Groundwork Indy

Groundwork Indy is a youth-centered environmental justice and workforce development nonprofit serving the Northwest Landings, Riverside, and surrounding Indianapolis neighborhoods. Our mission is to empower opportunity youth through paid employment, environmental education, and community revitalization while creating healthier, greener, and more equitable neighborhoods. Each year, Groundwork Indy employs youth and young adults ages 14–25 through our Green Team and Ground Corp Plus programs, where participants gain hands-on experience in urban forestry, trail construction, community gardening, green infrastructure, carpentry, and environmental restoration. Youth earn wages while developing leadership skills, industry-recognized certifications, and pathways to long-term careers in the skilled trades and environmental sectors.

While grants fund many of our direct program activities, Groundwork Indy has an ongoing need for unrestricted funding to sustain and strengthen our operations. Flexible support allows us to respond quickly to emerging needs, invest in new opportunities, and cover essential expenses that are often ineligible under traditional grant funding. Unrestricted gifts help support operational costs, project materials, forestry equipment, carpentry tools, gardening supplies, safety equipment, vehicle and equipment maintenance, marketing and outreach materials, technology, volunteer engagement, and healthy snacks and meals for youth participants. These investments ensure our young people have the resources they need to safely complete projects while allowing our staff to focus on delivering high-quality programming rather than filling funding gaps.

Unrestricted support also enables Groundwork Indy to maintain and improve our 4.5-acre headquarters campus and the 100-Year-Old Hackberry Nature Trail, where youth are transforming underutilized land into a vibrant community asset featuring native plant gardens, outdoor classrooms, public gathering spaces, and expanded access to nature. Every unrestricted dollar strengthens our ability to provide paid employment, create meaningful learning experiences, and improve neighborhoods through projects that benefit both our youth and the broader Indianapolis community. By investing in Groundwork Indy, donors help build the next generation of environmental leaders while creating lasting community impact.