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Towards Employment Incorporated

EIN 34-1578831 · Cleveland, OH

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WE CHAMPION THE POTENTIAL OF EVERY PERSON TO SUCCEED IN A REWARDING CAREER, WHILE WORKING TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE FOR TOMORROW. WE DO THIS BY PROVIDING SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR IN DEMAND JOBS, COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORTS, EXTENDED CAREER COACHING, DIRECT CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYERS, AND ADVOCACY TO PROMOTE MORE EQUITABLE PATHS TO OPPORTUNITY.

Income
$9.4 million
Spending
$7.3 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
6.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 42%
Employees
84
Volunteers
120
Highest pay
$168,742, president & ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 22% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 49% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 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 December 31, 2024, 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. $5.9 million spent. TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT (TE) HAS OVER 48 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE SUCCESSFULLY HELPING PEOPLE GAIN THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO FIND A JOB, NAVIGATE LIFE'S OBSTACLES, AND SECURE A PATH TOWARD A LONG-TERM CAREER - OVER 211,000 PEOPLE SINCE 1976. IN 2024, TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT SERVED 2184 INDIVIDUALS WITH 561 STARTING NEW JOBS AND 160 ADVANCING IN THEIR CAREERS. WE PARTNERED WITH OVER 300 BUSINESSES WHO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR PROVEN TRAINING PROGRAMS AND PERSONAL COACHING TO PREPARE NEW AND CURRENT EMPLOYEES FOR CAREER SUCCESS. TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT IS A LEADING COMMUNITY-BASED WORKFORCE ORGANIZATION IN NORTHEAST OHIO, WORKING TO INFLUENCE THE WIDER SYSTEM, REGIONAL ECONOMY, AND LOCAL COMMUNITY THROUGH EXTENSIVE EXPERTISE AND RELIABLE PARTNERSHIPS. IN 2024 OUR PROGRAMS INCLUDED:COMMUNITY, REENTRY AND YOUNG ADULT SERVICES: - CAREER PATHWAYS: OPEN TO ALL LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME CLEVELANDERS WHO STRUGGLE DUE TO A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND, HISTORY OF ADDICTION, UNSTABLE HOUSING, AND/OR NEED FOR STRENGTHENED FOUNDATIONAL, DIGITAL, AND TECHNICAL SKILLS. - CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM-BASED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMING: PROVIDE CAREER READINESS SERVICES AND CONNECTION TO TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT FOR INMATES WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF RELEASE FROM PRISON AND COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS FACILITIES; AND THEN FURTHER PROGRAMMING AFTER RELEASE AT TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT OFFICES. - YOUNG ADULT: WORKING WITH YOUNG ADULTS 18-24 TO PROVIDE CAREER READINESS SERVICES, WORK EXPERIENCE, TECHNICAL TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES, WITH ONGOING COACHING FOR ADVANCEMENT . INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS: - ACCESS TO MANUFACTURING: WORKING WITH MANUFACTURERS IN NORTHEAST OHIO, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES JOB READINESS AND TECHNICAL TRAINING FOR ENTRY LEVEL MANUFACTURING JOBS AND POST-EMPLOYMENT COACHING FOR RETENTION AND ADVANCEMENT. - ERN: AN EMPLOYER RESOURCE NETWORK IS AN EMPLOYER COLLABORATIVE THAT POOLS RESOURCES TO PROVIDE AN ON-THE-JOB SUCCESS COACH AVAILABLE TO ALL EMPLOYEES TO HELP WITH WORK/LIFE ISSUES AND STRENGTHEN RETENTION. PROGRAMMING AT TOWARDS EMPLOYMENT IS BASED ON A PROVEN, RIGOROUSLY EVALUATED CAREER PATHWAY MODEL CALLED WORKADVANCE WHICH INCLUDES CAREER EXPLORATION AND CAREER READINESS TRAINING, OPTIONS FOR TECHNICAL TRAINING IN AN IN-DEMAND INDUSTRY, AND/OR WORK EXPERIENCE TO GAIN WORK EXPOSURE; JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE AND A YEAR OF POST-EMPLOYMENT COACHING TO HELP GAIN EMPLOYMENT FOOTHOLDS AND ADVANCE OVER TIME IN CAREERS. ALL CANDIDATES RECEIVE INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF WORK (NON-WORK-RELATED ELEMENTS THAT IMPACT AN INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A GIVEN JOB OPPORTUNITY LIKE RELIABLE/AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION AND DEPENDABLE FAMILY CARE) THROUGHOUT THE PATHWAY. SUPPORTIVE SERVICES QUICKLY RESPOND TO INDIVIDUAL NEED AT ANY POINT ALONG THE CAREER PATHWAY - AS THEY COMPLETE TRAINING, GET A JOB, AND KEEP THAT JOB - BY ACCESSING COMMUNITY RESOURCES FIRST OR DIRECTLY PROVIDING SERVICES WHERE NO COMMUNITY RESOURCE EXISTS. SUPPORTS INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, OBTAINING IDS, PROFESSIONAL CLOTHING OR UNIFORMS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NAVIGATION, HEALTH EXAMS, CREDENTIALING FEES, TOOLS, HELP WITH UTILITIES, CHILDCARE, FOOD, HOUSING, OR SERVICES RELATED TO EMERGENCY MEDICAL NEEDS. LEGAL SERVICES, PROVIDED BY TE ATTORNEYS, ASSIST PARTICIPANTS WITH LEGAL COUNSEL OR REPRESENTATION TO REMOVE LEGAL BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT OR JOB RETENTION, INCLUDING EXPUNGEMENTS, CLEARING WARRANTS, MEDIATING CHILD SUPPORT, NAVIGATING FEES AND FINES TO RE-INSTATE DRIVERS' LICENSES, TENANT-LANDLORD AND OTHER HOUSING ISSUES, CREDIT/DEBT, FORECLOSURE, AND BANKRUPTCY. COACHES REMAIN IN REGULAR CONTACT, WITH INTENSIVE FOLLOW-UP FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF EMPLOYMENT, AND THEN AS NEEDED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. POST-EMPLOYMENT CAREER COACHING HELPS PARTICIPANTS PERFORM WELL ON THE JOB AND UNDERSTAND WHAT ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND EDUCATION ARE REQUIRED FOR ADVANCEMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 December 2024.

    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 August 1988.

    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.