Go Green Chicago NFP Business Plan

GENERAL PURPOSE

The general purpose of GGC (Go Green Chicago NFP) is to promote environmental justice, community beautification, and leadership development throughout the city of Chicago. The organization works to improve neighborhood conditions by organizing community block and alley cleanups, providing environmental education, and engaging residents in efforts that foster healthier and safer lifestyles and communities.

In addition, GGC is committed to empowering young people through employment, all residents through mentorship, leadership development, and community service opportunities designed to reduce violence and build positive pathways for youth and older adults. Through collaborative partnerships, grassroots organizing, volunteer engagement, and community-driven programs, Go Green Chicago seeks to create a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Chicago for all residents.

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FOUNDER’S STORY

Go Green Chicago was founded by Lamon Reccord, a lifelong Chicago resident who began organizing community cleanups as a teenager. In June of 2016, at just 17 years old, Lamon launched what began as a grassroots campaign to beautify neighborhoods on the east side of Chicago, which was inspired by the values he learned growing up about keeping a clean home and taking pride in one’s surroundings. At some given point as a teen, he decided to implement those same principles, morals and values into the communities around him.

What started as a simple act of heartfelt, community service, quickly grew into a community movement. Residents, neighbors, and even local elected officials joined Lamon in organizing block cleanups to restore pride and to improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods. His dedication to community activism and organizing made him a recognizable presence in Chicago.

Lamon’s work gained wider attention in 2017 when he stepped up during moments of tragedy, hardship and trauma. After two separate shootings in the South Shore neighborhood that left six young people shot and killed, Lamon went out and cleaned the streets where the violence had occurred, specifically speaking to him cleaning up the blood off the sidewalk on 71st and South Shore where two young people were murdered, so children wouldn’t see that blood the next day going to school. Additionally cleaning up the blood at Nadia’s Fish and Chicken on 75th street that left four young people murdered.

Lamon was just coming from helping feed communities in Kankakee, IL a short time before the deadly shootings occurred. His actions were not just about sanitation, but about restoring dignity, respect, and peace to spaces affected by violence.

His commitment to community healing and neighborhood pride was recognized by national and local media, including features on Fox 32 Chicago, WGN-TV, CNN, and HLN.

Over the years, Lamon has received recognition for his activism and community service through community awards and certificates. Today, that same passion, purpose, and pursuit continues through Go Green Chicago, but now as a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental justice, youth empowerment, community beautification and leadership across the city.

What began as a teenager’s desire to make his neighborhood better, is now growing into a mission to help create a cleaner, safer, and more hopeful Chicago for literally, EVERYONE.

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MISSION

Our mission is to advance environmental justice and pride by beautifying neighborhoods in Chicago through education, organized cleanups, public sanitation and community engagement.

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VISION

To build a cleaner, and healthier Chicago where communities thrive through environmental justice and collective pride. To have a better lifestyle environmentally and personally inside and outside of our home.

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CORE VALUES

1. Community Pride. We believe every neighborhood deserves to be clean, respected, and cared for. We work alongside residents to restore that pride in the communities we are dedicated to serve.

2. Environmental Justice. We are committed to ensuring all Chicago communities, regardless of zip code, have access to clean, healthy environments and opportunities inside and outside of their homes.

3. Service & Volunteerism. We believe real change happens when people come together, taking the initiative to do what’s right and solve problems together. Our work is driven by volunteers dedicated to improving their communities.

4. Accountability. We uphold responsibility for the neighborhoods we serve and strive to make a lasting, visible impact through consistent action. During community activities, we encourage positive engagement and respectful conversations that promote community accountability.

5. Unity. We bring people from all backgrounds together to work toward a shared goal: a cleaner, healthier Chicago.

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PROGRAMS

BCU (Block Clean-Up) Program

Purpose:
To remove litter, beautify streets, and restore pride in Chicago neighborhoods.

Description:
The BCU Program organizes community volunteers to clean and maintain streets, sidewalks, and public spaces. By keeping neighborhoods clean, we foster a sense of pride, positive impacts on mental health, responsibility, and environmental awareness among residents.

Activities:

Community cleanup events
Volunteer block teams
Trash and debris removal
Gardening and landscaping

Goals:

Improve neighborhood cleanliness and aesthetics
Foster community pride and engagement
Encourage long-term volunteerism and environmental responsibility

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2. Alley Restoration Program

Purpose:
To revitalize Chicago’s often-neglected alleys, making them cleaner, safer, and more functional for the city.

