use Innovation Initiative A grant program made possible through partnership with NPS-Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program and EPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization that invests in community engagement strategies for transforming brownfields into community assets.
• Climate Preparedness and Land Restoration Initiative (CPLR) A three-year initiative funded by the Bezos Earth Fund that provides $3.1 million combined to eight Groundwork Trusts to advance land restoration projects including new green spaces, urban tree canopy expansion, and green infrastructure installation.
• Brownfields Technical Assistance Program Free technical assistance provided to governments, nonprofits, and community groups for equitably transforming brownfields into community assets, including guidance on contamination assessment, community engagement, and funding strategies.
• Green Team Youth Corps Youth employment and leadership development program for high school-aged youth focused on environmental justice, community engagement, and green workforce preparation.
• Urban and Community Forestry Program A national passthrough partnership working with USDA Forest Service to expand and protect urban forests, engaging residents in tree planting, Tree Ambassador training, and community stewardship networks for tree equity.
• Microforests Initiative Small-scale forest planting initiative using Miyawaki and other methods to establish fast-growing microforests in urban spaces, providing heat reduction, stormwater capture, air quality improvement, and community gathering spaces. Earth Economics analysis found $4.60–$13.80 in community benefits per $1 invested over 50 years.
• Technical Assistance Services Capacity-building support provided to Groundwork affiliate network and external organizations, including coaching for brownfield projects, equitable development planning, and community engagement strategies.
• Community Resilience Resource Hub An online resource center providing guides, tools, and technical assistance materials for communities pursuing resilience projects.
• From Brown to Blooming Field Guide A field-tested guide for getting from brownfield to neighborhood asset, designed for nonprofits and neighborhood associations covering steps for contamination assessment, community engagement, site planning, and funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Microforests generate $11 in community benefits per $1 invested over 50 years (Elizabeth, NJ)
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Earth EconomicscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundwork USA partnered with Earth Economics to quantify the community benefits of six microforests across the Groundwork Network (Groundwork Elizabeth, Groundwork Hudson Valley, Groundwork Rhode Island). Earth Economics conducted economic analysis measuring heat reduction, stormwater capture, and community value, finding $4.60-$13.80 in benefits per $1 invested.
• National Park Service (NPS) Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNPS-RTCA co-leads the Land Use Innovation Grant initiative with EPA and Groundwork USA, providing conservation and community engagement expertise and funding to support community-led brownfield transformation. NPS has partnered with Groundwork for over 20 years, including youth corps programs.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Brownfields and Land RevitalizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization co-manages the Land Use Innovation Grant program with NPS and Groundwork USA. EPA also provides brownfields technical assistance grants that Groundwork USA distributes to communities. EPA Deputy Carlton Waterhouse endorsed the Land Use Innovation Grants in 2022.
• River NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundwork USA co-coordinates the Urban Waters Learning Network (UWLN) in partnership with River Network, providing peer learning, in-person and virtual convenings, and resources for urban waters practitioners across the country.
• Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundwork USA and MAPC collaborated to explore Brownfields to Brightfields strategies, conducting 14 stakeholder interviews and producing a joint research memo. The partnership also produced a B2B mapping tool for identifying potential solar/brownfield sites in Massachusetts and hosted a joint virtual workshop in May 2021.
• Harder+Company Community ResearchsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHarder+Company Community Research conducted the Green Space in Action pilot evaluation project, assessing the health and equity impacts of Groundwork's community-driven green space revitalization model across the network.
• USDA Forest ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroundwork USA serves as a national passthrough partner with the USDA Forest Service for the $1 billion IRA Urban and Community Forestry program, working with awardees and Groundwork Trusts to engage residents in tree planting, Tree Ambassador programs, and long-term stewardship.
• 1% for the PlanetsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerGroundwork USA is a proud member of the 1% for the Planet network, connecting philanthropy with nonprofits to protect the planet. Members can name Groundwork USA as a beneficiary.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Trust for Public Land: National land conservation nonprofit creating parks and protecting land for public use, with deep urban greening and climate-resilience programming. Comparable in mission around urban parks/green space creation and federal partnerships, but operates as a direct service organization rather than a network intermediary.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit focused on conservation land acquisition, sustainable forestry, and working lands. Comparable in its land stewardship, forestry, and federal partnership footprint, but focuses on land transactions rather than community organizing and capacity building.
• Groundwork UK: The UK-based original Groundwork organization from which Groundwork USA's network model draws inspiration. Operates a national network of local Groundwork Trusts across the UK focused on environmental regeneration, community development, and youth programs — structurally analogous, though operating in a different geography with broader scale.
• National Wildlife Federation: Large national environmental nonprofit with urban wildlife and community greening programs alongside broader conservation advocacy. Comparable as a large incumbent in the conservation space with municipal/federal partnerships, though much broader in scope than Groundwork USA's environmental justice focus.

Direct peers

• Center for Community Progress: National nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing communities through equitable reuse of vacant, abandoned, and deteriorated properties, including brownfields. Most direct US peer to Groundwork USA's brownfields transformation, equitable development, and community engagement programming.
• WE ACT for Environmental Justice: National environmental justice organization working in low-income communities of color on climate adaptation, healthy housing, and community capacity building. Directly comparable in mission and population served (EJ communities), with similar federal grant portfolio and climate-equity framing.
• River Network: National nonprofit focused on river and watershed protection that co-coordinates the Urban Waters Learning Network with Groundwork USA. Directly comparable as a peer intermediary organization working on urban water/community environmental issues with similar funder base and capacity-building mission.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National community development intermediary operating through local affiliates to deliver equitable development, housing, and economic opportunity programs in underserved communities. Highly comparable as a national network-of-local-nonprofits model with federal/local funding pass-through and capacity-building to affiliates.
• Smart Growth America: National nonprofit advocating for equitable, climate-resilient land use and development policies. Directly comparable as a peer organization working at the intersection of climate resilience, equitable development, and federal/local partnerships around brownfields and built-environment policy.

Emerging players

• Green & Healthy Homes Initiative: National nonprofit addressing health and safety hazards in housing through direct services, policy advocacy, and community partnerships in underserved urban communities. Comparable as a peer in environmental health, federal funding pass-through, and equity-focused community development, though focused on indoor rather than outdoor environment.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKny0Cz6-ZMO8dKojuL8rEQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/GroundworkUSA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groundwork-usa
• Instagraminstagram.com/groundwork_usa
• Xx.com/GroundworkUSA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Groundwork USA