The mission of the Groundwork USA network is to bring about the sustained regeneration, improvement, and management of the physical environment by developing community-based partnerships that empower people, businesses, and organizations to promote environmental, economic, and social well-being.
Groundwork USA Inc backs a network of Groundwork Trusts with program support that often reaches the same local organizations in multiple years. The largest recent grant in the data is $426,960 to Groundwork New Orleans, followed by $386,841 to Groundwork Ohio River Valley and $329,132 to Groundwork Milwaukee. That pattern fits the organization’s mission: supporting community-based partnerships that advance environmental, economic, and social well-being through physical-environment regeneration, improvement, and management. The grant list shows a steady emphasis on local implementation rather than one-off awards. Groundwork San Diego appears in both 2023 and 2025, Groundwork Hudson Valley in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Groundwork Rhode Island across 2023, 2024, and 2025. Several awards also go to Groundwork Lawrence, Groundwork Southcoast, Groundwork Jacksonville, and Groundwork Elizabeth, indicating a multi-site network approach. The foundation’s funding is restricted to program or project support, and the active grant programs reinforce that structure through targeted grants and technical assistance tied to brownfields, land reuse, climate preparedness, urban waters, urban forestry, and youth development.
Brownfields and land reuse sit at the center of the foundation’s work. Through the Nonprofit Brownfields Assistance Program, Groundwork USA Inc offers free one-on-one technical assistance to nonprofits in brownfield-affected communities, including strategy, tools, peer support, community engagement, partnership-building, risk management, and help navigating the funding landscape. Climate adaptation is another active area. The Climate Preparedness and Land Restoration Grants support Groundwork Trusts implementing nature-based and land restoration projects that address extreme heat and flooding, including urban forestry, stormwater retrofits, demonstration parks, and home resilience upgrades. The Land Use Innovation Initiative supports community-driven brownfield reuse and land revitalization projects that expand access to healthy outdoor spaces and build resident leadership and long-term investment. In that program, grants are made to Groundwork Trusts for parks and green space creation, urban forestry, and green infrastructure. Technical assistance also extends beyond grantmaking. The Brownfields and Land Use Technical Assistance program supports community organizations, nonprofits, municipalities, and developers working on brownfield and land reuse projects.
$2.6M
$9.9M
$5.7M
$6.2M
Most grants fall between $77K and $227K, with a median of $147K.
25th Percentile
$77K
Median
$147K
75th Percentile
$227K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in MA.
HEATHER MCMANN
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Typical grant size is $77,199 at the 25th percentile, $146,686 at the median, and $227,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grant list shows repeated awards to the same Groundwork Trusts across 2023, 2024, and 2025, which points to ongoing program support rather than isolated gifts. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Its active grant programs include both monetary support and technical assistance; the assistance programs accept unsolicited requests, while the grant programs listed for Groundwork Trusts do not.
Giving is national, with all listed recent grants in the United States. California is the top state by grant count, and the recipient list includes repeated awards to Groundwork San Diego. Other recurring recipient locations include New Orleans, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Lawrence, New Bedford, Elizabeth, Bridgeport, Jacksonville, Pawtucket, Richmond, and Yonkers. New York accounts for 5% of grants, which is lower than the foundation’s headquarters state might suggest from the name alone.
The recent grant list is concentrated in Groundwork Trusts, including Groundwork New Orleans, Groundwork Ohio River Valley, Groundwork Milwaukee, Groundwork San Diego, Groundwork Hudson Valley, and others. The foundation also provides technical assistance to nonprofits, community organizations, municipalities, and developers working on brownfield and land reuse projects.
Active programs center on brownfields and land reuse, climate preparedness and land restoration, and land use innovation. The program descriptions also include urban forestry, stormwater infrastructure, parks and green space creation, green infrastructure, community engagement, and environmental justice.
Yes. The Nonprofit Brownfields Assistance Program and Brownfields and Land Use Technical Assistance both provide non-monetary support. The first is a free one-on-one customized service for nonprofits in brownfield-affected communities, and the second supports organizations, municipalities, and developers working on brownfield and land reuse projects.
Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Groundwork San Diego in 2023 and 2025, Groundwork Hudson Valley in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Groundwork Rhode Island in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern suggests recurring support for local Groundwork Trusts.
The grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $77,199, a median of $146,686, and a 75th percentile of $227,000. Individual recent awards range above that, including larger program-support grants to local Groundwork Trusts.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Groundwork Usa that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Available to organizations and governments seeking support with brownfield redevelopment, land reuse, equitable community engagement, site activation, shared leadership, environmental justice, or climate and community resilience planning.
Deadline: No deadline stated; submit the intake form to request assistance.
Who can apply: Open to nonprofits of all sizes working on community-led brownfield and land reuse efforts in brownfield-affected communities.
Deadline: Rolling intake; page notes 1:1 support had a waitlist until early 2026.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GROUNDWORK SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $307,654 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK LAWRENCE | LAWRENCE, MA | $278,463 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK HUDSON VALLEY | YONKERS, NY | $252,596 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK KANSAS CITY | KANSAS CITY, MO | $219,366 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK SOUTHCOAST | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $167,241 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK OHIO RIVER VALLEY | CINCINNATI, OH | $163,789 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK NEW ORLEANS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $146,600 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK RHODE ISLAND | PAWTUCKET, RI | $136,296 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK ELIZABETH | ELIZABETH, NJ | $133,214 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $126,233 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $85,419 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK ERIE | ERIE, PA | $82,993 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK RVA | RICHMOND, VA | $80,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| RIVER NETWORK | PORTLAND, OR | $71,973 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK BRIDGEPORT | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $61,515 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK RICHMOND CA | RICHMOND, CA | $47,929 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK DENVER | DENVER, CO | $47,735 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK SOMERVILLE | SOMERVILLE, MA | $45,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK INDIANAPOLIS | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $32,686 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK MOBILE | PRICHARD, AL | $27,500 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR CREATIVE LAND RECYCLING | BERKELEY, CA | $19,286 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK ATLANTA | ATLANTA, GA | $15,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| LEBANON OPERA HOUSE | LEBANON, NH | $8,655 | 2025 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK MILWAUKEE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $329,132 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK NORTHEAST REVITALIZATION GROUP | KANSAS CITY, KS | $291,230 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK LAWRENCE | LAWRENCE, MA | $251,910 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK SOUTHCOAST | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $227,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK OHIO RIVER VALLEY | CINCINNATI, OH | $200,183 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK NEW ORLEANS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $195,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $192,199 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK RHODE ISLAND | PAWTUCKET, RI | $167,284 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK RVA | RICHMOND, VA | $150,500 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK HUDSON VALLEY | YONKERS, NY | $144,283 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK ELIZABETH | ELIZABETH, NJ | $136,964 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK BRIDGEPORT | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $118,762 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| RIVER NETWORK | PORTLAND, OR | $112,825 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $95,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK SOMERVILLE | SOMERVILLE, MA | $85,000 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK ERIE | ERIE, PA | $73,066 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| CENTER FOR CREATIVE LAND RECYCLING | BERKELEY, CA | $46,125 | 2024 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK NEW ORLEANS | NEW ORLEANS, LA | $426,960 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK OHIO RIVER VALLEY | CINCINNATI, OH | $386,841 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK HUDSON VALLEY | YONKERS, NY | $290,414 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK SOUTHCOAST | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $256,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK SAN DIEGO | SAN DIEGO, CA | $256,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK ELIZABETH | ELIZABETH, NJ | $255,868 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK BRIDGEPORT | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $224,352 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK JACKSONVILLE | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $205,000 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| GROUNDWORK RHODE ISLAND | PAWTUCKET, RI | $203,923 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
| RIVER NETWORK | PORTLAND, OR | $146,686 | 2023 | PROGRAM SUPPORT |
GROUNDWORK MILWAUKEE
$126,233PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK ERIE
$82,993PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK BRIDGEPORT
$61,515PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK RICHMOND CA
$47,929PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK SOMERVILLE
$45,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK MOBILE
$27,500PROGRAM SUPPORT
CENTER FOR CREATIVE LAND RECYCLING
$19,286PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK ATLANTA
$15,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
LEBANON OPERA HOUSE
$8,655PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK MILWAUKEE
$329,132PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK NORTHEAST REVITALIZATION GROUP
$291,230PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK SOUTHCOAST
$227,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK BRIDGEPORT
$118,762PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK SOMERVILLE
$85,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK ERIE
$73,066PROGRAM SUPPORT
CENTER FOR CREATIVE LAND RECYCLING
$46,125PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK SOUTHCOAST
$256,000PROGRAM SUPPORT
GROUNDWORK BRIDGEPORT
$224,352PROGRAM SUPPORT
