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Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin Inc

EIN 39-1147571 · Madison, WI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair52 out of 100GovernanceStrong90 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

GOODWILL OF SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN'S MISSION IS TO HELP PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO LIVE, WORK AND THRIVE THROUGH HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR CONTINUATIONSUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT AND JOB SKILLS TRAINING ARE AVAILABLE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, ALONG WITH VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE FOR LOW TO MODERATE INCOME INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. STABLE HOUSING IS PROVIDED AT GROUP HOMES AND APARTMENTS FOR LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS, AS WELL AS SENIOR CITIZENS.

Income
$42.5 million
Spending
$42.2 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
1.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 65%
Employees
936
Volunteers
63
Highest pay
$298,731, 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

Fair: 52 out of 100. Higher than 27% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 65% 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 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% 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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 20% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 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, 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. $35.8 million spent. DONATED GOODS RETAIL PROGRAM SERVICES: GOODWILL'S RETAIL OPERATIONS COLLECT DONATIONS OF USED CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND SELL THEM THROUGH A NETWORK OF 15 STORES AND ATTENDED DONATION CENTERS. DONATED GOODS RETAIL PROGRAM SERVICES: EXCESS AND UNSALABLE DONATED ITEM ARE SOLD THROUGH SALVAGE AND RECYCLING CHANNELS. UNIQUE ITEMS, JEWELRY, AND BOOKS ARE OFTEN SOLD THROUGH E-COMMERCE CHANNELS. THE RETAIL OPERATIONS ALSO ACCEPTS AND SELLS DONATED AUTOMOBILES, USING A THIRD PARTY ONLY VEHICLE AUCTION SERVICE. RETAIL OPERATIONS SUPPORT GOODWILL'S MISSION BY PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR DISADVANTAGES WHO SEEK GREATER INDEPENDENCE. RETAIL OPERATIONS EMPLOY INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT SOUTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THESE OPERATIONS ALSO GENERATE REVENUE AND CASH FLOW THAT FUND A PORTION OF GOODWILL'S MISSION-RELATED OPERATIONS AND ITS GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. RETAIL STORES OFFER A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE IN NEED CAN EXCHANGE VOUCHERS FOR USEFUL MERCHANDISE AT NO COST THROUGH PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OR COMMUNITY REFERRALS.
  2. $2.0 million spent. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: GOODWILL OF SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN PROVIDES NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO HELP REMOVE BARRIERS TO HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT FOR INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY CAN LIVE, WORK AND THRIVE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT, JOB SKILLS TRAINING AND VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA).SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT AND JOBS SKILLS TRAINING: ADULTS WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT BUILD CONFIDENCE, SKILLS, AND INDEPENDENCE THROUGH MEANINGFUL JOBS, WITH JOB COACHES PROVIDING ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO 76 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AT NO COST TO THE EMPLOYER OR PARTICIPANT. ALL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS EARN AT LEAST MINIMUM WAGE OR MORE. VOLUNTEER INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE (VITA): IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND THE IRS, THE VITA PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH LOW TO MODERATE INCOME. IN 2024, 1,215 TAX RETURNS WERE PREPARED RESULTING IN OVER 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS IN TAX REFUNDS AND CREDITS RETURNED INTO OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP PAY FOR RENT, BILLS, MEDICATION AND OTHER ESSENTIALS.
  3. $735,280 spent. STABLE HOUSINGADULTS WITH CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS RECEIVE 24/7/365 SUPPORT AT OUR GROUP HOMES WHILE LEARNING SKILLS TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY. DURING 2024, OUR GROUP HOMES SEVED 36 RESIDENTS PROVIDING 3,364 SAFE NIGHTS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.STABLE HOUSING: ADDITIONALLY, WE SUPPORT 77 APARTMENT UNITS WITH ON-SITE PROPERTY SUPERVISORS OFFERING AFFORDABLE SUBSIDIZED HOUSING TO LOW-INCOME ADULTS, RETIREES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

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 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 2024.

    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 July 1971.

    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.