Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities

Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities is an environmentalist organization that seeks to close coal-burning electricity generation plants. 1 Originally formed in 1995 as the Michigan Land Use Institute before changing its name in 2005, the Groundwork Center has advocated against oil and gas drilling in Michigan 2 and stated in 2017 that residents should shut down Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline “once and for all.” 3

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At-A-Glance

Type: Non-profit, 501(c)(3)
Issue Areas: Multi-Issue Advocacy
Website: www.groundworkcenter.org
Executive Director:

Hans Voss

Location: Traverse City, MI View on map
Tax ID: 38-2314954
Most Recent Filing: 2024
Budget (2024): Assets: $1,692,314 Revenue: $3,212,439 Expenses: $2,798,910

Contents

    Background

    The Michigan Land Use Institute was founded in 1995 in Traverse City, Michigan by Keith Schneider, 4 who was a staff reporter at the New York Times. 5 In 2005, the Michigan Land Use Institute changed its name to Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities. 4

    In 1997, the Michigan Land Use Institute published a report stating the state should protect nine rivers from development by the oil and gas industry and called for “extend[ing] safeguards on oil, gas drilling.” 2

    The Michigan Land Use Institute opposed oil and gas drilling in the Great Lakes in 2001, citing a fear of oil spills. 6

    In 2005, the Michigan Land Use Institute produced a report that state and local governments were subsidizing “runaway sprawl in Michigan” by allowing practices that “erase greenfields and erode the vitality of cities.” 7 The reported urged then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D) to “build viable public transportation systems” and turn the state into a “greener, cleaner, dynamic state of opportunity.” 8

    The Traverse City Record-Eagle reported in 2013 that the Michigan Land Use Institute “consistently lobbies against coal-burning electricity generation plants.” 9

    Traverse City officials stated that the Michigan Land Use Institute had overstepped its bounds in 2013 by trying to influence who would be the next executive director of the city-owned utility Traverse City Light and Power. 9 City officials suspected the Institute was behind an email campaign to get their favored candidate hired. 9 City Commissioner Barbara Budros said the “constant lobbying” behind the scenes was “disconcerting” and said she did not need the Institute “telling us who the next executive director is going to be.” 9

    Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities has 18 employees 10 and 16 board members as of 2019. 11

    Line 5

    Line 5 is a pipeline that diverges into two parallel pipelines as it travels under the Straits of Mackinac. 12 It provides 65 percent of the propane demand in the Upper Peninsula and 55 percent of Michigan’s needs statewide, according to Enbridge. 12 Line 5 transports up to 540,000 barrels per day of light crude oil, light synthetic crude and natural gas liquids that are refined into propane. 12

    Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities has worked to shut down Line 5, which it has called an “environmental hazard.” 13 The Groundwork Center stated it would rather have Michigan’s propane needs met by truck and rail. 13

    In 2017, Hans Voss, the executive director of the Groundwork Center, urged citizens to get lawmakers to “shut down the pipeline once and for all.” 14

    Ann Arbor to Traverse City Passenger Rail

    Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities has advocated for a passenger rail line between Ann Arbor and Traverse City. 15 A railway between Ann Arbor and Traverse City has been proposed since 2011. 16 The Groundwork Center claims there is broad support for the project and that it would create economic development in communities along the route. 15

    The rail project was supposed to being limited runs in 2021 but that was shelved due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 17 The project received funding for a study from the U.S. Department of Transportation on August 11, 2022. 18

    Inflation Reduction Act

    Ashley Soltysiak, the climate and environment program director at Goundwork Center, stated in a September 2022 blog post that the $396 billion Inflation Reduction Act was “big, but not big enough.” 19 Soltysiak stated her frustration “is great” that the bill will “help Big Oil” and thereby slow progress at reining in climate change.” 20

    Finances

    The Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities’ total revenue was $2.6 million with $2.3 million in expenses in 2020. 21 Total revenues were $907,525 in 2012. 22

    Leadership

    Hans Voss is executive director of the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities and had a reported salary of $150,000 in 2019. 23 Voss started with the Michigan Land Use Institute in 1995. 24

