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Goodwill Industries of Greater Grand Rapids Inc

EIN 38-6113049 · Grandville, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

OUR MISSION IS: "CHANGING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE POWER OF WORK." WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY PROVIDING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO EMPLOYEES AND PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WHO COME FROM OUR COMMUNITY. THESE SERVICES INCREASE WORK AND LIFE SKILLS, ADD NEW JOB SKILLS, ADDRESS WORK BARRIERS, AND PROVIDE CAREER PLANNING AND SUPPORT TO ASSIST PEOPLE TOWARDS THEIR FULLEST WORK POTENTIAL. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS HELPS INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) DISABILITY, POVERTY, OFFENDER STATUS, LACK OF BASIC EDUCATION SKILLS, AND HOMELESSNESS.

Income
$46.6 million
Spending
$45.3 million
Spent on programs
89%
Reserves
4.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 75%
Employees
1,278
Volunteers
226
Highest pay
$274,815, president and ceo

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

Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 56% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 35% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    89% 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

    12 of 12 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 (3)
  1. $36.1 million spent. DONATED GOODS/RETAIL OPERATIONS: GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS' DONATED GOODWILL/RETAIL OPERATIONS IS A SOCIAL ENTERPRISE CONSISTING OF 17 RETAIL STORES, AN OUTLET CENTER, AND AN AFTERMARKET RECYCLING CENTER. THESE OPERATIONS PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL PAID WORK EXPERIENCES FOR INDIVIDUALS WHILE GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) WORK AND LIFE SKILLS TRAINING, JOB SKILLS TRAINING, CONNECTION TO RESOURCES TO ADDRESS WORK BARRIERS, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO REACH THEIR CAREER GOALS. EMPLOYEES AT STORES IN THE RETAIL OPERATIONS ARE ALSO OFFERED ACCESS TO "BLUE PRINT", AN EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM DESIGNED TO GROW THE EARNING POWER OF INDIVIDUALS THOUGH SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING THAT QUALIFIES WORKERS FOR PROMOTION WITHIN GOODWILL OR A BETTER JOB IN THE COMMUNITY. IN 2025, 436 EMPLOYEES HAD ACCESS TO "BLUE PRINT". DONATED GOODS/RETAIL ALSO GENERATES FUNDS THAT SUPPORT GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS' MANY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS SERVING THE COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS AS DESCRIBED IN PART III SECTION 1.
  2. $4.3 million spent. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS' WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS FOCUS ON HELPING PEOPLE PREPARE FOR THE WORKPLACE AND PROVIDE SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR HIGH-DEMAND POSITIONS SUCH AS CERTIFIED NURSE AIDE (CNA) TRAINING. GOODWILL SERVED PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY (IN ADDITION TO OUR EMPLOYEES), HELPING THEM WITH SERVICES SUCH AS LIFE SKILLS BUILDING THROUGH OUR ACHIEVE PROGRAM, RESUME WRITING AND INTERVIEW SKILLS, RESOLVING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT (E.G., TRANSPORTATION), CAREER EXPLORATION, SKILLS TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, AND JOB RETENTION SUPPORT. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS SERVES TRANSITIONING YOUTH WITH DISABILITIES, PEOPLE COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER WORK BARRIERS, PEOPLE LIVING IN CHRONIC POVERTY, PEOPLE RECOVERING FROM SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND HOMELESSNESS, AND OTHERS WHO NEED ASSISTANCE TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. IN 2025, GOODWILL ASSISTED 337 CNAS TO RECEIVE TRAINING AND PROVIDED THE ACHIEVE PROGRAM TO 222 PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY. GOODWILL SERVED 1,827 PARTICIPANTS IN TOTAL IN 2025.
  3. TO SOLICIT, COLLECT, RECEIVE AND ADMINISTER FUNDS AND MAKE EXPENDITURES EXCLUSIVELY TO OR FOR GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF GREATER GRAND RAPIDS, INC.

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 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 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 October 1966.

    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.