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Good Neighbor Program

Good Neighbor Program

Thank you for your interest in Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina’s Good Neighbor Program. Good Neighbor provides other 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in our 31-county territory with vouchers that can be used by the people they serve to purchase items at our retail stores.

Purpose of the Good Neighbor Program

Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina (“Goodwill”) was founded in 1926 based on the principle of a “hand up, not a hand out”. Today, that mission is supported through the sale of donated items in Goodwill stores which funds employment and training services for more than 26,000 people in northwest North Carolina each year.

Goodwill’s mission is to help people find jobs and reach financial stability.  We do not provide emergency assistance and our funding is not for that purpose.  As with most nonprofits, our budget is limited and our priority is to serve our clients who come to us for help.

However, we recognize that we can help other nonprofits who do provide emergency assistance through vouchers that can be used in Goodwill stores to help families and individuals in crisis.  Through the Good Neighbor initiative, Goodwill works with other nonprofit agencies to meet this need in the community.

Program Eligibility

The first step in becoming a Good Neighbor Agency is determining eligibility. To be eligible to receive Good Neighbor vouchers, your organization must:

  • Be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
  • Be located in one of the 31 counties within Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina’s territory, and/or
  • Provide emergency assistance services to individuals who reside in one of the 31 counties within Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina’s territory.
  • Not be affiliated with a nonprofit organization or for-profit company that operates thrift stores.
  • Agree to the Program Guidelines, below.
  • Complete and submit the Program Application, below.

Program Guidelines

What Goodwill Provides to Good Neighbor Agencies

Assistance though the Good Neighbor Program is provided in the form of Goodwill gift cards (vouchers) that can be used to purchase items from our retail and outlet stores. The vouchers do not expire, can carry a balance, and can be used at any Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina retail store. (View list of stores.)

Once a Good Neighbor Request is received, a committee reviews the submission to ensure that it aligns with the purpose of the Good Neighbor Program. For approved submissions, vouchers will be activated and then mailed or delivered to the beneficiary agency.

The Good Neighbor Program does not provide monetary assistance or donations of merchandise from our stores.

Expectations of Good Neighbor Agencies
  • A single point of contact must be designated who will be responsible for submitting any and all Good Neighbor requests for that organization. This will eliminate duplication and streamline the process. Requests from people other than the designated point of contact will not be accepted.
  • All requests for Good Neighbor vouchers must be submitted electronically using the Good Neighbor Request Form on Goodwill’s website. Requests must be submitted by representatives of nonprofit organizations on behalf of their clients (see single point of contact requirement, above). Requests submitted by clients will not be accepted.
  • A separate request must be submitted for each family or individual to receive Good Neighbor vouchers.
  • Allow up to three (3) weeks for delivery of Good Neighbor vouchers.
  • Connect with Goodwill on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and spread the word to your agency’s followers about the Good Neighbor Program and how it helps your clients. (Be sure to tag Goodwill: GoodwillNWNC.)

Good Neighbor Partners

Your organization may want to consider becoming a Good Neighbor Partner Agency. These agencies receive donations of clothing and household goods from their supporters but may not have the structure or capacity to accommodate or distribute them to the people they serve.  Instead, these agencies donate the items to Goodwill and then receive vouchers in exchange.  In this way, the agencies can still accept donations in support of their missions but then have vouchers that they can use as needed to shop for their clients, giving them the convenience of time and the availability of sizes.

Goodwill currently works with 12 Goodwill Neighbor Partner Agencies across our territory. In some locations, depending on quantity and frequency, donations can be picked up by Goodwill’s Transportation Department on a regular basis or as requested. Note: Good Neighbor Partners do not have to fill out the Program Application and do not have to submit Good Neighbor Requests.

If your organization is not in a position to become a Good Neighbor Partner, we would greatly appreciate any donations that your staff members can make to Goodwill. You may drop off donated items at any Goodwill store or donation center. (View a list of donation sites and accepted items.)

Good Neighbor Program Counties

North Carolina Counties within the territory of Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Rowan, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, Yancey (pdf)

Contact Information

If you have questions about Goodwill’s Good Neighbor Program, please email or call (336) 724-3621.

Good Neighbor is a program of Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina.  If your organization is not located within the 31 counties served by Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina, visit the Goodwill Industries International website to find the Goodwill organization that serves your area and to see if they have a similar program.