    Julie Metty Bennett is a board member of Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities. Bennett is the owner and a senior vice president at Public Sector Consultants. 25 The clients of Public Sector Consultants include the left-of-center Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, 26 the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the left-of-center Skillman Foundation and numerous governmental and public-education entities. 27 Bennett also sits on the board of the left-of-center Michigan League of Conservation Voters. 25

    Maureen Smyth became a board member of the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities in 2018 and served as the board chair for three years. 28 Smyth was the senior vice president of programs and communications for the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. 28

    Dan Worth is the clean energy program director at the Center, where he started in 2015. 29 He called himself an “East Coast liberal” in 2017. 30

    Financial Statistics

    Total Assets

    Total Revenue

    Total Expenses

    YearTotal AssetsTotal RevenueTotal ExpensesFiling
    2024 $1,692,314 $3,212,439 $2,798,910 View
    2023 $1,118,988 $2,586,495 $2,703,147 View
    2022 $1,297,281 $2,369,624 $2,409,259 View
    2021 $1,306,127 $2,441,412 $2,095,734 View
    2020 $955,785 $2,637,111 $2,318,438 View

    Prior year filings: 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011

    Revenue Detail

    Expenses Detail

    Employee Compensation

    • Number of Employees: 27

    Highest Earning Employees

    EmployeeTitleTotal Compensation
    Hans VossEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR$176,775
    MEGHAN R McDERMOTTDEPUTY DIRECTOR$130,685
    Margaret K DelorDEVELOPMENT DIR$105,506

    Grant Activity

    All-time grants received statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $18,622,541
    • Number of Grants: 410
    • Number of Funders: 94

    Selection of highest value grants received from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $499,9762024 Michigan Health Endowment FundBRC: ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO DISTRIBUTING FRESH FOOD
    $300,0002022 W.K. Kellogg Foundationsupport the participation in 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids & Farms by early childhood education programs and increased statewide funding for it through stakeholder education, communications and outreach, as well as the provision of technical support to educational programs and local farmers
    $255,8502024 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $200,0002024 W.K. Kellogg Foundationsupport participation in 10 Cents a Meal for Michigan’s Kids & Farms by early childhood education programs statewide with an emphasis on Detroit, Grand Rapids and Battle Creek by providing technical assistance to educational programs and local farmers as well as stakeholder education and outreach
    $200,0002021 Esperance Family Foundation IncGeneral & Unrestricted
    $200,0002020 Esperance Family Foundation IncGeneral & Unrestricted
    $192,1502021 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $186,6182021 The Chicago Community TrustTO SUPPORT BUILDING RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, HEALTHY FOOD, AND BUILDING HEALTHY HABITS
    $150,0002025 Charles Stewart Mott FoundationThe Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities has promoted sustainable community practices in Michigan since 1995. With partial support from the Mott Foundation, the grantee has provided policy leadership in its home region of northwest lower Michigan in support of a clean environment, a strong economy and resilient communities. The grantee pursues its agenda in the priority areas of food and farming, clean energy, Great Lakes protection and transportation. With renewed support, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities will continue working in all of its priority program areas, including expanding and strengthening the Great Lakes Business Network.
