Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN, INC. ("GOODWILL") IS: CONNECTING PEOPLE TO WORK. PREPARING PEOPLE FOR LIFE. GOODWILL IS DEDICATED TO CREATING COLLECTIVE COMMUNITY IMPACT THROUGH (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $127.4 million
- Spending
- $112.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 12 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 69%
- Employees
- 1,586
- Volunteers
- 175
- Highest pay
- $1.3 million, president & 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
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 100% of charities in its peer group (employment, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 12.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 21% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 15% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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 33% of charities in its peer group (employment, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2520 of 20 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (2)
- $65.0 million spent. GOODWILL GREAT LAKESGOODWILL PROVIDES FOOD SERVICE, LOGISTICS SUPPORT, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY AT NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES IN ILLINOIS. GOODWILL GREAT LAKES PROVIDES WORK OPPORTUNITIES AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES THROUGH THE ABILITYONE PROGRAM. COMPETITIVE WAGES AND BENEFITS, TRAINING, AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT ARE OFFERED TO THE EMPLOYEES. IN 2025, GOODWILL GREAT LAKES SERVED MORE THAN 12.2 MILLION MEALS TO U.S. NAVY SAILORS AND RECRUITS AND GOODWILL GREAT LAKES EMPLOYED NEARLY 1,193 PEOPLE, INCLUDING MORE THAN 500 INDIVIDUALS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)GOODWILL OFFERS A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES AT GREAT LAKES WHO MAY OTHERWISE FACE CHALLENGES FINDING AND KEEPING OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK. GOODWILL'S EXPERIENCE IN REHABILITATION ENABLES THE ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATIONS TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUALS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES CAN PERFORM THEIR ASSIGNED JOB FUNCTIONS. SOME EXAMPLES ARE CHANGES IN WORK SCHEDULE OR JOB FUNCTION TO ACCOMMODATE DISABILITY-RELATED ISSUES, INTERPRETERS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT, AND MOBILITY TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT OR PHYSICAL DISABILITIES. GOODWILL ALSO SUPPORTS ITS WORKFORCE WITH TRAINING THAT PROVIDES A WAY FOR EMPLOYEES TO INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE, ADVANCE WITHIN GOODWILL, OR MOVE INTO COMPETITIVE POSITIONS OUTSIDE THE ORGANIZATION. THIS SUPPORT INCLUDES WORKSHOPS, ON-THE-JOB TECHNICAL TRAINING, ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING/COACHING SESSIONS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND PLACEMENT ACTIVITIES, AND REFERRAL TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES. TRAINING TOPICS INCLUDE JOB RETENTION SKILLS AND LIFE SKILLS, SUCH AS EMPLOYER EXPECTATIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE, ATTENDANCE, APPEARANCE, HYGIENE, COMMUNICATION, ATTITUDE, TEAMWORK, TIME/ANGER/STRESS MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, AND SELF-EMPOWERMENT. IN ADDITION TO INTERNAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, GOODWILL OFFERS TUITION REIMBURSEMENT FOR COURSES TAKEN THROUGH LOCAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR EMPLOYEES.
- $35.6 million spent. MISSION SERVICESGOODWILL'S MISSION SERVICES HELPS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS BUILD JOB AND LIFE SKILLS THROUGH A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES PROVIDE JOB TRAINING AND PLACEMENT, CAREER PATHWAYS AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS THAT EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE INDEPENDENCE AND STABILITY. DURING 2025, GOODWILL PROVIDED SERVICES TO MORE THAN 17,162 INDIVIDUALS AND PLACED PEOPLE INTO OVER 2,451 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES GOODWILL'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IN SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT, EVALUATION, JOB PLACEMENT, MENTORING, INTERNSHIPS, AND SKILLS TRAINING. GOODWILL OPERATED THREE WORKFORCE CONNECTION CENTERS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ACCESS POINTS AT A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CENTER, HOMELESS SHELTER, AND PUBLIC LIBRARIES. THE CENTERS PROVIDE FREE JOB SEARCH AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC, REGARDLESS OF INCOME OR OTHER QUALIFYING CRITERIA. THESE CENTERS WERE DEVELOPED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED OR UNDEREMPLOYED FIND AND KEEP JOBS. WORKFORCE CONNECTION CENTER STAFF ASSIST PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE JOB SEARCH PROCESS, INCLUDING RESUME DEVELOPMENT, JOB LEADS/APPLICATIONS, COMPUTER ACCESS, JOB-SEARCH STRATEGIES, INTERVIEW PREP, AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES NEEDED TO SUSTAIN EMPLOYMENT. THE WORKFORCE CONNECTION CENTERS HOST EMPLOYER RECRUITMENT EVENTS TO CONNECT JOB SEEKERS WITH EMPLOYERS IN NEED OF EMPLOYEES. GOODWILL ALSO COLLABORATES WITH OTHER LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT CENTER CUSTOMERS TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES SUCH AS DRIVER'S LICENSE RECOVERY