Description:
This program targets alleys across the city for cleanup, potentially graffiti removal, and waste management. By restoring these spaces, we help reduce health hazards, improve sanitation, and create safer paths for residents.

Activities:

Alley cleanups
Waste removal initiatives
Graffiti and vandalism cleanup
Collaborating with city services for proper disposal

Goals:

Eliminate waste buildup in alleys
Reduce health and safety risks but improve community safety
Encourage community stewardship of shared spaces

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3. GGC Youth Employment Program

Purpose:
To provide employment, mentorship, and positive opportunities for young people who may be at risk of becoming victims or suspects of gun violence by engaging them in neighborhood beautification and environmental projects.

Description:
The GGC Youth Employment Program hires and trains young people to participate in block cleanups, alley restoration, and community beautification projects throughout the city of Chicago. Participants gain work experience, leadership skills, and a sense of ownership over their communities while helping create cleaner and safer neighborhoods.

Activities:

Paid youth cleanup crews (Starting at $15/Hour)
Alley and block beautification projects
Environmental leadership training
Mentorship from community leaders
Life skills and job readiness workshops

Goals:

Provide positive employment opportunities for youth
Reduce involvement in violence by creating constructive alternatives
Develop future community leaders
Improve neighborhood environments across Chicago
Help young people learn to have pride in their community and teach work ethic, passion and purpose.

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4. AALC (All-Age Leadership and Coaching) Program

Purpose:
To develop strong leaders by providing mentorship, guidance, and personal development opportunities for people of all ages across Chicago.

Description:
The All-Age Leadership & Coaching Program equips people with leadership skills, confidence, and mentorship needed to become positive influences in their communities. Through coaching sessions, workshops, masterclasses and community service involvement, residents are empowered to grow into responsible leaders while helping improve their neighborhoods.

Activities:

Leadership growth and development workshops and masterclasses
One-on-one mentorship and coaching
Conflict resolution and decision-making training
Community service leadership opportunities
Public speaking and personal development sessions

Goals:

Develop confident and responsible young leaders
Provide mentorship and positive role models
Strengthen decision making and life skills
Empower youth to become agents of change in their communities

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5. PHS - (Public Hygiene and Sanitation) Program

Purpose:
To promote public health and environmental cleanliness by sanitizing high-traffic public spaces such as public transportation areas, storefronts, and community facilities across Chicago.

Description:
The Public Sanitation & Hygiene Program focuses on improving cleanliness and reducing health risks in shared public environments. Through organized sanitation efforts, Go Green Chicago NFP works to disinfect and maintain frequently used spaces such as buses, bus stops, trains, train stations, local businesses, and community centers. This program helps create safer, healthier environments while reinforcing community pride and responsibility.

Activities:

Sanitizing high-touch surfaces in public spaces
Cleaning and disinfecting bus stops and train platforms
Partnering with local businesses to maintain clean storefronts
Distributing hygiene supplies (gloves, sanitizer, wipes)
Community sanitation awareness campaigns

Goals:

Improve public health and reduce the spread of germs in shared spaces
Maintain cleaner, safer public environments
Build partnerships with local businesses and transit systems
Increase community awareness around hygiene and cleanliness

(Future Focuses: Air quality, water infrastructure, climate & heat.)

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PLAN OF ACTION

Citywide Movement Strategy

This is how Go Green Chicago NFP seeks to grow from local cleanups → citywide impact.

The Clean Chicago Movement

Go Green Chicago will expand its impact through a citywide initiative called The Clean Up Chicago Movement, a community-driven effort to mobilize residents, youth, and organizations to beautify neighborhoods across the city.

The movement will focus on three strategies:

Neighborhood Action Teams

Local volunteer teams will be organized within communities and zip codes to lead block cleanups, alley restorations, and beautification projects in their own neighborhoods. This will be grounded around canvassing and phone banking. Signing residents up and keeping the lines of communication open to ensure community involvement.

Youth Green Crews

Through the Youth Employment Program, young people will soon be hired and trained to participate in environmental work while gaining leadership skills and employment experience. Volunteering will be the first opportunity due to limited funds as a starting out nonprofit organization.

Community Partnerships

Go Green Chicago NFP will collaborate with schools, churches, neighborhood groups, political officials and local businesses to coordinate citywide cleanup events and environmental education initiatives.

