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Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan Inc

EIN 38-1558550 · Kalamazoo, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood82 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TAILORED TO INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

Income
$13.3 million
Spending
$14.6 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
454

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: 82 out of 100. Higher than 68% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 10% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 10% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% 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. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 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.

  • 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. $10.3 million spent. OUR COMMERCIAL SERVICES DIVISION IS BEST KNOWN TO THE PUBLIC. IT BENEFITS FROM COMMUNITY DONATIONS OF GENTLY USED CLOTHING, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, TOYS, WORKING ELECTRONICS, CARS, AND OTHER VEHICLES. DONATIONS ARE PROCESSED AND RESOLD IN OUR GOODWILL RETAIL OUTLETS. OUR WORKERS USE THESE DONATIONS TO LEARN VALUABLE WORK SKILLS. THEIR JOBS INCLUDE COLLECTING, SORTING, PROCESSING, PRICING, STOCKING, AND SELLING THESE ITEMS. THE REVENUES GENERATED BY GOODWILL RETAIL OUTLETS PROVIDE OUR WORKERS' WAGES AND FUND GOODWILL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. TOTAL REVENUE IN 2024 FOR COMMERCIAL SERVICES IS 11,123,519 .
  2. $1.4 million spent. GOODWILL PROVIDED 3,735 PEOPLE WITH SERVICES OF EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES IN 2023. THESE SERVICES INCLUDED EMPLOYMENT/CAREER COACHING, FINANCIAL LITERACY SERVICES, ADULT LITERACY SERVICES, VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS AND COUNSELING, COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATION AND A 20 YEAR COMMITMENT TO FAMILIES WHO WANT TO EXIT POVERTY WITH A CHILD 0-3 CALLED LIFE GUIDES. LIFE GUIDES OF SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN PROVIDES A LIFE COACH FOR FAMILIES WITH A SMALL CHILD. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM IS FOR THE CHILD (0-3) TO GRADUATE FROM A POST-SECONDARY PROGRAM AND OBTAIN A LIVING WAGE POSITION, THUS BREAKING THE POVERTY CYCLE FOR THAT FAMILY. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY AND A POVERTY FAMILY IS TIME FRAME. LIFE GUIDE COACHES WORK WITH THE FAMILY TO DEVELOP MIDDLE AND LONG TERM GOAL SETTING BY HELPING THE FAMILY RID THEMSELVES OF THE DAILY CRISIS SITUATIONS THAT LEAD TO POOR DECISIONS FOR THE LONG TERM. GOODWILL PROVIDED 3,735 PEOPLE WITH SERVICES OF EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES IN 2023. THESE SERVICES INCLUDED EMPLOYMENT/CAREER COACHING, FINANCIAL LITERACY SERVICES, ADULT LITERACY SERVICES, VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS AND COUNSELING, COMMUNITY RESOURCE NAVIGATION AND A 20 YEAR COMMITMENT TO FAMILIES WHO WANT TO EXIT POVERTY WITH A CHILD 0-3 CALLED LIFE GUIDES. LIFE GUIDES OF SOUTHWESTERN MICHIGAN PROVIDES A LIFE COACH FOR FAMILIES WITH A SMALL CHILD. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM IS FOR THE CHILD (0-3) TO GRADUATE FROM A POST-SECONDARY PROGRAM AND OBTAIN A LIVING WAGE POSITION, THUS BREAKING THE POVERTY CYCLE FOR THAT FAMILY. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY AND A POVERTY FAMILY IS TIME FRAME. LIFE GUIDE COACHES WORK WITH THE FAMILY TO DEVELOP MIDDLE AND LONG TERM GOAL SETTING BY HELPING THE FAMILY RID THEMSELVES OF THE DAILY CRISIS SITUATIONS THAT LEAD TO POOR DECISIONS FOR THE LONG TERM.
  3. $1.3 million spent. GOODWILL PROVIDES AREA BUSINESSES WITH MANUFACTURING SERVICES WHILE PROVIDING WORK EXPERIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE WE SERVE. AS WITH OUR RETAIL OPERATIONS, GOODWILL USES THE REVENUES FROM OUR CONTRACT MANUFACTURING SERVICES DIVISION FOR ITS EDUCATION AND CAREER SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND DISADVANTAGES SUCH AS WELFARE DEPENDENCY, HOMELESSNESS, AND LACK OF EDUCATION OR WORK EXPERIENCE. THE CUSTODIAL SERVICES DIVISION OFFERS THE RESOURCES TO PROVIDE LOCAL BUSINESSES WITH JANITORIAL SERVICES.

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 1958.

    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.