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Goodwill Industries of Kentucky Inc

EIN 61-0475284 · Louisville, KY

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

HELPING KENTUCKIANS FIND PATHWAYS OUT OF POVERTY WITH A VISION TO END POVERTY IN KENTUCKY.

Income
$146.1 million
Spending
$142.1 million
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 69%
Employees
5,434
Volunteers
801
Highest pay
$601,961, president & ceo

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

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

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 28% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 6% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (employment, over $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    14 of 14 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, 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 (4)
  1. $86.9 million spent. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF KENTUCKY, INC.'S RETAIL PROGRAM HELPS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER DISADVANTAGES OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT AT ONE OF ITS 69 STORES THROUGHOUT KENTUCKY BY PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, AND ACCESS TO PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES THAT ADDRESS BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT. THE STORES SELL A VARIETY OF MERCHANDISE (DONATED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC) TO THE COMMUNITY AT DISCOUNTED PRICES TO DIVERT ITEMS FROM LOCAL LANDFILLS AND TO GENERATE FUNDING TO SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND JOB TRAINING SERVICES, AND OTHER BARRIER REDUCTION PROGRAMS. DURING 2025, 3,361 INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER DISADVANTAGES PARTICIPATED IN THE RETAIL PROGRAM, AND THE PROGRAM PAID WAGES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER DISADVANTAGES TOTALING $41,707,625. ADDITIONALLY OVER 80 MILLION LBS WERE DIVERTED FROM LANDFILLS.
  2. $31.1 million spent. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF KENTUCKY, INC.'S OPPORTUNITY CENTERS AND MISSION INTEGRATION SERVICES PROVIDE PATHWAYS TO IMPROVED JOB STATUS AND GREATER SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR INDIVIDUALS FACING BARRIERS TO ACHIEVING OR MAINTAINING EMPLOYMENT SUCH AS THOSE WITH LIMITED EDUCATION, THOSE RECOVERING FROM ADDICTION, FORMER OFFENDERS RE-ENTERING SOCIETY FROM INCARCERATION, AT-RISK YOUTH, THE HOMELESS OR UNHOUSED, AND OTHERS EXPERIENCING CHRONIC POVERTY. THE 12 OPPORTUNITY CENTERS AND YOUNG ADULT OPPORTUNITY CENTER PROVIDE PERSONAL COUNSELING AND JOB COACHING, SKILLS TRAINING, ASSESSMENTS, JOB PLACEMENT AND RETENTION SERVICES, AND ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL BARRIER REDUCTION PROGRAMS AND COMMUNITY PARTNER RESOURCES. THESE PROGRAMS MADE 3,206 FULL TIME JOB PLACEMENTS AND 407 PART TIME JOB PLACEMENTS. THROUGH ALL OF GOODWILL PROGRAMS 16,361 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED, INCLUDING 3,636 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING SOFT SKILLS CERTIFICATES, 4,269 EXPUNGEMENT SERVICES, 159 RECEIVING HOUSING PLACEMENTS, AND 1,433 INDIVIDUALS COMPLETING HIGHER EDUCATION OR AN OTHER RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL. 762 INDIVIDUALS GRADUATED FROM THE WORK READY PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES A DIGITIAL LITERACY WORKSHOP AND FINANCIAL WELLNESS COURSES.
  3. $2.4 million spent. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF KENTUCKY, INC. (GOODWILL) EMPLOYS PERSONS TO PROVIDE JANITORIAL AND CUSTODIAL SERVICES UNDER CONTRACTS. THESE SERVICES ARE PERFORMED WITH A WORKFORCE COMPRISED OF MORE THAN 85% OF PERSONS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES. THESE CONTRACTS EMPLOYED 53 PERSONS, AND PAID OVER $954,000 IN MISSION-RELATED WAGES.
  4. $4.5 million spent. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF KENTUCKY, INC. SENIOR COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICE PROGRAM (SCSEP) THROUGH A NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF LABOR (DOL) GRANT IS DESIGNED TO LINK LOW-INCOME, OLDER WORKERS TO ON-THE-JOB TRAINING THAT CAN HELP THEM MOVE INTO PAID EMPLOYMENT. THROUGH SCSEP, GOODWILL MATCHES ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AGE 55 AND OLDER WITH NONPROFITS OR PUBLIC AGENCIES FOR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING IN A PROFESSIONAL WORK ENVIRONMENT, PAID BY THE SCSEP PROGRAM. THE SCSEP PROGRAM SERVED 353 INDIVIDUALS, MADE 25 FULL-TIME JOB PLACEMENTS, 29 PART-TIME JOB PLACEMENTS, WHILE PAYING OVER $991,200 IN WAGES. THE CARS TO WORK PROGRAM HELPS INDIVIDUALS OBTAIN AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION TO ACHIEVE AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE FINANCIAL COUNSELING AND GUIDANCE TO HELP THEM PROPERLY BUDGET FOR AND MAINTAIN THEIR VEHICLE. UPON PROGRAM COMPLETION, PARTICIPANTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND A LOAN THROUGH A DEALER PARTNER WHICH IS COLLATERALIZED BY GOODWILL. LOAN INTEREST IS REIMBURSED TO PARTICIPANTS SUCCESSFULLY MAKING ALL PAYMENTS AT THE END OF THE LOAN TERM. FAMILIES ARE ALSO ENRICHED BY ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION AS CLIENTS' CHILDREN MAY BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, PERHAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME. IN ADDITION, CLIENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD THEIR CREDIT RATING AND IMPROVE THEIR CREDIT SCORE. DURING 2025, 50 VEHICLES AND $40,000 IN DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AND $12,521 INTEREST PAYMENT REIMBURSEMENTS WERE PROVIDED. IN ADDITION TO VEHICLES, THE CARS TO WORK - LAST MILE TO WORK PROGRAM REPAIRS AND PROVIDES BICYCLES TO PARTICIPANTS WITH TRANSPORTATION BARRIERS. THE LAST MILE TO WORK PROGRAM PROVIDED 428 BICYCLES TO PARTICIPANTS. GOODWILL'S EXCEL CENTER IS A TUITION FREE HIGH SCHOOL THAT GIVES ADULTS AGES 18-64 A SECOND CHANCE TO EARN A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA. THE EXCEL CENTER OFFERS SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS ON-SITE CHILDCARE, TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE, COLLEGE CREDIT, AND INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATION COURSES. THROUGH ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL GOODWILL PROGRAMS SUCH AS EMPLOYMENT AND DISABILITY SERVICES, A JUSTICE-INVOLVED REENTRY PROGRAM, AND SERVICES FOR FIRST-TIME MOTHERS, THE EXCEL CENTER IS ABLE TO HELP REMOVE BARRIERS TO EDUCATION AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS.

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

  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 2025.

    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 March 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.