General Questions
- Are you a 501(c)3 charity?
- Are you autonomous?
- Are your programs accredited?
- Can I drop off items at the stores?
- How is Goodwill funded?
- How many people do you serve in a year?
- How many people does Goodwill employ?
- Is Goodwill a religious organization?
- What kind of success does Goodwill have?
- What percentage of Goodwill’s annual budget goes toward administrative costs?
- Who founded Goodwill?
- Who is in charge of Goodwill?
- Are you a 501(c)3 charity?
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Yes
- Are you autonomous?
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Yes. Goodwill Industries of Northern New England is an autonomous organization with a local volunteer board of directors. We are a member of Goodwill Industries International.
- Are your programs accredited?
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Select Goodwill programs have been CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) accredited since 1972.
- Can I drop off items at the stores?
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Yes, any of our 25 retail store locations will gladly accept your donation.
- How is Goodwill funded?
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Revenue generated through our retail stores benefits our programs. We owe our success to the loyalty of our Goodwill shoppers! We also receive funding from state government, insurance companies, grants and corporate and individual donors.
- How many people do you serve in a year?
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Last year we served 80,000 people through our human services, workforce and family strengthening programs.
- How many people does Goodwill employ?
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Goodwill employs about 1200 people in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
- Is Goodwill a religious organization?
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Goodwill Industries of Northern New England is nonsectarian.
- What kind of success does Goodwill have?
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The success of our human services programs is measured annually for clinical outcomes. To measure the outcomes of other departments and programs, such as administrative and retail operations, