Groundwork San Diego Chollas Creek

What Groundwork San Diego Chollas Creek does

Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek is a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 at the request of the City of San Diego to lead the master plan for the Chollas Creek Watershed. The organization operates a portfolio of community-based programs focused on environmental justice, climate resilience, green infrastructure, and STEAM education in the historically redlined southeastern San Diego communities of Encanto, Southcrest, City Heights, and adjacent neighborhoods. Core programs include the 4-acre EarthLab Climate Action Park (an outdoor learning space with hydroponic farm, orchard, and pollinator garden), the Green Team youth internship, the Community Climate Science Initiative (resident-driven data collection using ArcGIS Story Maps), the Resident Leadership Fellowship, the Chollas Blue Green Vision Campaign, and K-12 STEAM education delivered through San Diego Unified School District partnerships. Technology components are limited to ArcGIS mapping for community-collected environmental data, urban agriculture systems at EarthLab, and standard nonprofit digital tools; no proprietary software or AI platform is built or sold.

Groundwork generates revenue (operating funds) through a diversified mix of government grants (EPA, California Natural Resources Agency, California Wildlife Conservation Board, Caltrans, SANDAG), foundation funding (California Endowment, San Diego Foundation), corporate donations (San Diego Community Power, Calpine Energy Solutions, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation), individual donations, and event fundraising. The organization has cumulatively raised over $10 million (and per the Executive Director, over $12 million) since founding. Programs are offered free of charge to participants, eliminating financial barriers to engagement. Distribution is hybrid: direct-to-school via SDUSD partnerships, direct-to-community through EarthLab access and volunteer events, and broader advocacy through coalition partnerships with 40+ named organizations including UCSD, San Diego Canyonlands, Sierra Club, and the Environmental Health Coalition. The organization is governed by an Executive Director (Leslie Reynolds, since 2010), a Board of Directors, and an Advisory Committee, with 1-10 staff and a 4-acre physical asset footprint.

Name

Groundwork San Diego Chollas Creek

Legal name

Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek

Website

https://groundworksandiego.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek is a nonprofit that advances environmental justice, green infrastructure, and STEAM education in the Chollas Creek Watershed through the 4-acre EarthLab Climate Action Park, community science programs, and partnerships with schools, government, and 40+ community organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Education & Outreach (BPAGAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB), Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD), Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Environmental Education, Capacity Building & Community Engagement (BPADALAO)

Keywords

• Environmental justice programs
• Watershed restoration services
• STEAM education nonprofit
• Community climate science
• Urban green infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

San Diego

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: Groundwork San Diego receives significant government funding from agencies including EPA, California Natural Resources Agency, California Wildlife Conservation Board, Caltrans, and SANDAG for environmental restoration, green infrastructure, and climate resilience projects.
2. Philanthropic Funding: The organization has generated over $10 million in government and philanthropic funding from foundations including California Endowment, San Diego Foundation, and corporate donors like Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.
3. Donations: Individual and corporate donations support Groundwork's programs in neighborhood climate action, STEAM education, parks and trails, and Chollas Creek protection through their website donation portal.
4. Event Fundraising: Special fundraising events such as Dancing for Dollars with Tess Collins generate revenue through participant donations to support climate action programs.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek delivers free community-based environmental and educational programs focused on the Chollas Creek Watershed. Core offerings include K-12 STEAM climate science education through the EarthLab Climate Action Park, a year-long Green Team youth environmental justice internship, community-driven climate science data collection, resident leadership training, and advocacy campaigns for Blue Green Infrastructure and parks/trails development in underserved Southeastern San Diego neighborhoods.

