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Non-profit

New Haven Ecology Project

Website:

commongroundct.org/
Location:

New Haven, CT
Tax ID:

22-3171185
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $5,430,142
Expenses: $5,640,150
Assets: $14,230,014
Type:

Environmental Education Center
Formation:

1990
Executive Director:

Monica Macerra-Filppu

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New Haven Ecology Project, better known as Common Ground, is a left-of-center environmental education organization based in Connecticut. The organization operates a charter high school and a community education center and holds summer camps each year. 1

It receives a large amount of state funding, as well as funding from private grantmaking foundations. 2

Background

New Haven Ecology Project (NHEP), better known as Common Ground, is a left-of-center environmental education organization located at the base of West Rock Ridge in New Haven, Connecticut. The organization runs an environmental charter school for high-school students and a community education center. 3

The high school, called Common Ground High School, was founded in 1997 as one of the first ten charter schools in Connecticut. The organization claims that more than 900 children visit its summer camp as of 2023. 4

Financials

New Haven Ecology Project receives most of its revenue from government grants, private grants and contributions, and program services. The organization received approximately $2.85 million from government grants in 2020, and another $1 million in other grants and contributions. It also earned $1.4 million from program service revenue and $91,000 in “other” revenue. In total, the organization had a total revenue amount of approximately $5.4 million. Its total expenses in 2020 amounted to around $5.6 million, $4.2 million of which was spent on salaries, employee benefits, and other compensation. 5

NHEP received approximately $2.5 million in state funding, listed as “Connecticut per pupil funding” in 2021, $831,446 in operating grants, and $515,000 from private foundation grants. In total, the organization reported just over $5 million in revenue. Its total expenses amounted to just under $5 million, with $4.7 million being spent on charter school operations. 6

The organization received around $2.7 million from state grants and contracts in 2022 and received just over $1.1 million in federal grants and $510,000 from private foundation grants in the same year. In total, the organization’s revenue amounted to just over $5 million. Its total expenses were just over $5.5 million, $5.2 million of which was spent on charter school operations. 7

Funding

New Haven Ecology Project receives grants from private foundations and via the government. The United States Environmental Protection Agency gave NHEP $15,000 in 2003 to “promote environmental awareness” in its local community. The organization also received $15,024 in 2011 as part of the Long Island Sound Futures Fund, a government grant initiative that consisted of 39 grants totaling $1.6 million. The Regional Water Authority awarded the New Haven Ecology Project with $10,000 via its Watershed Fund in 2021. 8 9 10

The New Haven Ecology Project also receives grants from private foundations including the Skye Foundation, which granted NHEP $12,500 in 2018, $13,750 in 2019, and $15,125 in 2020. The organization also received $25,000 from the William T. Grant Foundation in 2009, $350,000 from the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation in 2019, and $10,000 from the Greater New Haven Green Fund in 2022. 11 12 13 14

NHEP is also listed as receiving grants from organizations including the Connecticut Outdoor and Environmental Education Association, and the North Face Explore Fund, which listed NHEP as a grantee between 2010 and 2020. 15 16

The organization also received a $110,000 grant for general operating support from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven a donor-advised fund that requires its funds, grantmaking, and other activities to use the identity politics concept of intersectionality by seeking to have its work contribute to all individuals achieving equal outcomes. 17 18

NHEP received grants from the Barr Foundation, a Boston-based private foundation that announced a five-year, $50 million series of grants in 2010, supporting environmentalist groups advocating to combat climate change. 19 20