By empowering residents and youth to take pride in their communities, the Clean Up Chicago Movement aims to create lasting neighborhood transformation across the city.

Grant-Winning Funding Strategy

This section shows how the organization sustains itself financially. Go Green Chicago NFP will sustain and expand its programs through a diversified funding strategy that includes grants, donations, sponsorships, and community partnerships.

Grants

GGC will pursue local, state, and national grants focused on environmental justice, youth employment, community development, and violence prevention.

Corporate Sponsorships

Partnerships with businesses will support community cleanup events, youth employment initiatives, and neighborhood beautification projects.

Individual Donations

Residents and supporters will be encouraged to contribute through online donations and community fundraising efforts.

City and Community Partnerships

Go Green Chicago NFP will work with city agencies, local leaders, and community organizations to expand program reach and coordinate neighborhood improvement initiatives.

Through this multi-layered funding approach, Go Green Chicago NFP will continue to build sustainable programs that improve neighborhoods and empower Chicago residents.

MARKETING STRATEGY

Go Green Chicago NFP will implement a high-impact, community-centered marketing strategy designed to drive awareness, engagement, and measurable community impact. Our approach leverages visual storytelling, strategic partnerships, and consistent on-the-ground presence to demonstrate tangible environmental and public health outcomes.

Digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, will be used to amplify real-time results through before-and-after transformations, volunteer engagement, and public sanitation initiatives. This content will reinforce transparency, build trust, and inspire community participation.

Simultaneously, Go Green Chicago NFP will cultivate partnerships with local businesses, schools, and community-based organizations to expand outreach and establish credibility. Community activations, such as organized cleanups and sanitation efforts in high-traffic public spaces will serve as both direct service delivery and organic marketing channels.

To ensure accountability and continuous growth, Go Green Chicago NFP will track the following key performance indicators (KPIs):

Community Impact: Number of cleanups conducted daily, weekly and monthly; volume of waste removed; number of public spaces serviced
Engagement: Social media reach, shares, and follower growth across platforms
Volunteer Involvement: Number of active volunteers and volunteer retention rate
Partnership Growth: Number of partnerships established with local businesses and organizations
Funding Support: Donations received, sponsorships secured, and in-kind contributions

This integrated, data-driven strategy ensures that Go Green Chicago not only raises awareness but also delivers measurable results, positioning the organization as a trusted and accountable leader in environmental sustainability and community improvement.

START-UP FUNDING

501(C)3 Filing with the IRS (Tax-Exempt Status 1023-EZ): $275.00
Website Domain and Monthly Hosting (2 years): $730.00
Professional Business Emails (Designed for Board of Directors, 2 years):
$576.00
Marketing and Materials (Flyers, business cards, graphic designing): $1,200
55-60 gallon heavy-duty trash bags (Item #901-420456 - 100xBox/4 boxes/$58.00 each box): $232.00
22” Steam leaf rake (item #901-24394756 - $38.00 each/6 rakes): $228.00
Black & Decker 12amp Blower Vacuum (Item #901-1948649 - $147.00 each/2): $294.00
Sun Joe 10amp Electric Blower (Item #901-24011342 - $60.00 each/4 blowers): $240.00
Metal Shovel (Item #901-1024458MUT - $39.00 each/4 shovels): $156.00
Wood handle shovel (Item #901-24469250 - $63.00 each/4 shovels) $252.00
Heavy duty broom and dustpan (Item #901-24647223 - $31.00 each/6 sets) $186.00
Black industrial gloves (Item #901-24462858 - 100xBox - 100xbox/6 boxes/$26.00 each box): $158.00
18” outdoor push broom (Item #901-24647217 - $28.00 each/5 brooms): $140.00
Lysol commercial disinfect deodorizing, concentrate 128oz bottle (Item #901-76185 - $40.00 each/4 bottles) $160.00
Spray bottle with trigger (Item #901-350245802 - 3 bottles per pack/$24.00 each pack) $72.00
Transportation (GGC doesn’t have a vehicle yet, but it does cost to pay others to take us to our destination to implement our community work.) $1,000.00

PLEASE NOTE: Prices are from Quill.com, a trusted partner and business. Prices are reflected after tax with dollar estimates including shipping and handling. Each business account with Quill vary’s. Prices given are from GGC accounts with Quill.

START UP FUND TOTAL: $5,323.00 - EIN 41-5105616

Go Green Chicago NFP Start Up Fund

Beautifying Chicago. One Block, One Alley, Everyday.