Goodwill Industries of San Diego County
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
ORGANIZED AND OPERATED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES BY PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.
- Income
- $94.3 million
- Spending
- $85.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 93%
- Reserves
- 10.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 69%
- Employees
- 1,750
- Volunteers
- 15
- Highest pay
- $439,822, 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.1 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 10% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 3% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1593% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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 41% of charities in its peer group (employment, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 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 (3)
- $74.6 million spent. OUR USED GOODS OPERATIONS PROVIDED JOBS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT IN OUR RETAIL STORES, DONATION CENTERS AND THROUGH THE PROCESSING OF DONATIONS. WE PROCESSED 1,445,217 DONATIONS AND PROVIDED OVERALL EMPLOYMENT TO 1,750 INDIVIDUALS APPROXIMATELY 57% OF WHOM HAVE A DISABILITY OR OTHER BARRIER TO EMPLOYMENT.
- $4.0 million spent. OUR MISSION SERVICES DIVISION PROVIDED A VARIETY OF EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICES TO THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY COMMUNITY. WE OPERATE CUSTOMIZED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES WHICH PROVIDE VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT, SKILLS TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING MILITARY VETERANS, YOUNG ADULTS, DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION CLIENTS AND SOCIAL SECURITY RECIPIENTS. WE OPERATE SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT SERVICES WHICH PROVIDE VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT, SKILLS TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. WE OPERATE COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT CENTERS WHICH PROVIDE FREE VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT, SKILLS TRAINING AND PLACEMENT SERVICES TO ANYONE IN THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY COMMUNITY WHO WALKS IN WANTING SUPPORT. WE PROVIDE LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT.
- $103,992 spent. IN DECEMBER 2018 AND 2020, GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY ENTERED INTO A NEW MARKETS TAX CREDIT (NMTC) FINANCING AGREEMENT WITH VARIOUS ENTITIES FOR THE PURPOSES OF RECEIVING FINANCING FOR THE ACQUISITION, REFINANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS OF IDENTIFIED REAL ESTATE AND THE ACQUISITION AND INSTALLATION OF ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS ON VARIOUS PROJECTS.
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 February 1958.
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.
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.