Goodwill Retail Services Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- Only 11% of its spending went to programs.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
GOODWILL RETAIL SERVICES, INC. ("GOODWILL RETAIL") IS A NONSTOCK, NOT-FOR-PROFIT WISCONSIN CORPORATION, WHOSE SOLE MEMBER IS GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN, INC. ("GOODWILL"), A WISCONSIN NONSTOCK, NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION WITH (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $224.6 million
- Spending
- $227.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 11%
- Reserves
- -0.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 75%
- Employees
- 6,999
- Volunteers
- 4
- 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
Weak: 28 out of 100. Higher than 0% of charities in its peer group (employment, over $100m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 74% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 10% on the year before.
Spending floor
0 of 1511% 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
Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (employment, over $100m).
Independent board
18 of 254 of 4 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
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
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 (1)
- $24.5 million spent. GOODWILL RETAIL SERVICES, INC. ("GOODWILL RETAIL") PROVIDES A SOURCE OF INCOME TO PROMOTE THE CHARITABLE MISSION OF ITS PARENT CORPORATION, GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN, INC., INCLUDING THAT ORGANIZATION'S NUMEROUS PROGRAMS FOR PROVIDING TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES OR DISADVANTAGES. GOODWILL RETAIL OPERATED 76 STORES AND DONATION CENTERS DURING 2025, PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND REVENUE TO FURTHER GOODWILL'S MISSION. GOODWILL RETAIL PROVIDES WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. AT THE END OF 2025, 5,290 PEOPLE WERE EMPLOYED. (CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O) ALL EMPLOYEES LEARN ABOUT THE RETAIL SERVICES BUSINESS AND RECEIVE JOB TRAINING IN ADDITION TO TRAINING ON TOPICS SUCH AS GOODWILL'S MISSION, CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND SAFETY. GOODWILL STORE & DONATION CENTERS PROVIDE A CONVENIENT PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO DONATE PREVIOUSLY-OWNED GOODS. DURING 2025, GOODWILL RETAIL RECORDED OVER 4.7 MILLION DONOR TRANSACTIONS OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS FROM INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITIES SERVED. THOSE DONATED ITEMS ARE PROCESSED BY GOODWILL RETAIL EMPLOYEES AND SOLD TO THE PUBLIC AT AFFORDABLE PRICES IN GOODWILL STORES. IN KEEPING WITH GOODWILL'S RE-USE AND REPURPOSE PHILOSOPHY, GOODWILL RETAIL MAKES AN EFFORT TO MAXIMIZE THE USEFULNESS OF EVERY ITEM DONATED. GOODWILL RETAIL OPERATES OUTLET STORES, WHICH SELL UNSOLD ITEMS FROM STORE AND DONATION CENTERS, GIVING THEM ONE LAST CHANCE FOR THE PUBLIC TO PURCHASE. GOODWILL SELLS ITEMS THROUGH MULTIPLE CHANNELS, TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF DONATIONS BY REACHING CONSUMERS BASED ON THEIR SHOPPING PREFERENCES. DONATIONS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE GO THROUGH MULTIPLE RETAIL CHANNELS INCLUDING OUR STORE AND DONATION CENTERS OR ONLINE. ONCE ITEMS HAVE GONE THROUGH THESE RESALE CHANNELS, THEY CONTINUE THROUGH A CIRCULAR PROCESS BY BEING SENT TO OUR OUTLET STORES, GIVING DONATIONS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO FIND A NEW HOME. IN 2025, GOODWILL DIVERTED NEARLY 190.8 MILLION POUNDS OF MATERIAL FROM LANDFILLS. GOODWILL RETAIL ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS WITH VARIOUS GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO DISTRIBUTE DONATED GOODS TO PERSONS IN NEED. THROUGH THE GOODWILL CARES PROGRAM, AT EVERY GOODWILL STORE & DONATION CENTER IN GREATER MILWAUKEE AND CHICAGO, PEOPLE IN NEED CAN EXCHANGE VOUCHERS FOR USEFUL MERCHANDISE AT NO COST. IN 2025, GOODWILL RETAIL PARTNERED WITH LOCAL HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE WORK OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. GOODWILL RETAIL DEMONSTRATES ITS COMMITMENT TO TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT BY PROVIDING FORKLIFT TRAINING TO EMPLOYEES AND A CAREER PATH PROGRAM. THE CAREER PATH PROGRAM HAS A DEFINED AND FOCUSED CAREER DEVELOPMENT TRACK THAT OFFERS EMPLOYEES THE CHANCE TO LEARN, GROW, AND ADVANCE AS RETAIL LEADERS. GOODWILL RETAIL ALSO PROVIDES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO ITS EMPLOYEES, TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE BARRIERS TO THEIR SUCCESS AND CONNECT THEM WITH AVAILABLE COMMUNITY RESOURCES. GOODWILL'S EMPLOYEE EMPOWERMENT NETWORK (EEN) HELPS GOODWILL EMPLOYEES ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT VIA SERVICES SUCH AS GOAL SETTING, PROFESSIONAL LIFE COACHING, OTHER RESOURCES, AND REFERRALS TO FINANCIAL EDUCATION, EMERGENCY HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND ASSISTANCE NAVIGATING BENEFITS. IN 2025, GOODWILL OFFERED PROGRAM SUPPORT TO ALL RETAIL EMPLOYEES.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 2002.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 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.