    $150,0002024 Windward FundENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
    $150,0002023 Charles Stewart Mott FoundationThe Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities has promoted sustainable community practices in Michigan since 1995. With partial support from the Mott Foundation, the grantee has provided policy leadership in its home region of northwest lower Michigan in support of a clean environment, a strong economy and resilient communities. The grantee pursues its agenda in the priority areas of food and farming, clean energy, water policy and transportation. With renewed support, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities will continue work in all of its priority program areas, which will include expanding and strengthening the Great Lakes Business Network.
    $150,0002021 Charles Stewart Mott FoundationThe Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities has been promoting community resilience models from northwest lower Michigan since 1995. The grantee focuses on community-based policy leadership through supporting a clean environment, strong economy and sustainability. The grantee does this by researching and developing local successes and sharing lessons learned with broad appeal to regional audiences. The grantee prioritizes food and farming, clean energy, water policy and transportation. With this grant, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities will pursue all of its priorities, including the expansion of the Great Lakes Business Network.
    $150,0002020 W.K. Kellogg FoundationIncrease access to healthy fresh food by vulnerable children in school and early childhood settings through sharing and disseminating findings and best practices from the “10 Cents a Meal” state pilot project
    $142,3502025 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $121,9502020 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift FundFor grant recipient's exempt purposes
    $100,0002025 W.K. Kellogg FoundationFood, Strong and Equitable Food Systems
    $100,0002024 Charles Stewart Mott FoundationSince 1995, the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities has been dedicated to promoting sustainable practices across Michigan. With partial support from the Mott Foundation, the grantee has taken a leadership role in northwest lower Michigan, advocating for a clean environment, a robust economy and resilient communities. Their focus areas include: 1) food and farming; 2) clean energy; 3) water policy; and 4) transportation. This general purposes funding increase will enable the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities to continue its work across all priority areas including support for its Strong Future Fund, which aims to ensure organizational stability and continuity during a period of leadership transition.
    $100,0002024 Newman's Own FoundationMICHIGAN-GROWN FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND DRY BEANS FOR K- 12 + BIRTH TO 5
    $100,0002023 Tricoastal FoundationUNRESTRICTED GRANT FOR DONEE'S EXEMPT PURPOSE
    $100,0002023 Windward FundENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
    $100,0002022 The Wege FoundationElevating Business Voices to Promote Equitable Clean Energy Solutions
    $100,0002022 Esperance Family Foundation IncGeneral & Unrestricted
    $100,0002021 Michigan Health Endowment FundBUILDING A FOUNDATION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH
    $100,0002021 The Wege FoundationMatching Gift
    $100,0002020 Charles Stewart Mott FoundationThe Groundwork Center for Livable Communities, based in Traverse City, promotes sustainable systems in food, energy and transportation with a focus on the northwestern section of Michigan's lower peninsula. The organization has launched a fundraising campaign to increase its impact in the medium-term and stabilize the financial foundation of the organization in the long-term. This Mott grant is an early contribution to the campaign.

