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Goodwill Education Initiatives Inc

EIN 20-0749885 · Indianapolis, IN

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS TO ENHANCE THEIR SUCCESS IN LIFE AND WORK; TO DEVELOP, OWN, AND OPERATE ONE OR MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Income
$44.3 million
Spending
$44.0 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 85%
Employees
514
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$786,620, ceo - goodwill legacy group

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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports 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 (1)
  1. $36.9 million spent. SEE SCHEDULE O.GOODWILL EDUCATION INITIATIVES (GEI) PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES DESIGNED TO ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULTS TO ENHANCE THEIR SUCCESS IN LIFE AND WORK. GOODWILL LEGACY GROUP (GLG ), A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION RELATED TO GEI, FORMED GEI IN 2004 IN RESPONSE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER SERVICES AT GOODWILL WITH LIMITED CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AND WITHOUT A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. GEI OPERATES THE INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN HIGH SCHOOL (THE MET), A PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL IN AN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED URBAN AREA IN INDIANAPOLIS UNDER THE INDIANA CHARTER SCHOOL LAWS AND THE CHARTERING AUTHORITY OF THE MAYOR OF INDIANAPOLIS. GEI ALSO OPERATES THE EXCEL CENTERS, INDIANA PUBLIC CHARTER HIGH SCHOOLS PRIMARILY SERVING ADULTS WHO PREVIOUSLY DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND WHO WISH TO OBTAIN THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. THE MET AND ONE EXCEL CENTER LOCATION OCCUPY SPACE IN GOODWILL'S INDIANAPOLIS HEADQUARTERS BUILDING. TWO EXCEL CENTERS OCCUPY SPACE OWNED BY GLG, TWO EXCEL CENTERS OCCUPY SPACE OWNED BY GEI, AND THE OTHER EXCEL CENTERS LEASE SPACE FROM THIRD PARTIES. GEI CONTRACTS WITH GOODWILL FOR CERTAIN BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING HUMAN RESOURCES, SAFETY & SECURITY, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, FACILITIES, FINANCE, AND MARKETING. THE EXCEL CENTERS OPERATED IN 18 LOCATIONS IN CENTRAL INDIANA IN FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025.THE MET PRIMARILY SERVES STUDENTS WHO ARE IN FOSTER CARE, HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AND/OR HAVE STRUGGLED IN OTHER SCHOOL SETTINGS.SINCE INCEPTION, MORE THAN 700 STUDENTS HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE MET, AND 64% OF THOSE GRADUATES HAVE GONE ON TO SOME FORM OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR TRAINING AND REMAIN IN SCHOOL TWO YEARS AFTER GRADUATION.THE EXCEL CENTER OPENED ITS FIRST LOCATION IN AUGUST 2010 AND COMPLETED ITS FIFTEENTH YEAR OF OPERATIONS ON JUNE 30, 2025. DUE TO THE HIGH DEMAND FOR ITS SERVICES, THE EXCEL CENTER HAS EXPANDED TO 18 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN INDIANA AND STUDENT ENROLLMENT HAS GROWN TO OVER 4,600 STUDENTS. SINCE INCEPTION OVER 9,500 STUDENTS HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE EXCEL CENTER. STUDENTS HAVE VARYING DEGREES OF ACADEMIC CREDITS AND CAPABILITIES WHEN THEY ENROLL.EXCEL CENTER STUDENTS ATTEND CLASSES AND CONNECT WITH A LIFE COACH WHO HELPS THEM NAVIGATE THE BARRIERS THAT STAND IN THE WAY OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT. DEMAND FOR EXCEL CENTER ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO EXCEED CAPACITY. AS A RESULT, GEI PLANS TO OPEN ADDITIONAL FACILITIES AS INDIANA LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC FUNDING ALLOWS.

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

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. 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 September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2004.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.