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Goodwill Industries of Northeast Indiana Inc

EIN 35-1905018 · Fort Wayne, IN

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF NORTHEAST INDIANA, INC. EMPOWERS AND PREPARES PEOPLE FOR INDEPENDENCE THROUGH TRAINING, PERSONAL GROWTH AND WORK.

Income
$12.6 million
Spending
$12.9 million
Spent on programs
92%
Reserves
1.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
379
Volunteers
34
Highest pay
$139,541, president &

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 69% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 0% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    92% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 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, 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. $11.8 million spent. GOODWILL WAS FOUNDED IN 1902 IN BOSTON, MA BY REV. EDGAR J. HELMS, A METHODIST MINISTER AND EARLY SOCIAL INNOVATOR. THE GOODWILL TRACES ITS FORT WAYNE ROOTS BACK TO 1936, WHEN REVEREND HELMS PROPOSED A FEDERATION OF GOODWILL INDUSTRIES AGENCIES ACROSS NORTHERN INDIANA. THE FORT WAYNE GOODWILL WAS INCORPORATED AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH THE INDIANA SECRETARY OF STATE IN 1937 AND OPENED ITS DOORS ON JANUARY 3, 1938. LOCALLY HEADQUARTERED IN FORT WAYNE, GOODWILL EMPOWERS AND PREPARES PEOPLE FOR INDEPENDENCE THROUGH TRAINING, PERSONAL GROWTH AND WORK. WE BELIEVE THAT WORK IS THE KEY FACTOR IN THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE DESIRABLE LIFE OUTCOMES. GOODWILL IS OPERATING UNDER ITS TENTH CONSECUTIVE 3-YEAR ACCREDITATION FROM THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES (CARF) FOR COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND JOB DEVELOPMENT. VALUING COLLABORATION, GOODWILL WORKS WITH THE STATE DIVISION OF DISABILITY & REHABILITATION SERVICES; TRANSITION PARTNERS OF NORTHEAST INDIANA WALGREENS REDI PROGRAM; MULTIPLE NORTHEAST INDIANA SCHOOL SYSTEMS; INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES; DELL; GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL; AND THE UNITED STATES PROBATION & PRETRIAL SERVICES, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA. GOODWILL COMPLIES WITH MANDATED EEOC AND INDIANA CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION REGULATIONS AND INTERNAL CULTURAL COMPETENCY STANDARDS TO STRENGTHEN ITS WORKFORCE DIVERSITY. PARTNERING WITH AGENCIES ACROSS NORTHERN INDIANA (OPPORTUNITY ENTERPRISES, LOGAN COMMUNITY RESOURCES, PATHFINDERS AND CORVILLA), GOODWILL PROVIDED PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES TO YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES AGES 14-22 IN 2025. GOODWILL'S SERVICE AREA COVERS 9 NORTHEAST INDIANA COUNTIES-ALLEN, ADAMS, DEKALB, HUNTINGTON, LAGRANGE, NOBLE, STEUBEN, WELLS, AND WHITLEY PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING AND JOBS FOR PEOPLE WHO FACE BARRIERS TO FINDING AND KEEPING A JOB, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, AND PEOPLE WITH LIMITED EDUCATION OR WORK HISTORY. GOODWILL'S MISSION IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ALL WITH ONE GOAL-TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER DISADVANTAGES BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL, PRODUCTIVE, AND INDEPENDENT. GOODWILL RELIES UPON THE SALES OF DONATED ITEMS TO CREATE JOBS AND FUND OUR PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, DISADVANTAGES, AND OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. IN FACT, 92 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR IS REINVESTED BACK INTO OUR NORTHEAST INDIANA COMMUNITY THROUGH JOBS, SERVICES AND PROGRAM RELATED EXPENSE. SIMPLY PUT, DONATIONS HELP GOODWILL CREATE JOBS AND PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, AND WE BELIEVE THAT WORKHAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM LIVES. MORE THAN 