Groundwork Richmond

What Groundwork Richmond does

Groundwork Richmond is a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and headquartered in Richmond, California. It operates as the twentieth local affiliate of the Groundwork USA national network and serves as the designated Urban Forestry Administrator for the City of Richmond. Since founding, the organization has planted and maintained nearly 3,000 trees and has identified more than 13,000 potential new planting sites through community outreach and master planning.

The organization's core programs include Urban Greening (tree planting and green space development), the Green Team youth workforce program (ages 13-18), Air Rangers (community air quality monitoring using Purple Air sensors deployed at 20+ residents' homes plus Ramboll Shair and AethLabs black carbon monitors in industrial-adjacent neighborhoods), Adopt-a-Tree (residential tree distribution), and a Workforce Development employment program (ages 18-25, funded by CalFire). Collaborative infrastructure projects include the Richmond Wellness Trail (Phase 1 completed Earth Day 2022 with 60+ trees planted over 1.1 miles), the Richmond Greenway and Unity Park (backed by a $5 million state grant), and participation in the Richmond Rising Transformative Climate Communities initiative alongside GRID Alternatives, Urban Tilth, and the Center for Global Healthy Cities at UC Berkeley.

Groundwork Richmond is funded through individual donations via PayPal across three designated funds (Green Team, Tree, and General Support), foundation grants (e.g., East Bay Community Foundation for the Pullman Park mural), and government grants from CalFire, the California Air Resources Board, the California Strategic Growth Council, and the California Natural Resources Agency. Programs are delivered free of charge to Richmond residents and youth. The organization employs 1-10 staff including Executive Director Lorena Castillo, Program Manager Jose Zamora, Urban Forestry Supervisor Jorge Mendoza, Youth Program Manager Marianna Rodriguez, and Administrative & Marketing Coordinator Stacy Webb, supported by a Board of Directors including Treasurer Ben Kellman and Founding Member Nancy Baer.

Name

Groundwork Richmond

Legal name

Groundwork Richmond Inc.

Website

https://groundworkrichmond.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Groundwork Richmond is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and designated Urban Forestry Administrator for the City of Richmond, delivering tree planting, youth workforce development (ages 13-25), and community air quality monitoring programs to Richmond, CA residents since 2010 as the twentieth Groundwork USA affiliate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Environmental Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Urban & Community Reforestation / Street Tree Planting (AFAMACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Forestry & Reforestation (BPAGAGAD)

Keywords

• Urban forestry management
• Youth workforce development
• Community air monitoring
• Environmental nonprofit services
• Urban greening programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Individual donations through PayPal platform supporting three designated funds: Green Team Fund (youth education, career training, transportation, meals, wages, safety gear), Tree Fund (tree purchasing and supplies), and General Support Fund (staffing, training, tools, administrative costs).
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including East Bay Fund for Artists at East Bay Community Foundation for specific projects like the Pullman Park mural.
3. Government Grants: Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) program funds from California Strategic Growth Council, CalFire grants for workforce development, state grants for Unity Park ($5 million), and Urban Greening funding from California Natural Resources Agency.
4. Community Air Grants: Program funding from California Air Resources Board through the Community Air Grants Program supporting AB 617 implementation and air quality monitoring initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Groundwork Richmond is a community-based nonprofit that delivers urban forestry, youth workforce development, and community air quality monitoring programs at no cost to participants in Richmond, California. The organization plants and maintains trees, operates youth employment programs through the Green Team, and deploys Purple Air sensors and black carbon monitors across neighborhoods impacted by industrial pollution. Services are funded through donations and grants and delivered via direct community engagement and partnerships with the City of Richmond.

