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Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia Inc

EIN 58-1249683 · Macon, GA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak31 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO BUILD LIVES, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES ONE CAREER AT A TIME BY HELPING PEOPLE DEVELOP THEIR GOD-GIVEN GIFTS THROUGH EDUCATION, WORK AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. GOODWILL STRIVES TO END POVERTY ONE NEW CAREER AT A TIME, HELPING PEOPLE SERVED EXPERIENCE A "MAXIMUM OF ABUNDANT LIVING AND MAKES A SUBSTANTIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT IN ITS THIRTY-FIVE COUNTY TERRITORY IN GEORGIA AND SOUTH CAROLINA.

Income
$47.4 million
Spending
$50.2 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
-6.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
1,380
Volunteers
11,308
Highest pay
$814,264, president

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

Weak: 31 out of 100. Higher than 2% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    2 of 20

    It owes 83% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 17 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 (3)
  1. $25.2 million spent. RETAIL:GOODWILL RETAIL TRAINING STORES AND DONATION CENTERS ARE THE MOST VISIBLE AND WIDELY RECOGNIZED SYMBOL OF GOODWILL'S MISSION IN THE COMMUNITY. THE RETAIL STORES AND E-COMMERCE SALES GENERATE OVER HALF (54%) OF THE AGENCY'S OPERATING BUDGET. THESE DONOR-DRIVEN STORES OFFER GENTLY USED CLOTHING, FURNITURE, ELECTRONICS, AND OTHER MERCHANDISE AT GREAT SAVINGS TO GOODWILL'S CUSTOMERS. GOODWILL SHOPPERS FIND BARGAINS TO HELP STRETCH THEIR BUDGETS WHILE DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO GOODWILL'S MISSION TO BUILD LIVES, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES ONE CAREER AT A TIME. MORE THAN EIGHTY-SEVEN ($.85) CENTS OF EVERY DOLLAR SHOPPERS SPEND IN GOODWILL STORES IS REINVESTED LOCALLY IN EDUCATION, JOB SKILLS TRAINING AND PLACEMENT PROGRAMS THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS GAIN INDEPENDENCE AND A GREATER SLICE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM THROUGH EMPLOYMENT AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT.JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31ST HIGHLIGHTS:ACHIEVED $32.9 MILLION IN SALES; RECEIVED DONATIONS FROM 497,411 MATERIAL DONORS; SIX VEHICLES DONATED FOR RESALE; 1.4 MILLION SHOPPERS IN OUR RETAIL STORES; AND PROVIDED 23,017 TOTAL TRAINING HOURS TO RETAIL EMPLOYEES AND CLIENTS.
  2. $8.1 million spent. THE HOSPITALITY DIVISION, EDGAR'S HOSPITALITY GROUP, CONSISTS OF EDGAR'S BISTRO, EDGAR'S GRILLE, EDGAR'S ABOVE BROAD, ANDERSON CONFERENCE CENTER, THE SNELLING CENTER, AND PINNACLE CLUB. THESE APPLIED LEARNING BUSINESSES ARE NON-PROFIT SOCIAL ENTERPRISES THAT SUPPORT AND PROMOTE GOODWILL'S MISSION TO THE COMMUNITY. EDGAR'S BISTRO, EDGAR'S GRILLE, AND EDGAR'S ABOVE BROAD, NAMED FOR GOODWILL INDUSTRIES FOUNDER DR. EDGAR J. HELMS, ARE FULL-SERVICE RESTAURANTS THAT PROVIDE HELMS COLLEGE CULINARY STUDENTS WITH FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE IN FOOD PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION IN AN UPSCALE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT. ANDERSON CONFERENCE CENTER AND SNELLING CENTER ALSO PLAY HOST TO CORPORATE MEETING AND SOCIAL EVENTS WITH A FEW ATTENDEES TO A FEW HUNDRED. THE CENTERS OFFER SPECIALLY DESIGNED MEETING SPACES EQUIPPED WITH PREMIER WI-FI TECHNOLOGY AND AUDIOVISUAL AMENITIES, WITH FOOD SERVICE PROVIDED FROM CUSTOMIZED CATERING MENUS. BOTH CONFERENCE VENUES PROVIDE EXCELLENT APPLIED-LEARNING BANQUET AND CATERING EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS AT HELMS COLLEGE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER MARKET GOODWILL'S LIFE-CHANGING MISSION TO THE COMMUNITY.JANUARY 1 TO DECEMBER 31ST HIGHLIGHTSSERVED 40,670 GUESTS IN EDGAR'S BISTRO, EDGAR'S GRILLE AND EDGAR'S ABOVE BROADSERVED 35,395 GUESTS IN THE ANDERSON AND SNELLING CONFERENCE CENTERSSERVED 5,653 GUESTS IN THE PINNACLE CLUB
  3. $4.9 million spent. EDUCATION:GOODWILL'S EDUCATION SERVICES, THROUGH HELMS COLLEGE, PROVIDED 241 STUDENTS COLLEGE LEVEL TRAINING IN THE CULINARY AND HEALTH SERVICES DISCIPLINES AT THE TWO HELMS COLLEGE CAMPUS LOCATIONS IN 2024, AS WELL AS 53 STUDENTS AT THE HVAC TRAINING FACILITY. IN ADDITION TO THEIR CLASSES, THE CULINARY STUDENTS ALSO RECEIVED OVER 19,600 HOURS OF ON-THE-JOB HOSPITALITY TRAINING. THERE WERE 103 CULINARY GRADUATES, 15 HEALTH SCIENCES GRADUATES AND 10 HVAC GRADUATES IN 2024.

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 October 1976.

    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.

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