Groundwork Milwaukee
Groundwork Milwaukee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and land trust that transforms vacant urban land into community gardens, green infrastructure, and ADA-accessible gathering spaces while running youth, workforce, and climate resilience programs for vulnerable Milwaukee neighborhoods.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersMilwaukee, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Groundwork Milwaukee does
Groundwork Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization and land trust founded in 2003 and headquartered at 227 W. Pleasant St., Milwaukee, WI. Its mission is to advance the sustained regeneration, improvement, and management of the physical environment through community-based partnerships that promote environmental, economic, and social well-being. The organization delivers this mission through three pillars: (1) transformation of brownfields into community spaces such as gardens, orchards, art exhibits, and gathering places; (2) programs that educate, train, and empower youth, community members, veterans, and volunteers; and (3) protection of urban waters via rainwater harvesting, green infrastructure installation, and habitat restoration. Its work is delivered under the umbrella of the national Groundwork USA network.
The organization's core offerings are organized as distinct but interrelated programs: the Milwaukee Grows Garden Network, which supports over 100 community gardens stewarded by resident Garden Leaders and activates more than 10 acres of vacant land; Kilbourn Garden, an 80-bed rental facility operating at full capacity; Maglio Farm, an 11-hoop-house urban farm producing thousands of pounds of produce annually for donation; the Healing Spaces Initiative, which has built 13 ADA-accessible gathering places in coordination with the City of Milwaukee NIDC; Ground Corps, an earn-while-learning green workforce development program; and the Green Team, a service-learning program for youth ages 14–19. Its technology platform is built around GIS-based story maps and interactive vulnerability assessments, including the Milwaukee Flood-Health Vulnerability Assessment and the Climate Safe Neighborhoods story maps that overlay historic redlining with contemporary climate and environmental data. Underlying technical assets include ArcGIS StoryMaps, an interactive garden network map, and partnership-built health, housing, and socioeconomic data layers.
The business model is nonprofit and grant-dependent. Revenue is generated through individual and corporate donations, foundation and government grants (including NOAA, Wisconsin DNR, and City of Milwaukee partnerships), and a minor recurring subscription stream from Kilbourn Garden bed rentals. Pricing for bed rentals is set on an annual subscription basis, but the bulk of programmatic funding is philanthropic and competitive-grant based. Distribution is direct and community-led, relying on volunteer mobilization (350 volunteers during 2023 Earth Month), grassroots organizing through Climate Action Groups, and earned media coverage in outlets including the New York Times, Nature, the Weather Channel, and Milwaukee-area press. Key partners include the Medical College of Wisconsin, The New School Urban Systems Lab, Data You Can Use, Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, and Groundwork USA.
Groundwork Milwaukee firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Groundwork Milwaukee
- Legal name
- Groundwork Milwaukee
- Website
- https://groundworkmke.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Groundwork Milwaukee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and land trust that transforms vacant urban land into community gardens, green infrastructure, and ADA-accessible gathering spaces while running youth, workforce, and climate resilience programs for vulnerable Milwaukee neighborhoods.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Groundwork Milwaukee industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Environmental Services
- NAICS
- Landscaping Services (561730), Support Activities for Forestry (11531), Support Activities for Crop Production (11511)
- SIC
- Agricultural Services (700), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Urban Renewal, Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reuse (BPAIANAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Groundskeeping, Landscaping & Snow/Ice Management (EDALALAB), Brownfield Redevelopment Support (Site Characterization & Reuse Planning) (EUAHAFAJ), Mine Land & Brownfield Reclamation Planting (AFAMACAM)
Keywords
Where Groundwork Milwaukee is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwaukee
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Groundwork Milwaukee business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Garden Bed Rentals: Kilbourn Garden offers bed rentals for community members to grow their own produce. The 80-bed garden rental is a primary programmatic offering.
- Donations and Fundraising: Nonprofit relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. End-of-year giving campaigns and newsletter appeals drive individual donations.
- Grant Funding: Funding from government agencies, foundations, and environmental organizations for specific programs like Healing Spaces Initiative, Climate Safe Neighborhoods, and urban greening projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Kilbourn Garden Bed Rental |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Groundwork Milwaukee product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Groundwork Milwaukee is a nonprofit land trust that brings about the sustained regeneration, improvement, and management of the physical environment through community-based partnerships. Its work covers the transformation of brownfields into gardens, orchards, and gathering places; programs that educate, train, and empower youth and community members; and the protection of urban waters through green infrastructure and habitat restoration.
