Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
CHANGING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT.
- Income
- $127.9 million
- Spending
- $115.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 1.7 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 2,854
- Volunteers
- 24
- Highest pay
- $567,281, 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
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (employment, over $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.7 months of spending.
Debt
10 of 20It owes 34% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 14% 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
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (employment, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2522 of 22 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 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 (5)
- $72.8 million spent. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED IN 1957 WITH A MISSION TO CHANGE LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EMPLOYMENT. GUIDED BY THE BELIEF THAT EVERYONE DESERVES "A HAND UP, NOT A HANDOUT" - A PRINCIPLE ESTABLISHED BY GOODWILL FOUNDER REV. EDGAR J. HELMS - GOODWILL HELPS INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND ACHIEVE GREATER ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY. GOODWILL SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, INDIVIDUALS WITH LIMITED EDUCATION OR WORK EXPERIENCE, AND OTHERS SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD SKILLS, SECURE MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT, AND IMPROVE THEIR LIVES. IN 2025, GOODWILL SERVED 8,942 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH EDUCATION, WORKFORCE TRAINING, CAREER NAVIGATION, AND EMPLOYMENT SERVICES PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS ACROSS THE 48 COUNTIES OF MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE. GOODWILL'S MISSION IS POWERED BY AN INNOVATIVE SOCIAL ENTERPRISE. DONATIONS OF GENTLY USED GOODS FROM GENEROUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SOLD THROUGH GOODWILL'S RETAIL STORES, OUTLETS, E-COMMERCE OPERATIONS, SALVAGE OPERATIONS, AND DONATION CENTERS. MORE THAN 91% OF TOTAL REVENUE IS GENERATED THROUGH THESE SALES, DIRECTLY SUPPORTING GOODWILL'S MISSION PROGRAMS. GRANTS AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS, AND FOUNDATIONS, TOGETHER WITH INVESTMENT AND OTHER INCOME, PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT EXPAND GOODWILL'S REACH AND IMPACT. THIS SUSTAINABLE MODEL TRANSFORMS DONATED GOODS INTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE. EVERY DONATION HELPS FUND EDUCATION, CAREER SERVICES, SKILLS TRAINING, AND JOB PLACEMENT, ENABLING INDIVIDUALS TO GAIN EMPLOYMENT, INCREASE EARNING POTENTIAL, AND BUILD LASTING ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE IS HEADQUARTERED IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, AND SERVES COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE. ALTHOUGH AFFILIATED WITH GOODWILL INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL, GOODWILL OPERATES AS AN INDEPENDENT, LOCALLY GOVERNED NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION UNDER ITS OWN BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND LEADERSHIP AND HAS PROUDLY SERVED ITS COMMUNITIES FOR MORE THAN SIX DECADES.
- $20.7 million spent. GOODWILL'S EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROGRAMS EQUIP INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SKILLS, CREDENTIALS, AND CONFIDENCE NEEDED TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT IN HIGH-DEMAND INDUSTRIES. PROVIDED AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS, THESE PROGRAMS ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE SALE OF DONATED GOODS AND THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF INDIVIDUALS, FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATIONS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS. TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE SKILLED TRADES SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION, WELDING, AND FORKLIFT OPERATION, AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGY-FOCUSED INSTRUCTION IN DIGITAL LITERACY AND INDUSTRY-RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATIONS OFFERED THROUGH GROW WITH GOOGLE, IBM, AND CISCO. PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS TRAINING COVERING ONLINE JOB SEARCH, RESUME DEVELOPMENT, INTERVIEW PREPARATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY, SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING, AND OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY. BY COMBINING OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING WITH CAREER READINESS INSTRUCTION, GOODWILL HELPS INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, EARN RECOGNIZED CREDENTIALS, STRENGTHEN WORKPLACE SKILLS, AND PREPARE FOR FAMILY-SUSTAINING CAREERS. THESE PROGRAMS ALSO HELP EMPLOYERS MEET WORKFORCE DEMANDS WHILE EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE.
