Goodwill Central Coast
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
GOODWILL CENTRAL COAST BUILDS LIVES, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES BY HELPING PEOPLE WITH EMPLOYMENT NEEDS BECOME SUCCESSFUL THROUGH TRAINING, WORK EXPERIENCE, AND SUPPORT; UTILIZING INNOVATIVE ENTERPRISES THAT PRESERVE THE EARTH'S RESOURCES.
- Income
- $47.4 million
- Spending
- $47.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 2.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 87%
- Employees
- 1,041
- Volunteers
- 14
- Highest pay
- $471,649, 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
Fair: 64 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 2.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% 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 42% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2513 of 14 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, 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)
- $38.3 million spent. GOODWILL CENTRAL COAST'S RETAIL PROGRAM HELPS PEOPLE WITH DISADVANTAGES OR DISABILITIES, AND THOSE EXPERIENCING OBSTACLES TO BECOME JOB-READY, AND TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT. OUR 16 STORES, 20 DONATION SITES, ECOMMERCE DIVISION, AND TWO INDUSTRIAL PLANTS PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR THREE COUNTIES. THE RETAIL PROGRAM PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING TO 649 INDIVIDUALS, AND PAID MORE THAN $16 MILLION IN WAGES IN 2024. GOODWILL SELLS A VARIETY OF DONATED MERCHANDISE TO THE COMMUNITY AT VALUE PRICES. OUR RETAIL, AFTERMARKET SALES, AND RECYCLING PROGRAMS TOGETHER DIVERTED AN ESTIMATED 19.6 MILLION POUNDS OF MATERIAL FROM LOCAL LANDFILLS AND SUPPORTING GOODWILL'S MISSION TO HELP GET PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITIES ON THE ROAD TO ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE RETAIL OPERATIONS GENERATED FUNDING TO SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT COUNSELING, EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FINANCIAL COUNSELING, AND JOB TRAINING SERVICES THROUGH OUR CAREER CENTER, TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND THE OPPORTUNITY PLATFORM.
- $1.7 million spent. THROUGH THE EXPANDED SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT (ESE) PROGRAM, GOODWILL CENTRAL COAST PROVIDES IMMEDIATE SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE CALWORKS WELFARE-TO-WORK CLIENTS WHICH INCLUDE EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, SUPERVISION, INTENSE CASE MANAGEMENT, JOB PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS, AND UNSUBSIDIZED JOB COORDINATION IN ORDER TO HELP THEM ESTABLISH WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR APPROPRIATE WORK BEHAVIORS BEFORE ENTERING UNSUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT. THE PRIMARY GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE AN IMMEDIATE SOURCE OF INCOME TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO LONG-TERM UNSUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT. CLIENTS IN THE ESE PROGRAM ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE FOR ALL OF THE FREE SERVICES OFFERED BY THE GOODWILL CENTRAL COAST OPPORTUNITY PLATFORM. IN 2024, THE EXPANDED SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS SERVED 288 PEOPLE, WITH $908,988 IN WAGES PAID.
- $496,488 spent. THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) TITLE 1, GOODWILL CENTRAL COAST GIVES INCOME-ELIGIBLE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY ADULTS/DISLOCATED WORKERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED IN THE LABOR MARKET BY PROVIDING ACCESS TO EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES WHILE ALSO MATCHING EMPLOYERS WITH THE SKILLED WORKERS THEY NEED TO COMPETE IN THE ECONOMY THROUGH RAPID RESPONSE EFFORTS. BASIC CAREER SERVICES HELPS PEOPLE OBTAIN IMMEDIATE EMPLOYMENT THROUGH ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR SELF-DIRECTED JOB SEARCH INCLUDING JOB OPENINGS, LABOR MARKET INFORMATION, COMPUTERS, INTERNET, AND PHONES IN THE AMERICAN JOB CENTERS OF CALIFORNIA (AJCC) CAREER CENTERS. INTENSIVE CAREER SERVICES INCLUDE INDIVIDUALIZED TRAINING ACCOUNTS, TRANSITIONAL JOBS, AND ON-THE-JOB TRAINING THAT HELP ADULTS AND DISLOCATED WORKERS ADVANCE THEIR SKILL SETS AND EARN CREDENTIALS IN HIGH-DEMAND INDUSTRIES. SERVICES INCLUDE SKILL ASSESSMENT, ENROLLMENT INTO TRAINING PROGRAMS, CAREER ADVISING, CASE MANAGEMENT, JOB PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION SERVICES.
- $1.9 million spent. GOODWILL CENTRAL COAST HELPS INDIVIDUALS IDENTIFY THEIR STRENGTHS AND OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLES THAT MAY PREVENT THEM FROM OBTAINING AND RETAINING EMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS FOUNDATIONAL TO ACHIEVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, WE SERVE THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN THIS AREA, INCLUDING THE PHYSICALLY AND DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED, DISPLACED WORKERS, AT RISK AND JUSTICE INVOLVED YOUTH, AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. WE ALSO OFFER FREE DIGITAL LITERACY, JOB SEARCH, JOB PLACEMENT, JOB READINESS TRAINING, AND INCOME TAX RELATED ASSISTANCE TO THE COMMUNITY. IN 2024, WE SERVED 23,092 INDIVIDUALS.
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
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 December 2024.
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 1955.
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.
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