Frequently Asked Questions

How does Goodwill work?

It’s pretty simple, really. People donate their gently used stuff to us, we sell it in our stores, and we use the money we raise to open doorways for local people who need jobs but lack job skills and opportunities. We focus on the folks in the greatest need who are ready to transform their lives – offering our participants “a hand up, not a handout.” Last year, we helped more than 700 people find jobs, more than 4,000 people get ready to re-enter the workforce, and hosted 37,000 visits to our One Stop Career Center.

Is Goodwill a for-profit company or a non-profit agency?

As a unique hybrid called a social enterprise, we defy traditional distinctions. Instead of a single bottom line of profit, we hold ourselves accountable to a triple bottom line of people, planet and performance. While our stores operate very much like a traditional retail operation with balance sheets and performance metrics, we apply this business rigor to drive the social good of transforming lives. Although we operate within a U.S. economy built on consumption and growth, we encourage reuse to save natural resources, reduce waste and prevent landfill pollution. Even though we are in the business of helping people as a best-in-class social service agency, we produced over $34 million in revenue from our stores, e-commerce and after-market operations in 2010. This funded more than 80 percent of our programs and services, with the balance coming from corporate giving, government and NGO grants, public partnerships, and the financial generosity of individuals who believe in our mission. We are very proud of being hard to classify – and it’s part of why we have endured for almost 100 years through boom and bust. Who knows? Perhaps Goodwill is the future of American capitalism.

Who’s behind Goodwill?

Learn about our board of directors and leadership team.

Can anyone get help from Goodwill?

Yes and no. Our One Stop Career Service Center is open to everyone and helps people improve their resumes and find job openings every day. We employ residents of San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties in our donations, retail stores, transportation and operations areas. Our intensive services, however, like classroom learning, computer literacy, on-the-job training and life skills workshops are reserved for those who have personally committed to turning their lives around. Learn more about our programs and solutions for the Bay Area.

Who does Goodwill work with?

While we are a critical part of the social safety net in our counties, we like to think of ourselves more as a trampoline — not just catching people as they fall, but helping them bounce back into better lives. To do this, we partner with a wide range of government, NGO and business partners. Our Back on Track program, for instance, a partnership with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, offers non-violent first-time drug offenders opportunities to work with Goodwill instead of going to jail. Participants in this program receive 12 months of intensive services designed to help turn their lives around and give back to their community, and we’re proud that 90 percent or more of our graduates stay straight compared to the much higher recidivism rate of our penal system.

We also build long-lasting partnerships with local businesses. Through our employer engagement programs, for example, we learn the staffing needs of local companies and tailor our development programs so that our graduates are workforce-ready and set up to succeed at those companies. Learn more about hiring qualified Goodwill graduates.

What happens to people who graduate from Goodwill?

Some of our participants continue to work for us, but many others take their Goodwill skills and training out into the Bay Area workforce. Our Retail Academy, for instance, offers on-the-job training in store management, team development and business economics that prepare its participants for jobs in retail. Our ReCompute business, which transforms donated technology into inexpensive computers and equipment for sale in our stores, also provides A+ computer training for careers in Information Technology. Our goal is to grow well-skilled, tax-paying citizens who can afford to live and thrive here while supporting their families.

What things can I donate? What don’t you accept?

Find out more about donating gently used goods to us.

Can I claim a tax deduction for donating my goods to Goodwill?

Yes, usually. This should provide some guidance.

Do Goodwill employees get first dibs on donated merchandise?

Absolutely not. At our donation locations, we promise to protect the value of the treasures that come our way thanks to you. To avoid the appearance of favoritism, our retail store employees are not allowed to set aside merchandise nor can they shop in their own stores. We promise to put the mission of Goodwill before ourselves, period.

Does Goodwill sell everything it receives from donors?

No, but we do try to find the highest use for every material dropped off at our donation sites. Although we’ve long been known as the “original recycler,” these days we think of it as “up-cycling”: finding new and better uses for things that would otherwise go to waste.  Through an alliance with Dell Computer, for instance, we ensure that any donated computer equipment that can’t be refurbished is responsibly salvaged, not shipped abroad and burned to extract precious metals. We’re helping the cities and counties we serve reach their goal of zero waste while raising additional money by selling valuable scrap materials. In 2010 alone, for instance, we diverted 20 million pounds from our local landfills.

How can I help Goodwill?

We welcome volunteers in our stores, office and donation locations. Learn how to volunteer. As a non-profit social enterprise, we also welcome the financial contribution of corporate and individual donors who believe in our mission. Here’s how your donation helps and how to donate money online.

Why should I give money to Goodwill?

Giving to Goodwill is an investment in the future of the Bay Area. We are helping people in the greatest need within our communities become self-sufficient, tax-paying citizens who contribute to the support of their families. (Some of these people may one day be your friends, neighbors or family members.) We are an engine of growth and entrepreneurship in the local economy, whose ripple effect strengthens families and communities. And we are preventing waste and reducing pressure on landfills as one of the Bay Area’s biggest recyclers. Our hybrid social enterprise puts your money to work in amazing ways – with amazing results.

Do I pay sales tax in your stores?

No. Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties, Inc. holds 501c(3) status and is not allowed to collect sales tax — saving you money.

Are all Goodwills the same?

No. Goodwill Industries International is a confederation of more than 160 semi-autonomous chapters in North America. Although all are committed to changing lives through the power of work, each serves local needs by developing programs and services specific to their communities. At Goodwill Industries of San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties, we focus our efforts on folks in our local community with the highest barriers to employment, such as previous incarceration, homelessness, substance addiction and language barriers.

Who started Goodwill?

Learn about the history of Goodwill Industries International and our local chapter. We’re the third oldest chapter in the country, dating back to 1916.

Is Goodwill a religious organization?

No. We are not affiliated with any religion. We believe in the goodness of people and the transformative power of work.