Product overview

Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek is a community-based non-profit organization (not a technology company) that operates a portfolio of environmental and educational programs centered on the Chollas Creek Watershed. The core offerings include EarthLab Climate Action Park (a 4-acre outdoor educational space), the Green Team youth internship, Community Climate Science Initiative, Resident Empowerment Leadership Training, and the Chollas Blue Green Vision Campaign. Additional programs focus on parks/trails development, youth/family education (K-12 with NGSSS-aligned STEAM curriculum), climate-safe neighborhoods advocacy, and community resources. These programs are offered as distinct but interconnected community programs rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EarthLab Climate Action Park A 4-acre experiential environmental educational space for youth and families of the Chollas Creek Watershed, featuring outdoor STEAM activities, urban agriculture with hydroponics farm and orchard, and hands-on climate science learning linked to NGSSS and Common Core Standards.
• Green Team Environmental Justice Internship A year-long environmental justice internship program designed to engage and empower high school students from the Chollas Creek Watershed through community service, climate science, college preparation, and career readiness activities.
• Community Climate Science Initiative A community-driven citizen science program that empowers residents to identify climate research questions, co-design data collection processes, collect data, and co-analyze results with university and industry experts to advocate for climate-safe neighborhoods.
• Resident Empowerment Leadership Training A community organizing and equitable green infrastructure training program that supports emerging and established Chollas Creek residents to gather information around, develop solutions for, and advocate on behalf of their neighborhood's most pressing challenges.
• Chollas Blue Green Vision Campaign A campaign launched in 2024 to promote Blue Green Infrastructure (BGI) and stormwater investments in the Chollas Creek Watershed, responding to the January 2024 storm event and decades of under-investment, engaging watershed residents to advocate for public and private investments.
• Parks, Trails, Green Spaces Program Capital improvement projects and community programs focused on creating new parks and green spaces to improve tree canopy coverage, air quality, flooding, and provide recreational opportunities for park-deficient communities, including trail and bike path development.
• Youth and Families Educational Programs Comprehensive K-12 educational programming including EarthLab field trips (3rd-5th grade with 2-5 trips/year), middle school STEAM education at Millennial Tech Middle School, high school Green Team internship, and 3-week summer camp for rising 6th-8th grade students.
• Climate Safe Neighborhoods A partnership initiative that works with residents to understand the relationship between race-based housing segregation (redlining) and current/predicted climate change impacts, informing and organizing residents for climate adaptation and mitigation planning.
• Power of Advocacy Community advocacy program supporting residents to engage, advocate, and see results through one-on-one interactions, resident advocacy training, community group support, and connecting community leaders with local government officials.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1,500 students participate in learning activities at EarthLab annually
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

