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Goodwill Industries of West Michigan Inc

EIN 38-1357148 · Muskegon, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood81 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GOODWILL BELIEVES THAT WORK HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM LIVES AND PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE IN ACHIEVING SECURITY, INDEPENDENCE, SELF-WORTH, PRIDE, AND RESPECT. GOODWILL'S VISION IS THAT EVERY PERSON HAS A PATHWAY TO MEANINGFUL AND SUSTAINING WORK. THE AGENCY OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT SERVICES TO FULFILL A DIVERSE SET OF COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND ALSO PROVIDES WRAPAROUND SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS MONEY MANAGEMENT TRAINING, FREE TAX PREPARATION ASSISTANCE, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE REFERRALS. FOR A FULL DESCRIPTION OF GOODWILL'S MISSION-BASED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, PLEASE VISIT GOODWILLWM.ORG.

Income
$30.3 million
Spending
$30.1 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
7.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 74%
Employees
682
Volunteers
162
Highest pay
$234,463, 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: 81 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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 (3)
  1. $21.2 million spent. RETAIL AND DONATED GOODS PROGRAM SERVICES. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF WEST MICHIGAN ACCEPTS DONATED CLOTHING AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD GOODS FROM THE PUBLIC AND SELLS THESE DONATIONS AT GOODWILL'S 18 COMMUNITY-BASED RETAIL AND OUTLET STORES, AS WELL AS ONLINE. THE REVENUE FROM THE SALE OF THESE GOODS SUPPORTS GOODWILL'S MISSION-BASED EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. GOODWILL'S RETAIL DIVISION ALSO PROVIDES TIME-LIMITED ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE ENROLLED IN GOODWILL PROGRAMMING. CLOTHING AND OTHER GOODS NOT SUITABLE FOR RESALE IN GOODWILL STORES ARE SORTED AND SOLD TO VARIOUS RECYCLERS OR SALVAGE BROKERS FOR THE GREATEST VALUE, DIVERTING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FROM THE WASTE STREAM. GOODWILL IS FOCUSED ON MAXIMIZING DONATION VALUE FOR ITS MISSION-BASED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AS WELL AS REDUCING WASTE. IN 2024, GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF WEST MICHIGAN DIVERTED 10.8 MILLION POUNDS OF MATERIAL FROM LOCAL LANDFILLS.
  2. $1.9 million spent. GOODWILL JANITORIAL SERVICES AND SUSTAINABILITY/RECYCLING DIVISION. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF WEST MICHIGAN CREATES EMPLOYMENT AND JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER CHALLENGES TO EMPLOYMENT THROUGH ITS VARIOUS BUSINESS LINES. GOODWILL'S JANITORIAL SERVICES DIVISION PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE JANITORIAL SERVICES, COMMERCIAL FLOOR CARE, AND CARPET CLEANING THROUGH WORK CONTRACTED WITH AREA BUSINESSES. GOODWILL'S SUSTAINABILITY/RECYCLING DIVISION PARTNERS WITH AREA BUSINESSES TO RECYCLE OR RESELL CORPORATE ASSETS SUCH AS OFFICE FURNITURE AND ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTERS. THROUGH A COMBINATION OF RECYCLING AND REUSE PRACTICES, GOODWILL ENSURES EACH DONATED ASSET REACHES ITS BEST DESTINATION FOR MAXIMUM VALUE AND MINIMAL WASTE. THE DIVISION ALSO PROVIDES FREE COMPUTER AND TV RECYCLING TO THE COMMUNITY. COMPUTERS, TVS, AND OTHER COMPUTER-RELATED ELECTRONICS ARE COLLECTED AT GOODWILL RETAIL AND DONATION LOCATIONS AND REFURBISHED OR RECYCLED. THE PROGRAM DIVERTS MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF WASTE FROM MICHIGAN LANDFILLS AND PROVIDES JOB AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER DISADVANTAGES.
  3. $3.2 million spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF WEST MICHIGAN PROVIDES JOB TRAINING AND CAREER SERVICES, AS WELL AS JOB PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND POST-EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER CHALLENGES TO EMPLOYMENT. IN 2024, GOODWILL SERVED 3,327 PEOPLE 413 OF WHOM WERE PLACED INTO COMPETITIVE JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY. GOODWILL OFFERS A BROAD RANGE OF MISSION-BASED TRAINING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO FULFILL A DIVERSE SET OF COMMUNITY NEEDS. SOME PEOPLE FIND THEIR WAY TO GOODWILL BECAUSE OF LIMITED SKILLS OR WORK HISTORY, SOME HAVE PHYSICAL OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, WHILE OTHERS ARE REFERRED BY COLLABORATING PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS. GOODWILL COLLABORATES AND PARTNERS WITH A VARIETY OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY TO ENHANCE AND BROADEN OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES FOR ITS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. IN 2024, GOODWILL LAUNCHED THREE NEW VOCATIONAL CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS WITH FREE, ON-SITE CHILD CARE FOR ITS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. THE NEW CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS ARE: HVAC-R, FORKLIFT OPERATOR, AND CUSTOMER CARE PROFESSIONAL. IN 2024, WE ALSO EXPANDED AND STRENGTHENED OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO OFFER HOUSING ASSISTANCE, CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE CLASSES, AND GED AND HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA INSTRUCTION, ON SITE AT OUR CAREER CENTER.OTHER PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED IN 2024 INCLUDE: EMPOWERING EX-OFFENDERS IN TRANSITION (EXIT) PROGRAM, OFFENDER SUCCESS (OS), SUPPORTIVE TRANSITIONAL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMMING (STEP), JANITORIAL OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING (JOT), SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES (SSVF) PROGRAM, RENTING WITH CONFIDENCE CLASS, AND MORE. THE GOODWILL CAREER CENTER ALSO OFFERS EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND RELATED SUPPORT TO PEOPLE LOOKING FOR WORK, OR SEEKING HELP IN ADVANCING THEIR CAREERS. FREE SERVICES INCLUDE: JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE, RESUME DEVELOPMENT, INTERVIEW COACHING, CAREER EXPLORATION, BASIC COMPUTER TRAINING, AND MORE. ADDITIONALLY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SUPPORTS SUCH AS FINANCIAL LITERACY COACHING AND FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICES FOR LOW- TO MODERATE-INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. IN 2024, GOODWILL'S VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX PROGRAM PROCESSED 2,339 TAX RETURNS RESULTING IN MORE THAN $2.8 MILLION TO THE WEST MICHIGAN COMMUNITY.

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 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 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 June 1951.

    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.