References

  1. “History.” Common Ground. April 10, 2017. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://commongroundct.org/about/history/.
  2. Suozzo, Andrea. “Nonprofit Explorer – ProPublica.” Nonprofit Explorer. May 9, 2013. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_audit/25184720221.
  3. “Mission & Values.” Common Ground. March 10, 2019. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://commongroundct.org/about/.
  4. “History.” Common Ground. April 10, 2017. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://commongroundct.org/about/history/.
  5. “New Haven Ecology Project.” ProPublica. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/223171185/04_2021_prefixes_22-22%2F223171185_202006_990_2021041417943954.
  6. Suozzo, Andrea. “Nonprofit Explorer – ProPublica.” Nonprofit Explorer. May 9, 2013. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_audit/25184720211.
  7. Suozzo, Andrea. “Nonprofit Explorer – ProPublica.” Nonprofit Explorer. May 9, 2013. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_audit/25184720221.
  8. “New Haven Receives Federal EPA Agents.” Yale Daily News. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2003/10/21/new-haven-receives-federal-epa-grants/.
  9. “More Than $1.6 Million Awarded for Community-Based Projects to Improve Health and Vitality of Long Island Sound.” Long Island Sound Study. October 17, 2011. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://longislandsoundstudy.net/2011/10/more-than-1-6-million-awarded-for-community-based-projects-to-improve-health-and-vitality-of-long-island-sound/.
  10. Register, New Haven. “New Haven environmental programs get boost through Watershed Fund grants.” New Haven Register. May 18, 2021. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/New-Haven-environmental-programs-get-boost-16185670.php.
  11. Rouse, Farrell. “The Skye Foundation Inc.” Instrumentl. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-skye-foundation-inc.
  12. “2009 Annual Report.” William T. Grant Foundation. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://wtgrantfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/2009-Annual-Report-WIlliam-T.-Grant-Foundation.pdf.
  13. Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation. Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF). 2019. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://pclbfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/061547852_202006_990PF.pdf.
  14. “2022 Grantees.” Greater New Haven Green Fund. Accessed March 27, 2023. http://www.gnhgreenfund.org/2022-grantees.html.
  15. “Grant Recipients.” COEEA. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.coeea.org/grant-recipients.
  16. “Fund Grantees 2010-2020.” North Face Explore Fund. Accessed March 27, 2023. http://s7d1.scene7.com/is/content/TheNorthFaceBrand/explore_fund_grantees-2010-2020pdf.
  17. “Environment.” Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.cfgnh.org/strengthening-nonprofits/about-our-impact/environment.
  18. “Overview & Facts.” Community Foundation for Greater New Haven. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.cfgnh.org/about/overview-facts.
  19. Curtin, Jenny. “New Grants Support 11 Schools to Redesign Where Learning Happens.” Barr Foundation. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.barrfoundation.org/blog/new-grants-support-11-schools-redesign-where-learning-happens.
  20. Hartigan, Patti. “Who’s Behind the Barr Foundation?” Boston Magazine. January 31, 2016. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2016/01/31/barr-foundation-boston/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: June - May
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 1992

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Jun Form 990 $5,430,142 $5,640,150 $14,230,014 $1,340,428 N $3,930,903 $1,407,218 $723 $0 PDF
    2019 Jun Form 990 $5,789,191 $5,966,959 $14,070,990 $1,005,867 N $4,282,608 $1,377,846 $337 $0 PDF
    2018 Jun Form 990 $5,360,228 $5,558,551 $15,109,465 $1,838,199 N $3,847,632 $1,289,009 $1,453 $0 PDF
    2017 Jun Form 990 $5,731,424 $5,098,358 $15,186,594 $1,717,005 N $4,699,682 $920,952 $1,050 $0 PDF
    2016 Jun Form 990 $9,771,377 $4,658,803 $14,073,710 $1,400,923 N $8,831,559 $777,837 $6,871 $0
    2015 Jun Form 990 $7,151,868 $4,421,944 $10,778,768 $3,218,555 N $6,258,559 $728,948 $6,706 $0 PDF
    2014 Jun Form 990 $5,159,714 $4,278,047 $5,517,755 $687,466 N $4,367,682 $674,516 $2,943 $0 PDF
    2013 Jun Form 990 $5,159,437 $3,609,908 $4,543,302 $594,680 N $4,443,203 $667,528 $2,285 $0 PDF
    2012 Jun Form 990 $4,055,081 $3,377,008 $3,082,125 $683,032 N $3,479,646 $499,087 $1,597 $0 PDF
    2011 Jun Form 990 $3,067,477 $3,043,940 $2,100,974 $379,954 N $2,577,807 $470,498 $2,127 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    New Haven Ecology Project

    358 SPRINGSIDE AVE
    New Haven, CT 06515-1024