Common Ground Relief
Common Ground Relief is a New Orleans-based nonprofit that restores Southeast Louisiana wetlands through volunteer-driven native tree and marsh grass planting while providing food security, environmental education, and disaster response to the Lower 9th Ward community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersNew Orleans, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Common Ground Relief does
Common Ground Relief (CGR) is a New Orleans-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded on September 5, 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by Malik Rahim, Sharon Johnson, and Scott Crow. Originally established as the Common Ground Collective with $50 in startup capital, the organization operates an integrated platform of environmental restoration and community support programs in Southeast Louisiana. Its core offerings include a Wetlands Restoration program that plants native species across a 12-parish region, a state-licensed Native Plant Nursery operating on a half-acre site in the Lower 9th Ward, the Free Food Pantry serving 90+ families weekly and 16,500+ neighbors annually, volunteer housing accommodating up to 22 people, and youth environmental education programs reaching 400+ students across more than 20 schools in 2022.
The organization's technical foundation centers on a community-based restoration methodology that combines volunteer labor with native plant cultivation to rebuild degraded wetlands and forest habitat. CGR grows species adapted to local conditions including bald cypress, water tupelo, marsh grasses, and Louisiana irises, and deploys innovative landfilling techniques using repurposed Christmas trees and recycled glass. Since joining the Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective in 2022, CGR has coordinated multi-organization plantings targeting 30,000 trees and 33,000 marsh grass plugs across 30,000 acres through 2027, supported by NOAA, EPA, CPRA, and Meraux Foundation funding.
CGR's revenue model is predominantly grant-based and donation-driven, supplemented by fee-for-service programs. Major institutional funding includes a $1.2 million NOAA grant (2023), a $2 million EPA EJ4Climate grant (2022), and a $45,000 New Orleans Recreation and Culture Fund grant (2024), layered with individual donations and partner contributions. Fee revenue comes from volunteer housing ($25-$35 per person per night), youth education programs ($10-$35 per student), and plant sales to parish, state, and federal agencies. Customer segments span individual volunteers (70,000+ lifetime), K-12 and university students, Lower 9th Ward residents, group volunteers, and indigenous tribal communities, with distribution handled through direct volunteer programs, on-site services, and the Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective partnership network.
Common Ground Relief firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Common Ground Relief
- Legal name
- Common Ground Relief
- Website
- https://commongroundrelief.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Common Ground Relief is a New Orleans-based nonprofit that restores Southeast Louisiana wetlands through volunteer-driven native tree and marsh grass planting while providing food security, environmental education, and disaster response to the Lower 9th Ward community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Common Ground Relief industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wetland Restoration Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Forestry (11531)
- SIC
- Forestry (800)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian) (IMAMAJAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), ROW Reforestation, Revegetation & Erosion Control (Environmental Mitigation) (EUADAOAJ)
Keywords
Where Common Ground Relief is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Orleans
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Common Ground Relief business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Grants and Government Funding: Receives funding from NOAA Fisheries, CPRA (Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority), Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and local government grants such as the $45,000 New Orleans Recreation and Culture Fund grant.
- Individual Donations: Public donations through website and direct contribution programs, with grants ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 from initiatives like Cox Conserves Heroes.
- Volunteer Housing Fees: Revenue from volunteer accommodation services at $35/person/night (with groceries) or $25/person/night (without groceries), supporting mission while generating operational income.
- Educational Program Fees: Fees charged for youth environmental education programs: $10/student for classroom/nursery programs, $35/student for wetlands planting field trips.
- Plant Sales: Sells and donates trees to parish, state, and federal agencies for large-scale wetlands restoration projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Volunteer Housing with Groceries |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Volunteer Housing without Groceries |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | In-Classroom or Nursery Field Trip |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wetlands Planting Field Trip |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Watercolor Workshop |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Common Ground Relief product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Common Ground Relief runs hands-on wetland restoration programs—including native tree and marsh grass planting—through a state-licensed native plant nursery in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. The organization supplements its restoration work with a barrier-free Free Pantry, youth environmental education, disaster response, mutual aid, and on-site volunteer housing serving visitors engaged in stewardship activities.