39 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• UCSD Center on Global JusticecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing university partner co-developing EarthLab educational programming and UCSD Community Stations program. UCSD undergraduate interns are mentored at EarthLab, and faculty collaborate on the EarthLab Learning Method curriculum development.
• San Diego Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary education partner for K-12 STEAM climate science programs. SDUSD students from Lincoln Cluster schools and Millennial Tech Middle School participate in EarthLab field trips, after-school programs, and summer camps.
• Millennial Tech Middle SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey school partner for whole site modernization project including new STEAM Climate Action Design Lab that will link directly to EarthLab, creating comprehensive outdoor learning experiences.
• City of San DiegocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner since 2007; collaborated on Chollas Creek Enhancement Program master plan and ongoing green infrastructure projects including Federal Blvd Creek de-channelization and Regional Park development.
• County of San DiegomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in watershed-scale climate resilience initiatives and affordable housing planning processes in Chollas Creek communities.
• SANDAGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional planning partner for active transportation infrastructure including Chollas Creek to Bay Multi-Use Path and reconnecting communities divided by freeways.
• Environmental Health CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner in environmental justice advocacy and clean air/anti-pollution initiatives in Southeastern San Diego communities.
• San Diego CanyonlandsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in creek protection and trail development; collaborated on Webster Tree Planting Block Party and Chollas Blue Green Collaborative.
• San Diego CoastkeepermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Chollas Creek water quality monitoring; Green Team conducts monthly water sampling and testing with Coastkeeper.
• Scripps Institution of Oceanography / SoCal Heat HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCSD-based research team providing climate adaptation expertise for Community Climate Science Initiative; facilitates community-academic research partnerships.
• San Diego Botanic GardenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner bringing Project BudBurst citizen science program to Chollas Creek Watershed for plant and climate change observations.
• San Diego Natural History MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngages students and families in wildlife and biodiversity data collection including butterfly and lizard observations.
• Institute for Public StrategiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating to create easy data collection methods for Community Climate Science families and translate data into ArcGIS mapping database.
• GRID AlternativesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for solar and clean energy workforce development, supporting green job training in Chollas Creek communities.
• Bike San Diego / San Diego County Bicycle CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for active transportation and bike path advocacy; collaborated on Chollas Creek Watershed Bike Network survey.
• San Diego City CollegemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner providing electrification and energy efficiency presentations at EarthLab Family Fun Day events.
• Sierra ClubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental advocacy partner collaborating on creek protection and Save the Canyon initiatives.
• HandsOn San DiegominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer coordination partner for community service events and programs.
• Climate Action CampaignmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional climate advocacy coalition partner for climate action planning and policy work.
• Outdoor OutreachminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for youth outdoor education and adventure programming.
• Center for Sustainable EnergymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for clean energy education and programs supporting residential energy solutions.
• BIPOC Support FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting youth programs and climate justice initiatives.
• Audubon SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for wildlife education and biodiversity monitoring in Chollas Creek Watershed.
• UCSD Community StationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCSD undergraduate mentorship program supports Green Team interns with career guidance and real-world experience at local businesses and university labs.
• CanyonConnectionsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Green Team to create advocacy video for Chollas Creek Regional Park Master Plan.
• UCSD CJARS (Climate Justice/Action/Resilient Scholars)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity student group partnered for annual Earth Day climate festival at EarthLab.
• Chollas Valley Planning GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity planning group partner serving neighborhoods of Alta Vista, Broadway Heights, Chollas View, Emerald Hills, Encanto, Lincoln Park, O'Farrell, and Valencia Park.
• Southeastern San Diego Planning GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity planning group partner for southeastern San Diego neighborhoods including Grant Hill, Logan Heights, Memorial, Mount Hope, Mountain View, Sherman Heights, Shelltown, Southcrest, and Stockton.
• Eastern Area Communities Planning CommitteemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity planning committee partner for eastern San Diego communities.
• Bayview Community Development CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity development partner for Bayview neighborhood.
• Emerald Hills Neighborhood CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborhood council partner for Emerald Hills community.
• Oak Park Community CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity council partner for Oak Park neighborhood.
• Mount Hope Community GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity group partner for Mount Hope neighborhood.
• Webster Community CouncilmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive community council partner for Webster neighborhood, collaborating on tree planting, garden projects, and walk audits.
• San Diego Quality of Life CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner for quality of life advocacy in San Diego communities.
• San Diego Native Plant SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for native plant education and conservation in watershed restoration.
• Civic CommunitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for civic engagement initiatives.
• Jacobs Center for Neighborhood InnovationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting events including Holiday Turkey Giveaway at 404 Euclid Ave location.
• Olivewood Gardens and Learning CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner hosting grant award ceremony; receives 16.4kW solar array with battery storage through clean energy grant program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Environmental Health Coalition: San Diego-based environmental justice nonprofit with overlapping climate, clean air, and anti-pollution work in Southeastern San Diego. Competes for the same EPA, foundation, and city/county dollars and partners with Groundwork on joint advocacy.
• GRID Alternatives: National nonprofit providing solar and clean energy workforce development in underserved communities. Listed as a Groundwork partner for green job training and competes for overlapping clean energy and workforce grants from California and San Diego Community Power.
• Groundwork USA: National federation of Groundwork trusts of which Groundwork San Diego is a member affiliate. Directly comparable operating model — community-based environmental justice, watershed restoration, youth programming, and EPA-supported founding structure — and the natural comparison for impact scaling and replication.
• San Diego Coastkeeper: Local water quality nonprofit operating in the same watershed; Groundwork's Green Team conducts monthly water sampling with Coastkeeper. Comparable in programmatic focus on water quality, citizen science, and policy advocacy.
• Groundwork Richmond (CA): Sister Groundwork trust in Richmond, California operating an analogous urban environmental justice, youth, and green infrastructure portfolio. Direct operational peer for assessing program economics and scaling.
• San Diego Canyonlands: Local nonprofit operating in the same San Diego geography and on overlapping mandates of canyon/creek protection, trail development, and community advocacy. Co-partner with Groundwork on Webster Tree Planting Block Party and Chollas Blue Green Collaborative.
• Groundwork Elizabeth (NJ): Sister Groundwork trust operating the same community-based environmental regeneration model in Elizabeth, NJ. Useful benchmark for cross-city replication of the EarthLab-style youth and environmental justice programming.

Broad incumbents

• The Conservation Fund: National conservation nonprofit working on land conservation, climate solutions, and community resilience. Comparable on environmental and climate mission but operates much broader geographic and programmatic scope than Groundwork.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on creating parks and protecting land for communities. Overlaps with Groundwork's Parks, Trails, Green Spaces program and Chollas Creek Regional Park master plan ambitions but operates at much larger national scale.

Regional players

• Climate Action Campaign: San Diego regional climate advocacy coalition partner of Groundwork. Overlaps on local climate policy and city climate adaptation planning work but is primarily an advocacy organization rather than a direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@groundworksandiego
• Instagraminstagram.com/groundworksandiego
• Xx.com/groundworksd
• Facebookfacebook.com/GroundworkSD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groundwork-san-diego---chollas-creek

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 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 San Diego Chollas Creek