Is Goodwill a non-profit?

Yes, Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut, Inc is recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by the Internal Revenue Service. Our mission is to help people with disabilities and special needs achieve independence and self-sufficiency through employment and related support services.

If you are a non-profit, where does all the money go?

90% of the funds we generate from our retail stores is put back into the community by providing vocational programs and employment opportunities for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. A small percentage is used for administration costs that enable our mission to continue such as rent, maintenance, insurance, accounting and personnel.

Goodwill Industries of Western Connecticut is committed to expanding programs and creating new employment and support services to address needs that arise from physical or mental disabilities, poverty, illiteracy, homelessness, inadequate education and welfare dependency.

Our goal is to provide these individuals with the opportunity to experience the dignity that employment will bring to their lives by providing them with training and matching their abilities to the needs of local businesses. We also strive to help families in order to bring about long term change.

Who shops at Goodwill?

Certainly, people who want to save money. But equally important, people who are trying to make eco-friendly purchases. Purchasing second-hand items reduces packaging waste, reduces transportation (gas & emissions) of new items, and perhaps keeps a totally usable item out of a landfill.

Why should I donate to my local Goodwill rather than another thrift store?

Goodwill Stores are linked to a great cause. The revenue goes directly into employment and training programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment! For-profit thrift stores sometimes arrange to use a charity's name to collect donations in exchange for a flat fee or a percentage of the revenue. Often this deal is not generally publicized, and the percentage that charity actually makes may be less than 5 cents for every dollar spent. Make your donations wisely! Approximately 90 cents of every dollar generated/donated is put back into community programs.

How do my donations help my community?

Your donations:

• Fund employment and support programs that help families achieve independence and self-sufficiency.
• Help people become taxpayers rather than tax recipients.
• Fund programs that provide local businesses with motivated workers.
• Provide great bargains for value conscious consumers.

How can I help Goodwill?

There are many ways you can help Goodwill including:

• Donate clothing and household items.
• Volunteer your time to help in our stores and/or with special projects.
• Donate money, stocks, real estate and cars.
• Shop Goodwill stores. Proceeds are used for Goodwill employment and support programs.
• Hire a Goodwill graduate.
• Outsource assembly, collating and packaging jobs to our Industrial Services Department.
• Leave a legacy by remembering Goodwill with a bequest in your will.

Where do I take the items I wish to donate?

Please click here for a list of locations.

Why won't you take everything I want to donate?

With the exception of clothing, which can be baled and sold as salvage, we ask that all donations be in good saleable condition. We are required to pay very expensive fees to dispose of non-saleable items--last year we paid over $200,000 in disposal fees. Since this money would be better spent on programs to help people, we must ask that donations be in saleable condition and that you refer to our accepted donations list.

Does Goodwill give away clothes?

Goodwill's mission is to train and employ people with disabilities and special needs. We refer individuals and/or organizations who need free clothing to other community organizations.

Do you offer home pick-ups?

We have discontinued home pick-ups. The cost of the equipment and labor required to run a quality home pick-up service for our large service area became prohibitive. The sale of these items did not cover the cost obtaining them. We felt that the money required to run this service would be better spent on employment and support programs that help families become self-sufficient. Donations are accepted at all of our fourteen stores. In addition, we now have 14 attended donation centers and 5 collection bin locations. All of our stores are open seven days a week. This system enables us to minimize our costs and maximize our services to people with disabilities.

Why are your prices so high? I thought Goodwill was a non-profit.

Goodwill Industries is indeed a non-profit. Revenues obtained from our retail operations are used to fund employment and support programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Our stores also train and employ people with disabilities. Although, we sell donated goods, we do have to pay rent, utilities, labor, insurance, transportation, maintenance and other costs incurred when running a retail store. Our prices are very competitive and are lower than most department store prices. For example, a woman's designer suit that would cost $150 in a department store, costs $15 in a Goodwill Store. To ensure high quality, we sort our donations diligently and rotate merchandise frequently.

When you shop at Goodwill, not only do you help someone find a job, you get great bargains on quality merchandise, too.

Who shops at Goodwill?

People who want to save money shop at Goodwill. Our in-store surveys show that people from all walks of life and income groups shop at Goodwill frequently.

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