Product overview
Groundwork Milwaukee is a nonprofit organization and land trust that operates multiple interconnected environmental programs rather than a single product. Its core offerings include the Milwaukee Grows Garden Network (supporting 100+ community gardens), Climate Safe Neighborhoods (climate resilience and GIS mapping), Ground Corps (green workforce development), Green Team (youth programming), and Healing Spaces Initiative (vacant lot transformation). The organization also operates the Kilbourn Garden rental facility, Maglio Farm urban agriculture operation, Shared Harvest food rescue program, Community Garden Health Hubs, and green infrastructure construction services. These programs work together to achieve the organization's mission of environmental, economic, and social well-being through community-based partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Milwaukee Grows Garden Network: A network of community gardens managed by resident Garden Leaders across Milwaukee neighborhoods.
- Climate Safe Neighborhoods
- Ground Corps
- Green Team
- Healing Spaces Initiative
- Shared Harvest
Products and services
- Kilbourn Garden Bed Rentals Annual subscription rental of garden beds at the 80-bed Kilbourn Garden for community members to grow their own produce, including giving garden beds where produce is freely available. Targeted at Milwaukee residents seeking growing space.
- Ground Corps Workforce Program Earn-while-learning workforce development program providing younger adults with paid experiential training in landscape and green infrastructure construction and maintenance. Targeted at young adults pursuing urban forestry and green infrastructure careers.
- Green Infrastructure Construction Services Construction and maintenance services for bioswales, rain harvesting structures, and other green infrastructure elements that manage stormwater and protect urban waters. Delivered to neighborhoods and partner organizations across Milwaukee.
- Milwaukee Flood-Health Vulnerability Assessment Interactive tool and technical report pinpointing communities where flooding disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations, examining neighborhood flood likelihood and capacity to respond based on health, socioeconomic factors, and housing. Targeted at researchers, policymakers, and community advocates.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100+ community gardens supported across Milwaukee neighborhoods
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Groundwork Milwaukee
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Groundwork Milwaukee technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Groundwork Milwaukee partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate ActioncoreCollaborated on Milwaukee Flood-Health Vulnerability Assessment, examining neighborhoods most likely to flood and capacity to respond based on health, socioeconomic factors and housing.
- The New School Urban Systems LabcoreCollaborated on technical report for Milwaukee Flood-Health Vulnerability Assessment, providing urban systems expertise.
- Data You Can UsecoreCollaborated on Milwaukee Flood-Health Vulnerability Assessment data analysis.
- Medical College of WisconsincoreCollaborated on Milwaukee Flood-Health Vulnerability Assessment, contributing health expertise and research.
- Groundwork USAcoreNational chapter affiliation; Groundwork Milwaukee's work reflects the objectives of Groundwork USA. Also collaborated on Climate Safe Neighborhoods initiative with maps made by Milwaukee team shared nationally.
- Wisconsin DNRcoreLed NOAA-funded urban heat mapping campaign in Milwaukee, enlisting volunteers to drive traverses collecting temperature data.
- Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage DistrictcorePartner in urban heat mapping campaign and green infrastructure initiatives including Green Infrastructure Tour.
- Metcalfe Park Community BridgescoreLocal partner in Climate Safe Neighborhoods initiative working on climate resilience in Metcalfe Park hotspot neighborhood.
- Fresh Food ConnectcoreGroundwork serves as Fresh Food Connect operator, helping backyard gardeners donate excess produce to local food pantries through mobile app.
- One Tree PlantedminorGrant funding for fruit tree planting across the city; 47 trees planted with goal of 50.
- City of Milwaukee NIDCcoreCoordinated Healing Spaces Initiative construction of ADA-accessible gathering places on vacant lots.
- Milwaukee RiverkeeperminorPartnership for water quality monitoring and spring cleanup events.
- Indeed Brewing CompanyminorHosted Great Groundwork Get Together event, donating proceeds to Groundwork Milwaukee.
- Clean WisconsinminorStormGuarden installation program providing free rain garden/barrel systems to qualifying Milwaukee households.
- ReflominorPartner in Green Infrastructure Tour visiting Westside Academy, Historic Walnut Hill garden, Cream City Farms and Green Tech Station.
- Riverwest Food PantryminorCollaboration on Maglio Farm producing thousands of pounds of produce for donation.
- Nature (Scientific Journal)minorPublished article on institutional racism and extreme heat events in cities; included map layers created by Groundwork Milwaukee's Deputy Director of GIS.
- New York TimesminorFeatured Groundwork's Climate Safe Neighborhoods project as example of climate resiliency advocacy work.
- Sierra Club Wisconsin ChapterminorPartner in advocating for Focus on Energy program expansion to help renters in Black and Latinx communities.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Groundwork Milwaukee competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Green City Force: NYC-based nonprofit that trains young public-housing residents for green careers in urban agriculture, clean energy, and green infrastructure; closely aligned with Groundwork's Ground Corps and Green Team workforce-development mission, with a similar earn-while-learn model.
Direct peers
- GrowNYC: New York City nonprofit operating Greenmarkets, community gardens, environmental education, and volunteer stewardship — a well-established analog combining urban agriculture, green-jobs training, and community programming under one umbrella.
- Keep Growing Detroit: Detroit urban agriculture nonprofit running a citywide community garden network (1,400+ gardens) and a farm-to-pantry food sovereignty program; directly comparable network-scale community gardening plus food security model to Groundwork's Garden Network and Shared Harvest.
- The Greening of Detroit: Detroit-based nonprofit focused on urban tree planting, community green spaces, and green-jobs workforce development; directly comparable mission of community-led greening and economic opportunity in a similarly legacy-impacted Midwest city.
- Groundwork Hudson Valley: Another Groundwork USA affiliate applying the same community-based brownfield regeneration, youth programming, and green infrastructure playbook in New York's Hudson Valley; operates a nearly identical set of programs (community gardens, Green Team, green jobs) as Groundwork Milwaukee.
- Groundwork Buffalo: Sister Groundwork USA affiliate operating the same brownfield-to-garden and youth green-jobs model in another post-industrial Rust Belt city; similar scale, similar program mix (community gardens, urban greening, workforce development), and same national chapter affiliation.
Broad incumbents
- American Forests: National urban-forestry nonprofit working on tree canopy equity, climate resilience, and reforestation — overlapping with Groundwork's urban tree planting, canopy equity in formerly redlined neighborhoods, and climate resilience framing.
- Groundwork USA: National umbrella network of which Groundwork Milwaukee is an independent affiliate; sets programmatic objectives, coordinates federal/funder relationships, and disseminates the Climate Safe Neighborhoods model across the national Groundwork network. Directly comparable as parent of an identical franchise model.
- Trust for Public Land: National land trust and parks-conservation nonprofit that creates community green spaces and park access projects in cities; comparable in mission around equitable access to urban greenspace, but operates at national scale and across a much broader program portfolio.
Others
- Conservation Fund: National conservation nonprofit that finances land and water conservation, including working-lands deals with cities; thematically adjacent to Groundwork's land-trust and brownfield-reclamation work, though focused on conservation finance and federal partnership deals at national scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Groundwork Milwaukee social profiles
Digital presenceGroundwork Milwaukee financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Groundwork Milwaukee leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Groundwork Milwaukee funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Groundwork Milwaukee 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 Groundwork Milwaukee
What does Groundwork Milwaukee do?
Groundwork Milwaukee is a nonprofit land trust that brings about the sustained regeneration, improvement, and management of the physical environment through community-based partnerships. Its work covers the transformation of brownfields into gardens, orchards, and gathering places; programs that educate, train, and empower youth and community members; and the protection of urban waters through green infrastructure and habitat restoration.
Is Groundwork Milwaukee a public or private company?
Groundwork Milwaukee is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Groundwork Milwaukee founded?
Groundwork Milwaukee was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Groundwork Milwaukee based?
Groundwork Milwaukee is headquartered in Milwaukee, United States, in the North America region.
How does Groundwork Milwaukee make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Garden Bed Rentals are the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising and grant Funding.
Who are Groundwork Milwaukee's main competitors?
Green City Force is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are GrowNYC, Keep Growing Detroit, The Greening of Detroit, Groundwork Hudson Valley and Groundwork Buffalo. Broad incumbents are American Forests, Groundwork USA and Trust for Public Land. Conservation Fund is listed as an others.
Does Groundwork Milwaukee have an API?
No public API is recorded for Groundwork Milwaukee.
What industry is Groundwork Milwaukee in?
Groundwork Milwaukee's product category is Community Environmental Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIANAI, Urban Renewal, Brownfield Redevelopment & Land Reuse, with a secondary code of EDALALAB, Groundskeeping, Landscaping & Snow/Ice Management. Its NAICS code is 561730 and its SIC code is 700.