True North Goodwill Northern Minnesota and Northwestern Wiscons
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GOODWILL'S MISSION IS INSPIRING PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION THROUGH THE POWER OF LEARNING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT. OUR MISSION SERVICES PROGRAMS AND CAREER NAVIGATION CENTERS, PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS AND TRAINING TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND GAIN STRONGER INDEPENDENCE. COMMON BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT INCLUDE LACK OF CHILDCARE, PAST JUSTICE INVOLVEMENT, LIMITED EDUCATION, CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY, AND DISABILITY. OUR VISION IS THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES AND TRANSFORMING LIVES FOR GENERATIONS.
- Income
- $18.0 million
- Spending
- $18.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 51%
- Employees
- 489
- Volunteers
- 1
- Highest pay
- $175,356, ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 62 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.0 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 41% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 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 June 30, 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)
- $2.0 million spent. JOB TRAINING AND CAREER SERVICES:TRUE NORTH GOODWILL'S JOB TRAINING AND CAREER SERVICES PROGRAMS HELP INDIVIDUALS WHO FACE CHALLENGES TO EMPLOYMENT PREPARE FOR THE WORKPLACE THROUGH CASE MANAGEMENT, JOB SKILLS AND JOB READINESS TRAINING, ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, JOB SEARCH, AND JOB RETENTION SERVICES.
- $13.5 million spent. RETAIL SERVICES:TRUE NORTH GOODWILL (TNG) PROVIDES PAID EMPLOYMENT SERVICES BOTH WITHIN TNG'S FACILITIES AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IN COMBINATION WITH TRAINING AS A PATHWAY TO INDIVIDUALS DEVELOPING SKILLS AND OVERCOMING CHALLENGES TO EMPLOYMENT. EMPLOYMENT IS ALSO PROVIDED THROUGH TNG BUSINESS SERVICE CONTRACTS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS. THESE CONTRACTS INCLUDE JANITORIAL, LAWNCARE, MANUFACTURING, AND MORE. TRUE NORTH GOODWILL'S MISSION IS SUPPORTED FINANCIALLY THROUGH OUR RETAIL STORES AND DONATION CENTERS. WITH OUR MISSION SERVICES PROGRAMS AND CAREER NAVIGATION CENTERS, WE PROVIDE PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS AND TRAINING TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND GAIN STRONGER INDEPENDENCE. RETAIL REVENUES ARE REINVESTED BACK INTO THE 29-COUNTY TERRITORY WE SERVE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AND NORTHWESTERN WISCONSIN. IN ADDITION, OUR RETAIL STORES PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH AN AFFORDABLE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE FOR CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, WHILE KEEPING MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF ITEMS OUT OF THE LANDFILL EACH YEAR.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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 November 6, 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 June 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 March 1968.
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 November 4, 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.