How does Goodwill use revenue from sales of goods to promote its mission?
The revenue from the sale of donated items in our stores is used to fund employment and training services which we offer for free to the community. For every dollar you spend in a Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC store, 87 cents support our mission and sustainability.
Is it true that your CEO makes $2.3 million a year?
No. The CEO of Goodwill Industries International is not Mark Curran, nor does he make $2.3 million a year. The current president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International is Steven C. Preston. You can learn more about him here. Although affiliated with Goodwill Industries International, Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC operates through our own governing board of directors. The CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC is Barbara Maida-Stolle. You can learn more about her compensation and view Goodwill’s IRS reporting forms on Guidestar.org.
How does Goodwill determine prices for its products?
Prices for items sold in our retail stores are based on market value and are competitive with other stores in northwest NC. Our goal is to glean value from each item to support our mission while keeping prices low and fair for our shoppers. We receive thousands of unique items at our locations each day, which can make pricing a challenge. We appreciate your understanding!
What items do you accept/not accept as donations?
A detailed list of items we accept and cannot accept is available here.
Do you offer home pickups for donations?
Yes! Goodwill has partnered with Resupply, a veteran-owned company that offers residential pickup services. Learn more here.
Does Goodwill repair items or wash donated clothing?
Goodwill does not repair broken items or wash donated clothing.
I accidentally donated an item. Who do I contact?
If you accidentally donated an item at one of our stores or donation centers, please email us at info@goodwillnwnc.org and provide a description of the item, the date of the donation, and the donation location. We will do all that we can to locate the item and return it to you, but this is difficult given the volume of donations we receive so please contact us as soon as possible.
What services do you provide?
Goodwill offers a wide range of employment and training programs that help people gain the skills they need to find jobs and reach financial stability. Services include skills training, career assessment and planning, programs for veterans and their families, youth programs, services for persons with disabilities, and more. Services are offered at no cost to anyone in the community and are funded through the sale of donated goods in our stores. Learn more about our programs and services here.
Do your employees make above minimum wage?
Yes. All our employees earn above minimum wage. Currently, our starting wage is $13.50 per hour. In addition, our team members enjoy competitive benefits, including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, tuition reimbursement, Money Purchase Pension Plan, and more. Learn more about Goodwill’s benefits and current job opportunities here.
Can I shop Goodwill online?
Yes! We sell a limited number of items on ShopGoodwill.com, an auction-based website featuring merchandise from Goodwills across the United States, including Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC. Just like purchases in Goodwill stores, purchases on ShopGoodwill.com support Goodwill’s mission.
Why do you charge for items when you get them “for free”?
The donations are not free. Goodwill incurs substantial costs associated with staffing donation centers, maintaining physical facilities (stores and career centers), a fleet of trucks to move the materials, and personnel required at stores to process, price and sell the merchandise. Most importantly, if we didn’t charge for the items, we wouldn’t be able to fund our employment and training programs which we offer for free to more than 38,000 people each year. While many other nonprofits rely on financial donations and government funding, Goodwill uses this sustainable model of selling donated goods to fund our mission. You can feel good about purchasing items in Goodwill’s stores—87 cents of every dollar you spend supports our mission and sustainability.