Good Shepherd Services
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GSS IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN NYC'S MOST UNDERINVESTED COMMUNITIES, AND WORKS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH A STRENGTH-BASED, YOUTH AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH.
- Income
- $119.5 million
- Spending
- $128.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 82%
- Reserves
- 7.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 55%
- Employees
- 2,237
- Volunteers
- 263
- Highest pay
- $436,408, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 73 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 7.4 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 20% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 5% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1582% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (3)
- $63.8 million spent. OUT OF HOME CARE. PROVIDES SAFE, TEMPORARY CARE IN HOMES OF TRAINED FOSTER PARENTS FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES, AND GSS STAFF, KINSHIP PARENTS, AND BIRTH FAMILIES WORK AS A TEAM TO DEVISE A PERMANANCY PLAN FOR EACH CHILD; RESIDENTIAL SERVICES INCLUDING GROUP HOME FOSTER CARE AND COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH; AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR YOUNG ADULTS AGING OUT OF CARE. GSS IN ITS EARLY YEARS FOCUSED ON PROVIDING RESIDENTIAL CARE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO LIVE SAFELY AT HOME. THIS WORK CONTINUES TODAY, SERVING 1,661 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH GROUP HOMES FOR ADOLESCENTS; SUPPORTIVE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS; NON-SECURE DETENTION AND PLACEMENT FACILITIES FOR COURT-INVOLVED YOUTH; AND FAMILY FOSTER CARE AND ADOPTION. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)THE AGENCY PROVIDES A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT, SURROUNDING EACH YOUNG PERSON WITH POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO ADDRESS PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL GROWTH.
- $41.2 million spent. COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. PROVIDES QUALITY AFTER-SCHOOL AND IN-SCHOOL PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITY CENTERS; FAMILY COUNSELING PREVENTIVE SERVICES; AND SECOND-CHANCE HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS. FOR OVER 45 YEARS GSS HAS BEEN DEEPLY ROOTED IN SOME OF NYC'S MOST UNDERINVESTED COMMUNITIES, PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL, AND FAMILY PROGRAMS. A HISTORY OF SUCCESS IS ROOTED IN AN APPROACH THAT INTEGRATES YOUTH AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT AND IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY. GSS SERVES OVER 28,400 PARTICIPANTS THROUGH 79 COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING AFTER-SCHOOL, FAMILY COUNSELING, HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS, BEACON AND PUBLIC HOUSING COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION.
- $724,128 spent. TRAINING SERVICES - GSS PROVIDES TRAINING TO HUMAN SERVICES SOCIAL WORKERS AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES.GSS'S HUMAN SERVICES WORKSHOPS PROVIDES TRAINING FOR SOCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. EACH YEAR OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUALS FROM OVER 100 AGENCIES PARTICIPATE IN DAY-LONG, LOW-COST WORKSHOPS LED BY EXPERIENCED TEACHERS. THE WORKSHOPS FOCUS ON THE STRESSES AND STRATEGIES OF CARING FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS AND ARE DESIGNED TO LEAD TO GROWTH IN PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2015.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.