Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Mers Missouri Goodwill Industries

EIN 43-0652657 · Saint Louis, MO

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood71 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PERSONS WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT TOWORK AND LIVE MORE INDEPENDENTLY IN THE COMMUNITY.

Income
$251.7 million
Spending
$240.8 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 49%
Employees
4,103
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$591,461, chief executive officer

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

Good: 71 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 29% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 29% of charities in its peer group (human services, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    20 of 20 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

    10 of 10

    Gave 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 (4)
  1. $192.4 million spent. GOODWILL STORES: RETAIL OPERATIONS WERE ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MISSION-BASED ENTERPRISE CONCEPTS OF GOODWILL. MISSION INTEGRATION - THE INTENTIONAL BLENDING OF MISSION-FOCUSED ACTIVITIES, SERVICES, AND PROGRAMS - IS THE CORE GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR OUR GOODWILL ENTERPRISE. THIS INTEGRATED WORK ENVIRONMENT, TAILORED TO CHARITABLE MISSION, OFFERS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES BY PROVIDING UNIQUE OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING, WORK EXPERIENCE, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND JOB COACHING FOR OUR CLIENTS AND OTHERS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. MERS/MISSOURI GOODWILL INDUSTRIES CURRENTLY OPERATES OVER 40 LOCATIONS ACROSS MISSOURI WHICH RECEIVE OVER ONE MILLION DONATIONS ANNUALLY.
  2. $25.4 million spent. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING: MERS/MISSOURI GOODWILL INDUSTRIES PROVIDES A VARIETY OF REHABILITATION EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES FOR CLIENTS OF VARIOUS STATE AGENCIES. SERVICES INCLUDE TESTING, EVALUATION, TRAINING, AND PLACEMENT. A SAMPLE OF AVAILABLE PROGRAMS INCLUDES:* AUTISM EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM* BRAIN INJURY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM* CAREER COUNSELING & VOCATIONAL EDUCATION* DEAF & HARD OF HEARING* DEVELOPMENTAL & INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES* EDUCATION & LITERACYMERS/MISSOURI GOODWILL INDUSTRIES ESTABLISHED GOODWILL EXCEL CENTERS IN 2018. THE GOODWILL EXCEL CENTERS PROVIDE ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 21 AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN A FREE HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AS WELL AS JOB TRAINING FOR AFTER GRADUATION.
  3. $5.2 million spent. CONTRACT SERVICES: MERS/MISSOURI GOODWILL INDUSTRIES SEEKS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO PLACE INDIVIDUALS IN PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENTS THAT UTILIZE THEIR CAPACITIES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE. THROUGH THE CONTRACTED SERVICES PROGRAM, INDIVIDUALS CAN PARTICIPATE IN A VARIETY OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMS. A SAMPLE OF PROGRAMS AVAILABLE INCLUDE:* ASSEMBLY* BUSINESS* CUSTODIAL* MACHINE MANUFACTURING* PAPER PROCESSING
  4. $1.3 million spent. MERS/MISSOURI GOODWILL INDUSTRIES PROVIDES AN ABUNDANCE OF SERVICES FOCUSED ON PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. IN ADDITION, MERS/MISSOURI GOODWILL INDUSTRIES ALSO STRIVES TO PROVIDE FAMILY AND RE-ENTRY SERVICES TO ASSIST YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUALS SEEKING RE-ENTRY INTO VOCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT.

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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1938.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 21, 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.