The GardenWorks Project

What The GardenWorks Project does

The GardenWorks Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois, that addresses food insecurity in Chicago's western suburbs by building and supporting organic vegetable gardens for low-income households and channeling fresh produce to local food pantries. Its core programs include Home Gardens (4'x8' raised bed installations with soil, compost, seedlings, and education for food-insecure families), Community Gardens (raised beds and supplies for schools, neighborhoods, and businesses), Farm-Pantry Partnerships (gleaning excess produce from local farms such as Nichols Farm and Orchard, Stojan's Vegetables, and Mighty Greens Farm for food pantries), Fresh Food Connect (a national partnership app connecting backyard growers to food-insecure residents), and the Food Growers Network (a membership program with a seed library and seasonal meet-ups). In 2025 the organization reported 168 garden beds planted across 26 locations, 55 community partners, and 300 individuals served, supported by a lean staff and a network of 200+ volunteers.

The organization is funded through a mix of individual donations (with stated tiers at $50, $150, and $250), corporate sponsorships (with recognition and team-building volunteer events), foundation grants (DuPage Foundation, Tony Reyes Family Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, The Grove Foundation, The Pollination Project), DuPage County government grants (CSBG and Small Non-Profit Grant), earned revenue from the Food Growers Network and seedling sales, and in-kind support from horticultural and landscaping partners. Its go-to-market is community-led: families are identified and referred through 40+ food pantries and social service agencies, and outreach is supported by a WordPress website, email newsletters, a YouTube channel, social media, and local press. Technology exposure is minimal; the only embedded digital tool is the third-party Fresh Food Connect app used to track donation weights for impact reporting. The organization is led by Executive Director Teri Wood (appointed May 2023), a Programs & Operations Manager, a Program Associate, and a volunteer board, and is governed as an independent nonprofit with no parent company.

Name

The GardenWorks Project

Legal name

The GardenWorks Project

Website

https://gardenworksproject.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The GardenWorks Project is a Wheaton, Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds organic home and community gardens and channels fresh produce to food pantries, serving food-insecure families across Chicago's western suburbs through garden installations, education, farm gleaning, and a volunteer-driven network of 200+ supporters and 55+ community partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Food Security & Gardening Services

NAICS

Landscaping Services (561730), Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Vegetable & Herb Garden Installation and Maintenance (HSAIAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Raised Garden Beds & Planter Box Installation (HSAIAFAK), Garden Bed Installation & Planting (Annuals, Perennials, Shrubs) (HSAIAFAB)

Keywords

• Food security programs
• Community gardening services
• Home garden installations
• Fresh produce donation
• Nonprofit gardening education

Headquarters

HQ city

Wheaton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals supporting food security. Donation tiers include $50 for plants and seeds, $150 for cedar lumber for a garden bed, and $250 for a complete raised bed garden with soil, compost, and resources.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Business partnerships with corporate sponsors throughout Chicago's western suburbs. Sponsors receive recognition at events, through social media, email newsletters, and website. Volunteer events are offered as team-building opportunities.
3. Shop and Seedling Sales: Proceeds from seedling sales and Food Growers Network membership fees support programs and materials for neighbors facing food insecurity.
4. Foundation and Government Grants: Support from foundations including DuPage Foundation, Tony Reyes Family Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, The Grove Foundation, The Pollination Project, and government grants from DuPage County.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The GardenWorks Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that builds and supports organic vegetable gardens for food-insecure households in DuPage County and Chicago's western suburbs. It delivers complete 4' x 8' raised bed home gardens with soil, compost, seedlings, seeds, and tools to qualifying families, supports community gardens at schools and organizations, partners with local farms to glean excess produce for food pantries, and operates a Food Growers Network membership program offering seed library access and seasonal meet-ups.

Product overview

The GardenWorks Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a program-based platform focused on addressing food insecurity in western Chicagoland through multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include: Community Gardens (supporting group gardeners with raised beds and resources), Home Gardens (building vegetable gardens for food-insecure families), Fresh Food Connect (a national partnership app for connecting growers with pantries), Farm-Pantry Partnerships (gleaning excess produce from local farms), and Food Growers Network (a membership program with seed library and meet-ups). Supporting these programs are educational products including Gardening Publications (guides and resources) and Workshop Videos (YouTube tutorials). The Shop sells memberships and seedlings to fund operations. All programs are coordinated through the Resource Center in Wheaton, IL.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Food Growers Network: Membership program of The GardenWorks Project that supports local food access while growing alongside a community of home gardeners. Members get access to seed library, tote bag, and invitations to seasonal meet-ups.

Products and services

• Home Gardens Program Builds home vegetable gardens for food-insecure families in DuPage County, providing each family with a 4' x 8' raised bed garden, soil, compost, seedlings, seeds, tools, garden maps, and access to ongoing educational resources and garden coaching.
• Community Gardens Program Supports group gardening initiatives at schools, neighborhoods, and businesses by providing 4' x 8' cedar raised-bed frames, soil, compost, seed packets, discounted seedlings, and free access to educational offerings.
• Fresh Food Connect Connects food-insecure residents with fresh produce from backyard gardens and local farms through a national nonprofit mobile app partnership, helping gardeners donate excess produce to local food pantries and tracking donation weights for accurate reporting.
• Farm-Pantry Partnerships Partners with local farms (Nichols Farm and Orchard, Stojan's Vegetables, Mighty Greens Farm) to harvest excess produce and deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to food pantries, including weekly gleaning visits to Elmhurst and Winfield Farmers Markets.
• Food Growers Network Membership A membership program for home and community gardeners that provides access to a seed library, GardenWorks tote bag, seasonal meet-ups, gardening tools, seeds, and discounts on seedlings and raised bed frames.
• Gardening Publications Offers downloadable guides and resources including organic gardening guides, crop-specific growing guides, children's gardening materials, and food insecurity research, used as standalone educational downloads by home and community gardeners.
• Workshop Videos YouTube channel @thegardenworksproject4089 featuring gardening tutorials, app tutorials, garden updates, recipes, and 'Nourishing Our Community' videos featuring farm partners.
• Shop (Seedlings and Memberships) Online store selling Food Growers Network memberships and seedlings, with all proceeds supporting GardenWorks programs and materials for neighbors facing food insecurity.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% garden success rate among home garden program participants
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Growing PlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGarden center supporter that shares The GardenWorks Project's mission to help everyone have a green thumb. Provides expertise and potentially plants/materials for garden programs.
• Bruss LandscapingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThird-generation family landscaping business serving western suburbs of Chicago since 1952. Located in Wheaton with a 10-acre nursery and production facility in West Chicago.
• Ball Horticultural CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal horticulture company with strong presence on six continents in 18 countries, providing expertise in breeding, research, and plant production.
• Duly Health and CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organization launched in September 2021 focused on helping patients flourish through comprehensive health services.
• West Suburban Community PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey pantry partner providing referral services for food-insecure families. Serves the Woodridge area and is a critical partner in identifying households both in need of food and wanting to learn to grow their own food.
• Glen Ellyn Food PantrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal partner organization from 2012 that helped identify families in need. Located at 493 Forest Ave, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.
• Bridge CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial service partner located at 505 Crescent Boulevard, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, that identifies families needing food assistance who want to grow their own food.
• People's Resource CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial service partner that helps identify individuals and families in need who want to grow their own food.
• Neighborhood Food Pantries of WarrenvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPantry partner that identifies food-insecure individuals and families wanting to learn home gardening.
• Hossanah Lutheran ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChurch partner in St. Charles that helped identify families in need during early growth years.
• Nichols Farm and OrchardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm partner at 2602 Hawthorn Rd, Marengo, Illinois, committed to leaving the planet better than found through sustainable farming. Provides excess produce for farm-pantry partnerships.
• Stojan's VegetablescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm partner at 2N874 Howard Rd, Maple Park, Illinois. Invites GardenWorks to glean excess produce. Feels blessed that excess produce benefits others with less food waste.
• Mighty Greens FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarm partner at 40W248 Hughes Rd, Elburn, Illinois, focused on community and hyper-local food access. Builds connection between farmers and community members.
• College of DuPagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner at 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, Illinois, hosting community garden sites and student fuel pantry for produce donations.
• DuPage Health Department WIC OfficeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial service partner at 111 N County Farm Rd., Wheaton, Illinois, providing services to women, infants, and children.
• Ronald McDonald House near Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare charity partner hosting garden for families residing on site, creating therapeutic activities, providing gardening education, and supporting health and wellness in Winfield community. Second year of partnership in 2024.
• Fresh Food ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational nonprofit partnered with GardenWorks to pursue a more local, resilient food system. Connects food-insecure residents with fresh produce from backyard gardens and local farms through a mobile app.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thegardenworksproject4089/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-gardenworks-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 The GardenWorks Project