Manufacture Good
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It reported loans to or from officers, directors or other insiders.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
MAGIC CITY WOODWORKS DBA: MANUFACTURE GOOD SERVES YOUNG MEN IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, WITH A FOCUS ON THOSE FACING SIGNIFICANT LIFE CHALLENGES AND COMING FROM UNDER-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES. OUR APPRENTICES REPRESENT A WIDE RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS, INCLUDING INDIVIDUALS COMING OUT OF INCARCERATION, RECOVERY PROGRAMS, FOSTER CARE, UNSTABLE HOUSING, AND THOSE SIMPLY LACKING DIRECTION, SUPPORT, OR OPPORTUNITY. MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT, EDUCATIONAL GAPS, OR GENERATIONAL POVERTY. WHILE OUR PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ANY YOUNG MAN SEEKING GROWTH, WE INTENTIONALLY WALK ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED BY TRADITIONAL SYSTEMS. WE PROVIDE NOT ONLY PRACTICAL JOB TRAINING AND PAID APPRENTICESHIPS, BUT ALSO MENTORSHIP, SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT, AND THE TOOLS TO BUILD LASTING CHANGE. THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE ARE FULL OF STRENGTHRESILIENCE, UNTAPPED POTENTIAL, AND A DEEP HUNGER FOR TRANSFORMATION. HOWEVER, THEY ALSO FACE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES: LIMITED ACCESS TO STABLE EMPLOYMENT, MENTAL HEALTH
- Income
- $800,517
- Spending
- $865,885
- Spent on programs
- 90%
- Reserves
- -8.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 70%
- Employees
- 34
- Volunteers
- 115
- Highest pay
- $57,731, executive di
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: 26 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 85% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 8% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 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: 81 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (employment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 256 of 6 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
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
0 of 10Reports at least one of: diversion of assets, excess benefits, 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 (2)
- $697,404 spent. MANUFACTURE GOOD OPERATED A THREE-MONTH PAID APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN IN BIRMINGHAM, PROVIDING HANDS-ON TRAINING IN WOODWORKING , CUSTOM FURNITURE MANUFACTURING AND FIREWOOD. APPRENTICES PARTICIPATED IN DAILY SHOP WORK ALONGSIDE EXPERIENCED STAFF, GAINING PRACTICAL SKILLS IN CRAFTSMANSHIP, SAFETY, AND TEAMWORK. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCORPORATED WEEKLY LUNCH AND LEARN SESSIONS, WHERE APPRENTICES RECEIVED MENTORSHIP, SPIRITUAL ENCOURAGEMENT, AND LIFE-SKILLS EDUCATIONINCLUDING FINANCIAL LITERACY, GOAL-SETTING, AND COMMUNICATION. EACH APPRENTICE WAS PROVIDED WITH NECESSARY SUPPLIES SUCH AS PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE), WORK TOOLS, WATER BOTTLES, AND A BIBLE. WE OFFERED TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT WHERE NEEDED AND SUPPLIED LUNCH DURING EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS. APPRENTICES RECEIVED A LIVABLE WAGE FOR THEIR WORK, REINFORCING THE VALUE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND CONSISTENCY. IN ADDITION TO TRAINING APPRENTICES, OUR ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED A TEAM OF SHOP STAFF AND MENTORS WHO FACILITATED THE PROGRAM, MAINTAINED THE CURRICULUM, AND PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE GUIDANCE. THROUGH THIS HOLISTIC MODEL, WE AIM NOT ONLY TO TEACH TECHNICAL SKILLS, BUT ALSO TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, CHARACTER, AND A FOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS IN WORK AND LIFE. AFTER GRADUATION, WE HELP APPRENTICES SECURE MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH LONG-TERM MENTORSHIP AND CONNECTION. MANUFACTURE GOOD OPERATED A THREE-MONTH PAID APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN IN BIRMINGHAM, PROVIDING HANDS-ON TRAINING IN WOODWORKING , CUSTOM FURNITURE MANUFACTURING AND FIREWOOD. APPRENTICES PARTICIPATED