Goodwill Leads
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
Points to look into
- It owes more than it owns.
These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.
What it says it does
THE MISSION OF THE EXCEL CENTER OF NORTHERN INDIANA IS TO PROVIDE ADULTS THE COURSEWORK AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO EARN AN INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA TO PURSUE CAREER AND COLLEGE PATHWAYS.
- Income
- $6.3 million
- Spending
- $5.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 76%
- Reserves
- -2.4 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 98%
- Employees
- 86
- Volunteers
- 10
- Highest pay
- $338,055, president/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
Weak: 45 out of 100. Higher than 21% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
0 of 20It owes 108% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 16% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1576% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 10 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 (1)
- $4.3 million spent. OUR COURSE PROGRESSION ALLOWS US TO 'MEET STUDENTS WHERE THEY ARE'. ENROLLING STUDENTS PROVIDE A COPY OF THEIR TRANSCRIPT FROM THE LAST HIGH SCHOOL THEY ATTENDED WHICH ALLOWS US TO DETERMINE HOW MANY CREDITS A STUDENT NEEDS TO COMPLETE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CORE 40 DIPLOMA. EACH STUDENT ALSO SITS FOR SEVERAL ACADEMIC ASSESSMENTS WHICH ARE USED TO DETERMINE APPROPRIATE COURSE PLACEMENT BASED UPON THE STUDENT'S CURRENT KNOWLEDGE OF THE DISCIPLINE. THE MAJORITY OF OUR COURSES ARE FACE-TO-FACE, IN CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION WITH A LICENSED TEACHER WITH AN AVERAGE CLASS SIZE OF LESS THAN 15. SOME CREDIT RECOVERY COURSES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE FOR STUDENTS ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS. THE EXCEL CENTER OFFERS A UNIQUE ACCELERATED CURRICULUM ALLOWING STUDENTS TO EARN REQUIRED CREDITS MORE QUICKLY. WITH EIGHT WEEK TERMS OFFERED FIVE TIMES PER YEAR, STUDENTS CAN ADVANCE THROUGH THE PROGRAM AT A STEADY PACE. THE EXCEL CENTER HAS A GOAL TO HELP REMOVE BARRIERS ADULT STUDENTS MAY FACE WHEN IT COMES TO ATTENDING SCHOOL. TWO SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS ARE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE AND ONSITE CHILDCARE. FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY FINANCIALLY, WE PROVIDE FREE BUS PASSES FOR THE LOCAL PUBLIC BUS SYSTEM, GAS CARDS, OR RIDES UTILIZING UBER FOR THE LOCAL PUBLIC BUS SYSTEM. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR RIDERS OF THE EAST CHICAGO BUS LINE BUT THERE IS A FEE FOR GARY PUBLIC TRANSIT. IF BUS SYSTEMS ARE NOT AN OPTION, WE EXPLORE OTHER OPTIONS (LISTED ABOVE) IN ORDER TO ASSIST GETTING STUDENTS TO SCHOOL SO THAT TRANSPORTATION IS NOT A BARRIER FOR ANY STUDENT.OUR DROP IN CENTER, KNOWN AS "KIDS EXCEL" (CHILDCARE PROGRAM), IS FREE TO OUR STUDENTS WHENEVER THEY ARE IN OUR BUILDING. CHILDREN AGES 7 WEEKS TO 7 YEARS OLD ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE CHILDCARE PROGRAM. WE TRY TO TAKE ACCOMMODATIONS FOR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WHEN APPROPRIATE. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE TIME, SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN ARE IN THEIR OWN SCHOOLS WHILE OUR CLASSES ARE IN SESSION. THE DIRECTOR OF KIDS EXCEL IS CERTIFIED IN HIGH SCOPE, A PRE-SCHOOL CURRICULUM DEVELOPED FOR CHILDREN IN POVERTY, AND SHE HAS IMPLEMENTED IT INTO OUR PROGRAM. WORKING WITH A LOCAL NON-PROFIT, WE ARE ALSO SENDING OUR SOUTH BEND KIDS EXCEL STAFF TO RECEIVE THEIR OWN CREDENTIALS IN HIGH SCOPE. THIS IS FURTHERING OUR ABILITY TO SERVE OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AT HIGH QUALITY LEVEL. WE ALSO ASSIST OUR STUDENTS WITH SEEKING CHILDCARE VOUCHER APPLICATIONS AND HELP THEM EVALUATE CHILDCARE OPTIONS FOR POST-GRADUATION NEEDS. CHILDCARE HAS HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ENABLING OUR STUDENTS TO BE IN THE CLASSROOM, AND HAS ALSO IMPACTED THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN IN THE PROGRAM.
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 November 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.