3,389,725 POUNDS OF DONATED TEXTILES, SHOES, CARDBOARD, BOOKS AND OTHER GOODS UNSUITABLE FOR SALE IN THE GOODWILL STORES WERE REPURPOSED OR RECYCLED AND KEPT OUT OF THE WASTE STREAM. GOODWILL HAS BEEN A PIONEER OF THE "REDUCE, REUSE, REPURPOSE" PRACTICE OF UNWANTED, BUT STILL USABLE, ITEMS TO HELP CREATE A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT. NEARLY 53,992 POUNDS OF METAL PRODUCTS WERE RECYCLED AND DIVERTED FROM AREA LANDFILLS IN 2025. COMPUTER COMPONENTS ARE RECYCLED THROUGH THE DELL RECONNECT PROGRAM AS WELL. GOODWILL WAS FOUNDED IN 1902 IN BOSTON, MA BY REV. EDGAR J. HELMS, A METHODIST MINISTER AND EARLY SOCIAL INNOVATOR. THE GOODWILL TRACES ITS FORT WAYNE ROOTS BACK TO 1936, WHEN REVEREND HELMS PROPOSED A FEDERATION OF GOODWILL INDUSTRIES AGENCIES ACROSS NORTHERN INDIANA. THE FORT WAYNE GOODWILL WAS INCORPORATED AS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH THE INDIANA SECRETARY OF STATE IN 1937 AND OPENED ITS DOORS ON JANUARY 3, 1938. LOCALLY HEADQUARTERED IN FORT WAYNE, GOODWILL EMPOWERS AND PREPARES PEOPLE FOR INDEPENDENCE THROUGH TRAINING, PERSONAL GROWTH AND WORK. WE BELIEVE THAT WORK IS THE KEY FACTOR IN THE ABILITY OF PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE DESIRABLE LIFE OUTCOMES. GOODWILL IS OPERATING UNDER ITS TENTH CONSECUTIVE 3-YEAR ACCREDITATION FROM THE COMMISSION ON ACCREDITATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES (CARF) FOR COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND JOB DEVELOPMENT. VALUING COLLABORATION, GOODWILL WORKS WITH THE STATE DIVISION OF DISABILITY & REHABILITATION SERVICES; TRANSITION PARTNERS OF NORTHEAST INDIANA WALGREENS REDI PROGRAM; MULTIPLE NORTHEAST INDIANA SCHOOL SYSTEMS; INDIANA ASSOCIATION OF REHABILITATION FACILITIES; DELL; GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL; AND THE UNITED STATES PROBATION & PRETRIAL SERVICES, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF INDIANA. GOODWILL COMPLIES WITH MANDATED EEOC AND INDIANA CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION REGULATIONS AND INTERNAL CULTURAL COMPETENCY STANDARDS TO STRENGTHEN ITS WORKFORCE DIVERSITY. PARTNERING WITH AGENCIES ACROSS NORTHERN INDIANA (OPPORTUNITY ENTERPRISES, LOGAN COMMUNITY RESOURCES, PATHFINDERS AND CORVILLA), GOODWILL PROVIDED PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES TO YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES AGES 14-22 IN 2025. GOODWILL'S SERVICE AREA COVERS 9 NORTHEAST INDIANA COUNTIES-ALLEN, ADAMS, DEKALB, HUNTINGTON, LAGRANGE, NOBLE, STEUBEN, WELLS, AND WHITLEY PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, JOB TRAINING AND JOBS FOR PEOPLE WHO FACE BARRIERS TO FINDING AND KEEPING A JOB, INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, RECIPIENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, AND PEOPLE WITH LIMITED EDUCATION OR WORK HISTORY. GOODWILL'S MISSION IS CARRIED OUT THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, ALL WITH ONE GOAL-TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER DISADVANTAGES BECOME MORE SUCCESSFUL, PRODUCTIVE, AND INDEPENDENT. GOODWILL RELIES UPON THE SALES OF DONATED ITEMS TO CREATE JOBS AND FUND OUR PROGRAMS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, DISADVANTAGES, AND OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. IN FACT, 92 CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR IS REINVESTED BACK INTO OUR NORTHEAST INDIANA COMMUNITY THROUGH JOBS, SERVICES AND PROGRAM RELATED EXPENSE. SIMPLY PUT, DONATIONS HELP GOODWILL CREATE JOBS AND PUT PEOPLE BACK TO WORK, AND WE BELIEVE THAT WORKHAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM LIVES. MORE THAN 3,389,725 POUNDS OF DONATED TEXTILES, SHOES, CARDBOARD, BOOKS AND OTHER GOODS UNSUITABLE FOR SALE IN THE GOODWILL

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 June 1994.

    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.