- $5.5 million spent. GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE ADVANCES ITS COMMITMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY PRINCIPLES THROUGH ITS RETAIL, RECYCLING, AND SALVAGE OPERATIONS. BY EXTENDING THE USEFUL LIFE OF DONATED GOODS, MAXIMIZING MATERIAL RECOVERY, AND PRIORITIZING REUSE OVER DISPOSAL, GOODWILL HELPS REDUCE LANDFILL WASTE, CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES, AND LOWER THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION OF NEW GOODS. IN 2025, WE REPURPOSED OR RECYCLED MORE THAN 27.2 MILLION POUNDS OF SALVAGE AND RECYCLABLE MATERIALS THROUGH RESPONSIBLE MATERIAL RECOVERY AND RECYCLING. MORE THAN 7.5 MILLION POUNDS OF CLOTHING WERE ALSO SOLD THROUGH OUR RETAIL STORES AND OUTLET LOCATIONS, SUPPORTING TEXTILE REUSE, EXTENDING PRODUCT LIFE CYCLES, AND CONTRIBUTING TO SIGNIFICANT LANDFILL DIVERSION AND GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION EFFORTS. GOODWILL'S RESOURCE RECOVERY INITIATIVES INCLUDED THE RECYCLING OF APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION POUNDS OF CARDBOARD AND PAPER PRODUCTS AND 1.6 MILLION POUNDS OF METAL SCRAP. THESE EFFORTS HELP REDUCE RELIANCE ON NEW RAW MATERIALS, SUPPORT RESPONSIBLE SUPPLY CHAIN PRACTICES, AND PROMOTE THE REINTEGRATION OF REUSABLE MATERIALS BACK INTO THE ECONOMY. THROUGH ITS THRIFT, REUSE, AND RECYCLING OPERATIONS, GOODWILL CREATES BOTH ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT - ADVANCING OUR SUSTAINABILITY GOALS AND, THROUGH THE REVENUE THESE OPERATIONS GENERATE, THE MISSION PROGRAMS THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS ACHIEVE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY WHILE SUPPORTING MORE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES.
- $3.6 million spent. GOODWILL HELPS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR PREPARE FOR, OBTAIN, AND RETAIN EMPLOYMENT AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS. GUIDED BY THE VISION THAT EVERY PERSON SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH THE POWER OF WORK, GOODWILL SERVES INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHERS FACING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT BY PROVIDING THE RESOURCES, GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO ACHIEVE LASTING ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THROUGH A NETWORK OF 12 CAREER SOLUTIONS CENTERS LOCATED THROUGHOUT MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE, GOODWILL PROVIDES CAREER NAVIGATION, JOB READINESS TRAINING, HIRING EVENTS, AND INDIVIDUALIZED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO WORKSHOPS IN RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEW PREPARATION, DIGITAL LITERACY, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKPLACE SKILLS. TO ENSURE SERVICES ARE ACCESSIBLE IN UNDERSERVED AREAS, GOODWILL OPERATES A MOBILE CAREER CENTER THAT DELIVERS CAREER SERVICES, TRAINING, AND JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY TO RURAL COMMUNITIES. BY CONNECTING JOB SEEKERS WITH EMPLOYERS, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, AND ONGOING CAREER SUPPORT, GOODWILL HELPS INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT WHILE STRENGTHENING THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE AND EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.
- (EXPENSES $ 3,593,781 INCLUDING GRANTS OF $ 553,292)(REVENUE $ 0) GOODWILL HELPS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE EACH YEAR PREPARE FOR, OBTAIN, AND RETAIN EMPLOYMENT AT NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS. GUIDED BY THE VISION THAT EVERY PERSON SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH THE POWER OF WORK, GOODWILL SERVES INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHERS FACING BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT BY PROVIDING THE RESOURCES, GUIDANCE, AND SUPPORT NEEDED TO ACHIEVE LASTING ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THROUGH A NETWORK OF 12 CAREER SOLUTIONS CENTERS LOCATED THROUGHOUT MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE, GOODWILL PROVIDES CAREER NAVIGATION, JOB READINESS TRAINING, HIRING EVENTS, AND INDIVIDUALIZED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES. PARTICIPANTS ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO WORKSHOPS IN RESUME WRITING, INTERVIEW PREPARATION, DIGITAL LITERACY, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL WORKPLACE SKILLS. TO ENSURE SERVICES ARE ACCESSIBLE IN UNDERSERVED AREAS, GOODWILL OPERATES A MOBILE CAREER CENTER THAT DELIVERS CAREER SERVICES, TRAINING, AND JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE DIRECTLY TO RURAL COMMUNITIES. BY CONNECTING JOB SEEKERS WITH EMPLOYERS, TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES, AND ONGOING CAREER SUPPORT, GOODWILL HELPS INDIVIDUALS OVERCOME BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT WHILE STRENGTHENING THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE AND EXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.
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 October 13, 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 March 1962.
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 October 21, 2026.
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