PROGRAMS, COUNSELING, BENEFITS ASSISTANCE, AND HELP WITH HOUSING AND OTHER CONCERNS. TOGETHER, THESE CENTERS PROVIDED SERVICES TO MORE THAN 3,634 PEOPLE IN 2025. SINCE 1989, GOODWILL HAS PARTNERED WITH THE KENOSHA COUNTY JOB CENTER/HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING, ONE OF THE FIRST ONE-STOP JOB CENTERS, CONSIDERED "BEST PRACTICE" ON BOTH A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL. AT THE JOB CENTER, GOODWILL OFFERS EXTENSIVE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES THAT INCLUDE JOB SEEKING AND RETENTION, LIFE SKILLS SESSIONS, ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATION, MENTORING AND FOLLOW-UP. CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES INCLUDE PROGRAM ORIENTATION, ASSESSMENT, DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYABILITY PLANS, EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, JOB SEEKING SKILLS, JOB SEARCH ACTIVITIES, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY PARTNERS FOR AGENCY SERVICES AND ADULT EDUCATION. GOODWILL'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAMS FOCUS ON PROVIDING WORK AND LIFE SKILLS AND SECTOR-SPECIFIC TRAINING TO HELP PARTICIPANTS FIND WORK OR START A CAREER. PARTICIPANTS IN THESE PROGRAMS RECEIVE PRACTICAL SKILLS TRAINING AS WELL AS INSTRUCTION IN EMPLOYER EXPECTATIONS, WORKPLACE BEHAVIOR, AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS. JOB PLACEMENT AND RETENTION SERVICES ENSURE THAT GOODWILL GRADUATES ARE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED. JOB COACHES PROVIDE ON-SITE GUIDANCE TO NEWLY PLACED GOODWILL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION INTO THE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT. CUSTOMIZED TALENT ACQUISITION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO BEEN DEVELOPED WITH COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO HELP EMPLOYERS FIND TALENT AND HELP PEOPLE ATTACH TO THE WORKFORCE, WHILE RECEIVING THE TRAINING AND SUPPORTS NEEDED TO ENSURE SUCCESS ON THE JOB. OTHER TRAINING PROGRAMS INCLUDE JOB RE-ENTRY AND OUTREACH SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS RECENTLY RELEASED OR CURRENTLY IN PRISON IN THE KENOSHA AREA. IN 2025, GOODWILL PROVIDED WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS FOR MORE THAN 4,991 INDIVIDUALS. THESE SUPPORTS INCLUDED BENEFITS COUNSELING, ANCILLARY VOCATIONAL SERVICES SUCH AS FINANCIAL LITERACY, AND OTHER WORK-RELATED SUPPORTS SUCH AS CHILDCARE CASE MANAGEMENT. COMMUNITY SERVICES AND SUPPORTS GOODWILL PROVIDED COMMUNITY SUPPORTS IN 2025 TO 5,123 ADULTS THROUGH A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. GOODWILL'S DAY SERVICES PROGRAMS SUPPORT ADULTS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES OR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES TO ENJOY MORE INDEPENDENT AND ACTIVE LIVES IN THE COMMUNITY AT FOUR LOCATIONS. THESE PROGRAMS OFFER DAILY ACTIVITIES INCLUDING COMMUNITY OUTINGS, RECREATION, SOCIALIZATION, VOLUNTEERING, ENHANCING LIFE SKILLS, AND PROMOTING SELF-ADVOCACY. PROGRAMS ALSO OFFER PEACE OF MIND AS WELL AS RESPITE FOR WORKING CAREGIVERS. THROUGHOUT 2025, NEARLY 188 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED BY GOODWILL'S DAY SERVICES PROGRAMS. GOODWILL'S COMMUNITY SERVICES HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR SENIORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. COMMUNITY SERVICES PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WHO FIND IT DIFFICULT TO WORK OR CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN GOODWILL'S EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS DUE TO INCREASING AGE OR HEALTH CONDITIONS. THESE PROGRAMS ASSIST SENIORS IN MAINTAINING THEIR INDEPENDENCE, WITH THE GOAL OF DECREASING PREMATURE AND UNNECESSARY INSTITUTIONALIZATION. DURING 2025, GOODWILL'S HOME DELIVERED MEALS SERVED OVER 2,268 MILWAUKEE COUNTY SENIOR CITIZENS WITH MORE THAN 338,716 MEALS DELIVERED TO THEIR HOMES. GOODWILL'S TEAM AT THE KENOSHA COUNTY JOB CENTER/HUMAN SERVICES BUILDING PROVIDES SEVERAL ADDITIONAL SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, INCLUDING CAREGIVERS SUPPORTS, COORDINATING REGIONAL EFFORTS FOR COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY SERVICES IN KENOSHA AND RACINE, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS. THROUGH THE ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM, GOODWILL PROVIDES INTERVENTION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES WHO ARE AT-RISK AND ELDERLY PERSONS BY IDENTIFYING CASES OF PHYSICAL ABUSE, NEGLECT, FINANCIAL ABUSE OR SELF-NEGLECT. GOODWILL'S TEAM ALSO PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR THE DIVISION OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES AND CENTRAL SERVICES FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. IN 2025, MORE THAN 9,785 PEOPLE IN THE KENOSHA AREA RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THE HOLIDAY HOUSE PROGRAM, WHICH PROVIDES WINTER COATS, TOYS, AND HOLIDAY FOOD BASKETS TO FAMILIES IN NEED. RECOGNIZING THAT GOODWILL EMPLOYS INDIVIDUALS WITH BARRIERS TO LONG-TERM SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT, OUR EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT NETWORK OFFERS LIFE COACHING, BENEFIT NAVIGATION, AND SERVICE REFERRALS THROUGH VOLUNTARY ENROLLMENT TO ITS OWN EMPLOYEES. GO
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 1945.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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