Product overview

Groundwork Richmond operates as a community-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of environmental programs. The core offerings include the Urban Greening Program for tree planting and green space development, the Green Team youth workforce development initiative, the Air Rangers air quality monitoring program, the Adopt-a-Tree residential tree distribution, and the Workforce Development employment training program. These programs are complemented by collaborative infrastructure projects including the Richmond Wellness Trail, Richmond Greenway improvements, and participation in the Richmond Rising Transformative Climate Communities initiative. The organization serves as the designated Urban Forestry Administrator for the City of Richmond and operates as the twentieth affiliate of Groundwork USA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Urban Greening Program Environmental enhancement initiative that plants trees and creates green spaces to improve air quality, reduce urban heat island effect, and support community health in Richmond, CA. Includes identification of potential planting sites through community outreach and an Urban Greening master plan.
• Green Team Program Youth workforce development program for ages 13-18 offering environmental education, outdoor adventure, community service opportunities, career training, and wages. Recruited in partnership with the City of Richmond's YouthWorks program.
• Air Rangers Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Richmond children are twice as likely to develop asthma compared to neighboring cities (UCSF study)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of RichmondcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary municipal partner for urban greening initiatives. Groundwork Richmond works with City of Richmond's Parks & Landscaping Division to identify tree planting locations and serves as designated Urban Forestry Administrator. Partnership includes collaborative development of Richmond Greenway, Unity Park ($5 million state grant), and air quality monitoring programs.
• Groundwork USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational network affiliation. Groundwork Richmond is the twentieth local affiliate of Groundwork USA, sharing knowledge and expertise across the Groundwork network. Operates independently while embracing the national mission adapted for local Richmond community needs.
• Friends of the Richmond Greenway (FORG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-creating Unity Park, a $5 million community park project along the Richmond Greenway. Groundwork Richmond is an active member of the Friends of the Richmond Greenway Advisory Committee and has adopted multiple areas along the Greenway.
• Pogo ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Team partnership to engage community in spreading awareness and gathering feedback for the proposed 23rd Street Bridge—a crucial connection between East and West sides of the Richmond Greenway.
• The Trust for Public LandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Unity Park development and Richmond Wellness Trail project, supporting urban greening and community space creation with planning and implementation expertise.
• The Watershed ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Eastern Richmond Greenway Trail improvements, leading rainwater gardens and bioswales development to control stormwater surges. Also partner in Richmond Wellness Trail initiative.
• Rich City RidesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Richmond Wellness Trail project, contributing to cycling and pedestrian infrastructure improvements connecting downtown Richmond to the shoreline.
• National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban Agenda initiative partnership supporting Richmond Wellness Trail project. NPS Urban Fellow Kieron Slaughter spent two years developing the project vision to increase NPS visibility through a key urban project. Partnership connects Americans to parks in urban areas.
• Kaiser PermanenteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Richmond Wellness Trail collaborative effort, supporting urban greening and health-related community initiatives.
• California Air Resources BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAir Rangers program partnership through Community Air Grants Program supporting AB 617 implementation. Bridges gap between communities, air districts, and California Air Resources Board for air quality improvements.
• Ramboll (Shair)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partnership for air quality monitoring. Partnered to install remote air quality monitors and share real-time data via Ramboll's Shair Map platform. Also partnered to install 4 black carbon monitors for airborne metals sampling analysis.
• GRID AlternativesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Richmond Rising (TCC) initiative, contributing to solar energy installation and energy efficiency strategies.
• Urban TilthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Richmond Rising (TCC) initiative, supporting urban greening and environmental improvement projects.
• Center for Global Healthy Cities at UC BerkeleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Richmond Rising (TCC) initiative, providing research and expertise in urban health and environmental planning.
• Girls Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth partner for Pullman Park mural project. Girls Inc. youth will work on design and painting of the mural alongside Groundwork Richmond youth during summer.
• Richmond artist Rebeca Garcia-GonzalezminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead artist for Pullman Park mural project, directing the mural creation process with community and youth input.
• YouthWorks (City of Richmond)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity of Richmond program connecting local youth with job opportunities. Green Team program connects with YouthWorks to recruit and support youth participants ages 13-18.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Friends of Trees: Portland-based nonprofit that plants trees in neighborhoods, parks, and natural areas with strong volunteer engagement. Comparable community-driven urban forestry model with a regional scope.
• Trees Atlanta: Atlanta-based urban forestry nonprofit focused on reforestation, tree planting, and green infrastructure. Direct peer in mission, scale, and operating model.
• Casey Trees: Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit dedicated to planting, maintaining, and protecting trees in the urban canopy. Closely comparable as a dedicated urban forestry nonprofit with tree-adoption, workforce, and community education programs analogous to Groundwork Richmond's.
• Groundwork Elizabeth: Groundwork USA affiliate in Elizabeth, NJ running urban greening, youth environmental programs, and brownfield restoration. Direct peer as another local Groundwork USA chapter applying the same affiliate model in an industrial-port city similar to Richmond.
• Groundwork Hudson Valley: Groundwork USA affiliate focused on urban forestry, youth environmental employment, and brownfield remediation in Yonkers. Direct peer by mission and Groundwork USA programmatic framework, though in a different geography.
• Groundwork San Diego: Another Groundwork USA local affiliate running parallel urban greening, youth workforce, and environmental justice programs in San Diego. Highly comparable as a sister affiliate using the same national operating model in a different California city.

Broad incumbents

• American Forests: National nonprofit focused on urban and rural forest conservation, policy advocacy, and tree planting at scale. Comparable in urban forestry mission but operates at a national advocacy level rather than community implementation.
• The Trust for Public Land: National land conservation organization that partners with municipalities on parks, greenways, and urban greening. Comparable mission overlap on urban green space and currently a direct partner of Groundwork Richmond on Unity Park and the Wellness Trail.

Emerging players

• Urban Tilth: Richmond, CA-based environmental justice nonprofit focused on urban agriculture and food sovereignty. Hyper-local peer sharing the same Richmond geography and overlapping partnerships (already a Groundwork Richmond partner under TCC/Richmond Rising).
• The Watershed Project: Bay Area nonprofit focused on watershed health, green stormwater infrastructure, and community-based environmental work. Comparable as a regional environmental nonprofit with overlapping urban greening, bioswale, and trail work in Richmond.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/groundworkrich
• Facebookfacebook.com/groundworkrichmondca

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Richmond