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Heart of Texas Goodwill Industries

EIN 74-1238443 · Waco, TX

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood84 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

FOR OVER 66 YEARS, HEART OF TEXAS GOODWILL INDUSTRIES HAS BEEN COMMITTED TO CHANGING LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF WORK. SINCE 1955, HEART OF TEXAS GOODWILL HAS GROWN INTO THE LEADING NON-PROFIT PROVIDER OF EMPLOYMENT READINESS SERVICES AND JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT HELP PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND DISADVANTAGING CONDITIONS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. HEART OF TEXAS GOODWILL COVERS A SERVICE TERRITORY OF 20 COUNTIES AND OPERATES TWELVE RETAIL STORES, TWO OUTLET CENTERS, AND AN ONLINE AUCTION MARKETPLACE, SHOPGOODWILL.COM. THE RETAIL BUSINESS NOT ONLY CREATES MORE THAN 370 JOBS FOR PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT BUT IT ALSO GENERATES THE REVENUE THAT FUNDS THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS OFFERED TO THOUSANDS OF CENTRAL TEXANS EACH YEAR THROUGH GOODWILL'S MISSION SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

Income
$26.2 million
Spending
$22.6 million
Spent on programs
84%
Reserves
8.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 64%
Employees
869
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$295,085, president & ceo

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

Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 25% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 7% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    84% 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

    20 of 21 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 (4)
  1. $16.3 million spent. HEART OF TEXAS GOODWILL'S RETAIL OPERATIONS SERVES AS THE MECHANISM FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO HELP PEOPLE REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL THROUGH THE POWER OF WORK. GOODWILL ACCEPTS DONATED CLOTHING AND OTHER HOUSEHOLD GOODS WHICH ARE PROCESSED AND SOLD IN ONE OF ITS RETAIL STORES. THIS PROCESS CREATES JOBS IN THE COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AS WELL AS ON-THE-JOB TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OR INDIVIDUALS NEEDING HELP GETTING ACCLIMATED BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE. THE REVENUE GENERATED FROM THE SALE OF GOODS SOLD IN GOODWILL RETAIL STORES IS THEN USED TO FUND COMMUNITY-BASED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES, SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE IN ONE OF FIVE JOB CONNECTION CENTERS.
  2. $1.6 million spent. THE SALE OF DONATED ITEMS RECEIVED FROM DONORS PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE BEHIND THE SCENES AT GOODWILL, HELPING TO FUND LIFE-CHANGING TRAINING PROGRAMS AND VOCATIONAL SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS SEEKING GREATER SUCCESS IN THE WORKPLACES. GOODWILL DEVELOPS WORK OPPORTUNITIES AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING COURSES FOR PEOPLE WITH BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND DISABLING CONDITIONS BY PARTNERING WITH STATE AGENCIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THESE PARTNERSHIPS CREATE ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT GIVE PEOPLE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE WORKPLACE, ALL WHILE THEY EARN A PAYCHECK. THESE PAID TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES OCCUR WITHIN GOODWILL'S RETAIL OPERATIONS OR AT STATE OFFICES, DOING WORK SUCH AS LEGAL SERVICES OR GENERAL OFFICE WORK. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ALSO CREATE A PIPELINE OF REFERRALS TO GOODWILL'S ONE-ON-ONE AND CLASSROOM-BASED JOB READINESS AND COMPUTER TRAINING, GEARED TOWARDS PEOPLE LOOKING TO UPGRADE THEIR SKILLS OR NEED HELP IN THEIR EMPLOYMENT SEARCH. MOST SERVICES ARE FREE AND ARE OFFERED BY DEDICATED MISSION SERVICES STAFF LOCATED IN ONE OF FIVE COMMUNITY-BASED JOB CONNECTION CENTERS OPERATED BY GOODWILL. SPECIAL PROGRAMS ALSO EXIST TO SERVE SPECIFIC POPULATIONS SUCH AS VETERANS, JUSTICE INVOLVED, YOUTH, AND HOUSELESS.
  3. $1.1 million spent. JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABLING CONDITIONS THROUGH THE STATE SET-ASIDE PROGRAM WITH THE STATE OF TEXAS AS WELL AS CONTRACTS CREATED WITH LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES. THESE CONTRACTS INCLUDE LITTER PICK-UP ALONG HIGHWAYS AND STATE PARKS, MOWING STATE-OPERATED FACILITIES AND ROADSIDE PICNIC AREAS, AND LANDSCAPING SERVICES. PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RECEIVE PRIORITY ON THESE CONTRACTS.
  4. MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE RECEIVED FROM ANCILLIARY ACTIVITIES SUCH AS COMPUTER RECYCLING, VENDING SALES, AND DISCOUNTS EARNED.

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 July 1957.

    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.