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Goodwill Industries of Northern Wisconsin & Upper Michigan Inc

EIN 39-1049987 · Marquette, MI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair53 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING, JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, AND THE DEVELOPEMENT OF INDEPENDENT LIVING SKILLS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.

Income
$8.6 million
Spending
$8.7 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 72%
Employees
358
Volunteers
17
Highest pay
$202,689, 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

Fair: 53 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 3% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 45% of charities in its peer group (employment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (4)
  1. $5.6 million spent. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ONE RETAIL STORE LOCATED IN MARINETTE, WISCONSIN. IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, THERE ARE FOUR STORES LOCATED IN THE CITIES OF ESCABANA, MARQUETTE, HOUGHTON, AND SAULT STE MARIE. THESE RETAIL LOCATIONS OFFER JOBS TO PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES OR OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. THESE JOBS CREATE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN TRADITIONAL VOCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT. GOODWILL EMPLOYEES SORT AND PRICE DONATED GOODS, STOCK SHELVES AND HANDLE CUSTOMER TRANSACTIONS. EACH RETAIL FACILITY PUTS DOLLARS INTO THE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING MODERATELY PRICED, QUALITY GOODS TO PEOPLE IN NEED. THE IRON MOUNTAIN LOCATION IS NOW A SALVAGE TRANSFER STATION AND AN ATTENDED DONATION CENTER. THIS LOCATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.
  2. $916,590 spent. THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT NORTHERN WISCONSIN AND UPPER MICHIGAN. OFFICES ARE LOCATED IN MARINETTE, WISCONSIN AND MARQUETTE, MICHIGAN. STAFF IN EACH OF THESE OFFICES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING SERVICES IN THEIR REGION, WHICH MAY ENCOMPASS SEVERAL COUNTIES. SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE IN 6 COUNTIES IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN AND IN EACH OF UPPER MICHIGAN'S 15 COUNTIES. PROGRAMS AND SERVICES OFFERED AT ALL LOCATIONS ARE: JOB PLACEMENT AND RETENTION; VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO RETAIL TRAINING; JOB READINESS AND WORK ADJUSTMENT; TRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE AND JOB SHADOWING; JOB COACHING; AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING. IN ADDITION, THE MARINETTE, WISCONSIN LOCATION OFFERS THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: WORK CENTER SERVICES; PERSONAL; SOCIAL; AND COMMUNITY SKILL TRAINING; AND AT RISK YOUTH PROGRAMMING. THE ORGANIZATION SERVES APPROXIMATELY 5,000 INDIVIDUALS IN THE PROGRAMS EACH YEAR. THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE FUNDED THROUGH PRIVATE PAY, COUNTY, STATE, AND FEDERAL PROGRAMS.
  3. $602,057 spent. LOCAL MANUFACTURING COMPANIES HIRE GOODWILL INDUSTRIES FOR PRODUCTION ASSEMBLY. THESE PRODUCTION JOBS ARE COMPLETED BY PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES, OR OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT IN A SHELTERED WORK ENVIRONMENT.
  4. $392,848 spent. ITEMS THAT DON'T SELL ARE PUT INTO THE SALVAGE STREAM WHERE THEY ARE SOLD TO TEXTILE OR OTHER RECYCLERS. DONATIONS THAT DO NOT MEET GOODWILL'S QUALITY STANDARDS ARE ALSO PUT IN THE SALVAGE STREAM. IF THE ITEM CANNOT BE SALVAGED, IT MIGHT BE RECYCLED IN SOME OTHER WAY.

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 March 1968.

    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.