Product overview
Common Ground Relief operates as a unified platform of interconnected environmental and community programs centered on wetland restoration and disaster resilience in Southeast Louisiana. The core offerings include the Wetlands Restoration program for native tree and marsh grass planting, the Native Plant Nursery for cultivating species like bald cypress and Louisiana irises, and the Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective collaborative initiative. Supporting these are the Free Food Pantry providing barrier-free food access, Volunteer Housing enabling immersive participation, Youth Environmental Education for K-12 students, Disaster Response for emergency relief, Mutual Aid programming, and the Anita Roddick Advocacy Center. The Grand Bayou Indian Village program extends restoration support to indigenous communities. Together, these programs create a comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship, community support, and climate resilience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Wetlands Restoration
Quantifiable outcome
- Restored 23 miles of shoreline and 17 acres of forest in 2021 alone
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Common Ground Relief
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Common Ground Relief technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Common Ground Relief partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic, historical and minor.
- Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF)coreSupporting the Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective through state-level partnership for wetlands reforestation efforts.
- Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL)coreLead member of Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective working together to plant 30,000 trees and 33,000 plugs of marsh grass across 30,000 acres of degraded wetlands over 4 years. CRCL leads advocacy for restoration of wetlands degraded by MRGO and coordinates volunteer plantings.
- Pontchartrain ConservancycoreMember of Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective focused on science-based coastal restoration. Provides technical expertise and volunteer coordination for replanting efforts.
- Meraux FoundationcoreMember of Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective providing funds and land for replanting efforts in the Central Wetlands Unit.
- Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED)coreMember of Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective, leads community outreach and education for restoration work. CSED rehabilitates regional wetlands, restores local natural environment, and builds food security.
- NOAA FisheriescoreProvided $1.2 million funding under Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act for wetlands restoration in Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish. Grant program for underserved communities.
- National Wildlife FederationstrategicSupporting Bayou Bienvenue Wetlands Triangle design project and advocating for restoration of wetlands degraded by MRGO. Led by Amanda Moore, Director of National Wildlife Federation's Gulf Program.
- Water InstitutestrategicFacilitates structured and collaborative process to develop restoration planning and design for Bayou Bienvenue Wetlands Triangle project.
- Nunez Community CollegestrategicPartner in NOAA-funded project for wetlands restoration and community revitalization in Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish.
- City of New OrleansstrategicPartner in NOAA grant leading Bayou Bienvenue Wetlands Triangle design project. Hazard Mitigation Department involved in reconnecting community with natural environment.
- lowernine.orghistoricalInitial partner in operating food pantry during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 before CGR took over independent operation in 2022.
- Second Harvest Food BankhistoricalPartnered with CGR in 2020 for twice-monthly mobile food distributions before CGR transitioned to independent Free Pantry operation.
- NOLA ReadyminorCGR coordinates with NOLA Ready during disaster response efforts as part of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster.
- Local Food Donors (Ayu Bakehouse, Bellegarde Bakery, Bubba's Produce, etc.)minorLocal businesses divert excess food products from landfills to donate fresh produce and baked goods to families through the Free Pantry.
- Local Farms (Barcelo Gardens, River Queen Greens)minorPartner with local farms to support local growers while sourcing fresh produce for the Free Pantry program.
- Posigen and Footprint ProjectminorSolar-powered the Free Pantry location, enabling sustainable operation of the food distribution program.
- Baton Rouge Community CollegeminorGreen Job Placement partnership for workforce development in environmental restoration and conservation.
- Louisiana State ParksminorCGR staff works with state parks and land owners to design and implement wetlands restoration projects.
