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Passes our checks

Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania

EIN 25-1098928 · Pittsburgh, PA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GOODWILL OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA IS A HUMAN SERVICE AGENCY AND NETWORK OF NOT-FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES WHOSE MISSION IS TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES, ADVANCE REUSE AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND EMPOWER PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR POTENTIAL. SEE CONTINUATION ON SCHEDULE O.AS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST DIVERSE SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE REGION, GOODWILL OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA SERVES THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR AND HELPS THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS FIND JOBS.

Income
$86.7 million
Spending
$82.5 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
3.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 80%
Employees
2,079
Volunteers
237
Highest pay
$286,163, ex-officio

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: 70 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 58% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 5% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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 42% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    18 of 19 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 (3)
  1. $60.9 million spent. DONATED GOODS & RETAIL: GOODWILL OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA OPERATES MORE THAN 30 COMMUNITY THRIFT STORES ACROSS ITS SERVICE TERRITORY AND ALSO OPERATES A ROBUST E-COMMERCE PLATFORM WITH A NATIONAL REACH WHICH PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT TO OVER 900 PEOPLE INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT WHO ARE SERVED THROUGH OUR MISSION SERVICES PROGRAMS AND OTHER PARTNERING PROVIDERS IN OUR REGION. THE DONATED GOODS RETAIL OPERATION KEEPS MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF USABLE GOODS OUT OF LANDFILLS ANNUALLY, PROVIDES JOBS FOR THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS, MAINTAINS A STEADY FLOW OF AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY ITEMS AVAILABLE FOR RESALE, AND GENERATES REVENUE THAT IS MEASURABLY RETURNED TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH POSITIVE LIFE-CHANGING MISSION SERVICES.
  2. $11.6 million spent. MISSION SERVICES: GOODWILL OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PROVIDES A BROAD ARRAY OF EMPLOYMENT-RELATED EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR OVER 12,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY WHO EXPERIENCE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL AND/OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES, DISPLACED WORKERS, PARTICIPANTS IN WELFARE-TO-WORK PROGRAMS, PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, HAVE LIMITED WORK EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION, JOB SKILLS OR TRAINING, YOUTH AND OLDER WORKERS, AND PEOPLE WITH CRIMINAL BACKGROUNDS. GOODWILL SWPA'S EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROGRAMS ARE ACCREDITED BY CARF, AN INDEPENDENT, NON-PROFIT ACCREDITING BODY WHOSE OFFICIAL CERTIFICATION IS A MARK OF DISTINCTION AMONG AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE SUCH SERVICES.
  3. $2.8 million spent. MISSION LOGISTICS: GOODWILL SWPA OPERATES A TRANSPORTATION COMPANY THAT PROVIDES 100% OF THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF THE DONATED GOODS & RETAIL SYSTEM AND THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS IN OUR LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL MARKETS. REVENUES GENERATED BY MISSION LOGISTICS SUPPORT THE OVERALL MISSION OF GOODWILL OF SOUTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS THROUGH JOBS AND JOB TRAINING IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY.

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 November 6, 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 May 1976.

    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 November 4, 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.