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Goodwill of North Georgia Inc

EIN 20-8351046 · Decatur, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair62 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION EXISTS TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT, REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, JOB TRAINING, AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES OR DISADVANTAGING CONDITIONS.

Income
$201.6 million
Spending
$200.4 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
1.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 90%
Employees
5,782
Volunteers
315
Highest pay
$1.2 million, president

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

Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (employment, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 45% 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

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 7% of charities in its peer group (employment, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 18 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

    0 of 10

    Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (6)
  1. $137.1 million spent. STORE SALES - GOODWILL OF NORTH GEORGIA'S MISSION IS TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK. WE ACHIEVE THIS BY PROVIDING A VAST ARRAY OF JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS EACH YEAR. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE SERVED OVER 3.2 MILLION DONORS AT 45 COLLECTION SITES AND SERVED OVER 8 MILLION CUSTOMERS AT 70 GOODWILL STORES. THE PROCEEDS FROM OUR DONATED GOODS PROGRAM HELP FUND OUR MISSION-RELATED PROGRAMS, SERVICES, FOURTEEN CAREER CENTERS ACROSS NORTH GEORGIA, AND CAREERCONNECTOR.ORG. OUR STORES ALSO SERVE AS REAL-WORLD, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING SITES FOR SOME OF OUR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS.
  2. $20.4 million spent. VOCATIONAL SERVICES - PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INCLUDE JOB TRAINING THROUGH REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE, JOB COACHING AND CONTINUED SUPPORT AFTER EMPLOYMENT. WE ALSO OFFER VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN 28 DIFFERENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION, FORKLIFT, CUSTODIAL/FLOOR TECHNOLOGY, AND HOSPITALITY. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, WE SERVED OVER 53,700 PEOPLE AND HELPED OVER 24,595 INDIVIDUALS FIND A JOB OR START A BUSINESS. ADDITIONALLY, WE OPERATE 14 CAREER CENTERS WHICH ARE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND EQUIPPED WITH THE STAFF AND RESOURCES NEEDED FOR JOB SEARCH OR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. OUR PARTICIPANTS AND JOB-SEEKERS INCLUDE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING A HARD TIME FINDING WORK BECAUSE OF PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE, AND EMOTIONAL DISABILITIES; POVERTY; LACK OF WORK EXPERIENCE AND MARKETABLE SKILLS; SUBSTANCE ABUSE; EX-OFFENDER STATUS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER REASONS.
  3. $18.1 million spent. Facility Contracts - These services are primarily government service under the AbilityOne program and private commercial contracts with other not-for-profit entities. Services include janitorial, landscape maintenance, and warehouse management. Services are ongoing as defined by the contract, and performance obligations under each contract are defined in terms of various performance indicators including but not limited to hours worked and units produced. Goodwill invoices the customers receiving the services monthly based on the appropriate performance indicators, and records revenue as the services are performed.
  4. $7.1 million spent. E-COMMERCE
  5. $290,788 spent. SALVAGE
  6. E-COMMERCE - E-COMMERCE SALES INCLUDE SALES OF DONATED BOOKS ON AMAZON, DONATED JEWELRY, AMONG OTHER ITEMS, ON SHOPGOODWILL.COM, AND SHIPPING REVENUE. E-COMMERCE SALES ARE SOLD FOB SHIPPING AND THEREFORE, SALES ARE RECORDED WHEN THE GOODS ARE SHIPPED, THE POINT AT WHICH THE PERFORMANCE OBLIGATION FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL ITEM IS MET. SALVAGE - NOT ALL GOODS DONATED TO OUR MISSION ARE OF THE QUALITY THAT CAN BE SOLD IN OUR THRIFT OPERATIONS. ADDITIONALLY, NOT ALL DONATED GOODS THAT ARE PLACED IN OUR THRIFT STORES FOR SALE ARE PURCHASED. IN ORDER TO CAPTURE AS MUCH REVENUE AS WE CAN FROM IN KIND DONATIONS TO FUND OUR MISSION, A SECONDARY SALVAGE MARKET IS UTILIZED. THE PROCEEDS REALIZED FROM THESE UNSALABLE GOODS ARE ANOTHER REVENUE SOURCE TO FUND MISSION ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BY THE AGENCY.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2007.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.