    All-time grants given statistics from Candid dataset:

    • Total Grant Value: $281,945
    • Number of Grants: 7
    • Number of Recipients: 7

    Selection of highest value grants given from the last seven years:

    AmountYearFunderSubject
    $117,5152020 Northwest Michigan Community ActionFood Assistance
    $62,4142020 The Manna Food Project Inc DBA – the Manna Food ProjectFood Assistance
    $55,5002020 National Wildlife FederationEnvironmental
    $15,0152020 Detroit Food Policy CouncilHealthy Kidds
    $15,0012020 The Crim Fitness Foundation IncHealthy Kids
    $9,0002020 McLaren Northern Michigan FoundationPromoting health projects
    $7,5002020 Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan, Inc.Food Assistance

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    Financials, employee compensation, and grant information provided by Candid.

    Mentioned in this Article

    References

    1. Michael Estes. “Scuffle Over How Utility Will Select Next Leader.” Traverse City Record-Eagle. Feb. 24, 2013. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/scuffle-over-how-utility-will-select-next-leader/article_8170327e-d189-56c6-8236-2dd412d87a75.html
    2. Associated Press. “Group Hopes To Protect Rivers.” Lansing State Journal. Dec. 1, 1997. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022.
    3. Jacob Wheeler. “Environmental Groups Sound Alarm On Cuts To Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.” Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. July 6, 2017. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/environmental-groups-sound-alarm-on-cuts-to-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/
    4.  Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. “MLUI Is Now The Groundwork Center.” May 13, 2015. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/mlui-is-now-the-groundwork-center/
    5. [1] Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. “Keith Schneider Shares The Origin Story.” July 5, 2020. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/keith-schneider-shares-the-origin-story/
    6. Associated Press. “Michigan Commission Backs Oil, Gas Exploration Under Great Lakes.” Edmonton Journal. Sept. 15, 2001. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022.
    7. [1] George Weeks. “State Aids Destructive ‘Runaway Sprawl.’” Detroit Free Press. Jan. 30, 2005. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022.
    8. George Weeks. “State Aids Destructive ‘Runaway Sprawl.’” Detroit Free Press. Jan. 30, 2005. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022.
    9. Michael Estes. “Scuffle Over How Utility Will Select Next Leader.” Feb. 24, 2013. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. https://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/scuffle-over-how-utility-will-select-next-leader/article_8170327e-d189-56c6-8236-2dd412d87a75.html
    10. Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2012. Part I. Summary. Accessed Sept. 22, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/382314954/2013_09_EO%2F38-2314954_990_201209
    11. Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. Meet Our Board. Accessed Sept. 22, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/board/
    12. Enbridge. About Line 5. Accessed Sept. 18, 2022. https://www.enbridge.com/projects-and-infrastructure/public-awareness/line-5-michigan/about-line-5
    13. Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. Climate And Environment. Line 5 Activism. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/line-5-activism/
    14. Jacob Wheeler. “Environmental Groups Sound Alarm On Cuts To Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.” July 6, 2017. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/environmental-groups-sound-alarm-on-cuts-to-great-lakes-restoration-initiative/
    15. Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. Ann Arbor To Traverse City Passenger Rail Project. Accessed Sept. 20, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/a2tc-rail-project/
    16. Marc Daalder. “Study: Train Would Earn Millions.” Detroit Free Press. Oct. 9, 2018. Accessed Sept. 25, 2022.
    17. [1] Slone Terranella. “Outbreak Idles Traverse City-Ann Arbor Rail Plans.” Detroit Free Press. Nov. 28, 2020. Accessed Sept. 20, 2022.
    18. Navya Gupta. “Proposed Train Service From Ann Arbor To Traverse City Gets New Funding For Study.” Detroit Free Press. Aug. 17, 2022. Accessed Sept. 20, 2022. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2022/08/17/ann-arbor-traverse-city-train-service/10346372002/
    19. Ashley Soltysiak. “The IRA Is Big, But Not Big Enough. Let’s Fix That!” Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. Sept. 14, 2022. Accessed Sept. 18, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/the-ira-is-big-but-not-big-enough-lets-fix-that/
    20. [1] Ashley Soltysiak. “The IRA Is Big, But Not Big Enough. Let’s Fix That!” Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. Sept. 14, 2022. Accessed Sept. 18, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/the-ira-is-big-but-not-big-enough-lets-fix-that/
    21. Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2020. Accessed Sept. 22, 2022. Accessed Sept. 29, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/382314954/04_2021_prefixes_37-38%2F382314954_202009_990_2021041417945923
    22. Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities, Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (Form 990), 2012. Accessed Sept. 22, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/382314954/2013_09_EO%2F38-2314954_990_201209
    23. Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. Staff. Hans Voss. Accessed Sept. 25, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/staff-hans-voss/
    24. Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. “Meet Hans Voss.” Accessed Sept. 22, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/staff-hans-voss/
    25. Michigan League Of Conservation Voters. Board Members. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. https://michiganlcvedfund.org/people/julie-metty-bennett
    26. Goundwork Center For Resilient Communities. Programs. Accessed Sept. 20, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/board/#
    27. Public Sector Consultants. Clients. Accessed Sept. 20, 2022. https://publicsectorconsultants.com/clients/
    28. Jeff Smith. “Checking In With Outgoing Board Chair Maureen Smyth.” Groundwork Center For Resilient Communities. Oct. 25, 2018. Accessed Sept. 25, 2022. https://www.groundworkcenter.org/checking-in-with-outgoing-board-chair-maureen-smyth/
    29. [1] “Dan Worth.” LinkedIn. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-worth-a432426/
    30. [1] Howard Lovy. “Q&A: Michigan Nonprofit Seeks Local Solutions On Clean Energy.” Energy News. Nov. 9, 2017. Accessed Sept. 19, 2022. https://energynews.us/2017/11/09/qa-michigan-nonprofit-seeks-local-solutions-on-clean-energy/