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Goodwill Legacy Group Foundation Inc

EIN 23-7148440 · Indianapolis, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong95 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S PURPOSE IS TO SOLICIT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND TO DISBURSE SUCH FUNDS TO SUPPORT GOODWILL LEGACY GROUP (GLG), GOODWILL EDUCATION INITIATIVES, INC. (GEI), AND GOODWILL OF PUERTO RICO (GPR) TO HELP ESTABLISH NEW PROGRAMS OR SERVICES FOR DISABLED AND DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN INDIANA, FURTHER GLG'S EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS, PROVIDE COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS TO QUALIFYING GRADUATES OF GEI'S CHARTER SCHOOLS AND ATTRACT PROMISING COLLEGE STUDENTS TO CAREERS IN HUMAN SERVICES BY PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS.

Income
$13.2 million
Spending
$15.7 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
41.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
0
Volunteers
41
Highest pay
$786,620, president & ceo

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

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 41.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 245% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 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: 95 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    41 of 41 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $14.2 million spent. GOODWILL LEGACY GROUP (GLG) AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES, GW COMMERCIAL SERVICES, INC. (GWCS), GOODWILL EDUCATION INITIATIVES, INC. (GEI), AND GOODWILL OF PUERTO RICO (GPR) TOGETHER WITH GOODWILL LEGACY GROUP FOUNDATION (THE FOUNDATION) (COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS (GOODWILL) ARE INDIANA NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT OFFER EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND RELATED SERVICES TO DISADVANTAGED ADULTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGHOUT CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN INDIANA. GOODWILL DEFINES DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS AS THOSE WITH A BARRIER TO EMPLOYMENT SUCH AS A DISABILITY, A CRIMINAL HISTORY, AND/OR A LOW EDUCATION LEVEL (LESS THAN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA).-CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O- GOODWILL'S MANAGEMENT ENCOURAGES INTERESTED READERS TO READ THE FORM 990 TAX RETURNS OF ALL RELATED ENTITIES IN ORDER TO OBTAIN COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXEMPT ACTIVITIES, OPERATIONS, AND INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF THE COLLECTIVE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN INDIANA GOODWILL ORGANIZATIONS. GLG OPERATES FOUR DISTINCT ENTERPRISE DIVISIONS, DESCRIBED BELOW. GLG'S RETAIL OPERATION COLLECTS DONATIONS OF USED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND SELLS THEM THROUGH A NETWORK OF 73 THRIFT STORES AND FOUR WAREHOUSE OUTLET CENTERS. EXCESS AND UNSALABLE DONATED ITEMS ARE SOLD THROUGH SALVAGE AND RECYCLING CHANNELS. UNIQUE AND HIGH-VALUE ITEMS, JEWELRY AND BOOKS ARE OFTEN SOLD THROUGH E-COMMERCE CHANNELS. THE RETAIL OPERATION ALSO ACCEPTS AND SELLS DONATED AUTOMOBILES, USING A THIRD PARTY FOR VEHICLE TOWING AND AUCTION SERVICES. THE RETAIL OPERATION EMPLOYS 3,824 INDIVIDUALS, MORE THAN 67% OF WHOM HAVE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. THESE OPERATIONS ALSO GENERATE REVENUE AND CASH FLOW THAT FUND A LARGE PORTION OF GLG'S OTHER MISSION-RELATED OPERATIONS AND ITS GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. GLG'S COMMERCIAL SERVICES (CS) OPERATION PROVIDES A VARIETY OF OUTSOURCE PACKAGING, ASSEMBLY, AND FULFILLMENT SERVICES TO EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS, EMPLOYING OVER 430 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER BARRIERS. GLG'S MISSION ADVANCEMENT (MA) OPERATION PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, COUNSELING, TRAINING, EDUCATION, JOB COACHING, JOB PLACEMENT, AND RELATED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR DISABLED, DISADVANTAGED, UNEMPLOYED AND UNDER EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO FIND AND RETAIN EMPLOYMENT AND INCREASE THEIR ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY. MA ALSO MANAGES PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE HOLISTIC WHOLE-FAMILY SERVICES TO GOODWILL'S LOW-WAGE WORKERS, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE CS AND MA SEGMENTS OF GOODWILL LEGACY GROUP ARE FUNDED BY A COMBINATION OF CONTRACTS WITH EXTERNAL CUSTOMERS, SERVICE CONTRACTS WITH FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES, UNITED WAY GRANTS, PRIVATE GRANTS AND GIFTS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FOUNDATIONS, AND SUBSIDIES FROM GLG'S RETAIL OPERATION. GOODWILL STRIVES TO PLACE MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS IT SERVES THROUGH ITS MISSION ADVANCEMENT DIVISION IN EMPLOYMENT WITH EXTERNAL EMPLOYERS. IN MANY INSTANCES, INDIVIDUALS MAY WORK AT GOODWILL IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES TO GAIN WORK EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, JOB AND INCOME STABILITY, AND SOFT SKILLS NECESSARY TO BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN EMPLOYMENT WITH OTHER EMPLOYERS. INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER BARRIERS MADE UP MORE THAN 61% OF GOODWILL'S TOTAL WORKFORCE OF MORE THAN 4,900 EMPLOYEES IN 2025. EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER BARRIERS RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT DESIGNED TO ASSIST THEM IN DAILY LIVING, FINANCIAL DECISIONS, TRANSPORTATION, LIFE SKILLS, COMMUNICATIONS, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND OTHER CRITICAL NEEDS FOR THE NEARLY 14% OF GOODWILL'S WORKFORCE THAT HAS A CRIMINAL HISTORY, GOODWILL PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT AND RELATED SERVICES TO HELP THEM RE-ESTABLISH A WORK AND EARNINGS HISTORY, DEVELOP JOB AND LIFE SKILLS AND REDUCE THE RISK OF RECIDIVISM. GLG IS OPERATED UNDER COMMON MANAGEMENT WITH GLG'S COMMERCIAL SERVICES OPERATIONS AND PROVIDES REHABILITATIVE TRAINING AND JOBS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES, PRIMARILY THROUGH SERVICE CONTRACTS WITH VARIOUS FEDERAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES PURSUANT TO ABILITY ONE (FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE JAVITS-WAGNER-O'DAY ACT OF 1971). ABILITY ONE REQUIRES CERTAIN FEDERAL GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES TO PURCHASE SELECTED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, VIA SUCH CONTRACTS, FROM NON-PROFIT AGENCIES EMPLOYING BLIND OR SIGNIFICANTLY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES. AT YEAR END 2025, GWCS OPERATED 10 ABILITY ONE CONTRACTS AT GOVERNMENT SITES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN INDIANA AND EMPLOYED APPROXIMATELY 118 PEOPLE WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES. 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, ONE EXCELS CENTER OCCUPIES 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, 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 900 STU

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 February 1972.

    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.