Scale indicators30 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Common Ground Relief competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program: Federal/state-supported regional program delivering coastal restoration, outreach, and habitat projects in coastal Louisiana; comparable engagement with marsh restoration, native plantings, and environmental education in adjacent Southeast Louisiana estuaries.
- Ducks Unlimited (Gulf Coast / Louisiana): Large conservation organization with deep Louisiana coastal marsh restoration work funded through public-private partnerships; comparable wetland restoration outcomes and donor base, operating at significantly larger scale than CGR.
- National Audubon Society (Louisiana / Gulf Coast): National conservation NGO with active coastal Louisiana programs addressing marsh and wetland bird habitat; overlapping stakeholders (volunteers, donors, public agencies) and complementary coastal restoration mission to CGR's wetland plantings.
- Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation: Established regional environmental nonprofit focused on water quality, coastal restoration, and education around the Lake Pontchartrain basin — overlapping mission with CGR's wetland work but with a broader geographic and programmatic mandate (water quality, marsh, education, advocacy).
- The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana: Major international conservation organization operating large-scale coastal restoration in Louisiana, including wetland and marsh projects; operates at far greater scale and budget than CGR but pursues overlapping science-driven coastal resilience and habitat outcomes in the same region.
Direct peers
- Pontchartrain Conservancy: Science-based coastal restoration nonprofit and fellow Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective member; comparable scope in volunteer-driven wetland plantings, technical expertise, and partnerships with state/federal agencies in the same geographic footprint as CGR.
- Meraux Foundation: St. Bernard Parish-based charitable foundation funding and providing land for restoration within the Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective; functional peer as a co-funder and implementation partner for the same coastal reforestation program CGR operates in.
- Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana: Long-standing Louisiana coastal restoration nonprofit and lead member of the Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective alongside CGR; both organizations mobilize volunteers for marsh grass and tree plantings, work with CPRA and NOAA, and serve overlapping donor and volunteer audiences in Southeast Louisiana.
- Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED): Lower 9th Ward-based nonprofit rehabilitating regional wetlands and building food security; CSED is a fellow Central Wetlands Reforestation Collective member (with a board member shared in common) and overlaps with CGR on coastal restoration, food access, and community resilience programming.
Emerging players
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans: Regional food bank that previously partnered with CGR on mobile distributions before CGR launched its independent Free Pantry; comparable food-security mission serving the Lower 9th Ward and broader New Orleans with overlapping donor and logistics networks.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Common Ground Relief social profiles
Digital presenceCommon Ground Relief financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Common Ground Relief leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Common Ground Relief funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Common Ground Relief M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Common Ground Relief
What does Common Ground Relief do?
Common Ground Relief runs hands-on wetland restoration programs—including native tree and marsh grass planting—through a state-licensed native plant nursery in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. The organization supplements its restoration work with a barrier-free Free Pantry, youth environmental education, disaster response, mutual aid, and on-site volunteer housing serving visitors engaged in stewardship activities.
Is Common Ground Relief a public or private company?
Common Ground Relief is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Common Ground Relief founded?
Common Ground Relief was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Common Ground Relief based?
Common Ground Relief is headquartered in New Orleans, United States, in the North America region.
How does Common Ground Relief make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Grants and Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are individual Donations, volunteer Housing Fees, educational Program Fees and plant Sales.
Who are Common Ground Relief's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, Ducks Unlimited (Gulf Coast / Louisiana), National Audubon Society (Louisiana / Gulf Coast), Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana. Direct peers are Pontchartrain Conservancy, Meraux Foundation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lower 9th Ward Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED). Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans is listed as an emerging player.
Does Common Ground Relief have an API?
No public API is recorded for Common Ground Relief.
What industry is Common Ground Relief in?
Common Ground Relief's product category is Wetland Restoration Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMAJAH, Conservation, Restoration & Biodiversity Services (Habitat, Wetlands, Riparian), with a secondary code of BPAGAGAC, Land Trusts & Protected Areas. Its NAICS code is 11531 and its SIC code is 800.