IN DAILY SHOP WORK ALONGSIDE EXPERIENCED STAFF, GAINING PRACTICAL SKILLS IN CRAFTSMANSHIP, SAFETY, AND TEAMWORK. THE PROGRAM ALSO INCORPORATED WEEKLY LUNCH AND LEARN SESSIONS, WHERE APPRENTICES RECEIVED MENTORSHIP, SPIRITUAL ENCOURAGEMENT, AND LIFE-SKILLS EDUCATIONINCLUDING FINANCIAL LITERACY, GOAL-SETTING, AND COMMUNICATION. EACH APPRENTICE WAS PROVIDED WITH NECESSARY SUPPLIES SUCH AS PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE), WORK TOOLS, WATER BOTTLES, AND A BIBLE. WE OFFERED TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT WHERE NEEDED AND SUPPLIED LUNCH DURING EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS. APPRENTICES RECEIVED A LIVABLE WAGE FOR THEIR WORK, REINFORCING THE VALUE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND CONSISTENCY. IN ADDITION TO TRAINING APPRENTICES, OUR ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED A TEAM OF SHOP STAFF AND MENTORS WHO FACILITATED THE PROGRAM, MAINTAINED THE CURRICULUM, AND PROVIDED ONE-ON-ONE GUIDANCE. THROUGH THIS HOLISTIC MODEL, WE AIM NOT ONLY TO TEACH TECHNICAL SKILLS, BUT ALSO TO BUILD CONFIDENCE, CHARACTER, AND A FOUNDATION FOR LONG-TERM SUCCESS IN WORK AND LIFE. AFTER GRADUATION, WE HELP APPRENTICES SECURE MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH LONG-TERM MENTORSHIP AND CONNECTION.
- $77,489 spent. IN ADDITION TO OUR CORE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, MANUFACTURE GOOD ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE BROADER BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE OUR MISSION AND INVEST IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG MEN BEYOND OUR SHOP. OUR TEAM PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AT CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESS GROUPS TO SHARE ABOUT OUR WORK, INSPIRE OTHERS WITH STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION, AND BUILD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. WE ALSO HOSTED COMMUNITY EVENTS, VOLUNTEER DAYS, AND OPEN HOUSES TO CONNECT SUPPORTERS WITH OUR MISSION AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT. THESE EFFORTS HELPED RAISE AWARENESS, RECRUIT NEW APPRENTICES, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT STRENGTHEN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR PROGRAM. STAFF AND APPRENTICES OCCASIONALLY SERVED TOGETHER AT LOCAL OUTREACH EFFORTS, FURTHER REINFORCING THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK AND BEING ENGAGED CITIZENS. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, WE SEEK TO BE A POSITIVE PRESENCE IN THE CITY AND TO INVITE OTHERS INTO THE LIFE-CHANGING WORK HAPPENING AT MANUFACTURE GOOD. IN ADDITION TO OUR CORE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, MANUFACTURE GOOD ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE BROADER BIRMINGHAM COMMUNITY TO PROMOTE OUR MISSION AND INVEST IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG MEN BEYOND OUR SHOP. OUR TEAM PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AT CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND BUSINESS GROUPS TO SHARE ABOUT OUR WORK, INSPIRE OTHERS WITH STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION, AND BUILD STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. WE ALSO HOSTED COMMUNITY EVENTS, VOLUNTEER DAYS, AND OPEN HOUSES TO CONNECT SUPPORTERS WITH OUR MISSION AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT. THESE EFFORTS HELPED RAISE AWARENESS, RECRUIT NEW APPRENTICES, AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS THAT STRENGTHEN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF OUR PROGRAM. STAFF AND APPRENTICES OCCASIONALLY SERVED TOGETHER AT LOCAL OUTREACH EFFORTS, FURTHER REINFORCING THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVING BACK AND BEING ENGAGED CITIZENS. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, WE SEEK TO BE A POSITIVE PRESENCE IN THE CITY AND TO INVITE OTHERS INTO THE LIFE-CHANGING WORK HAPPENING AT MANUFACTURE GOOD.
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 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 December 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 December 2014.
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.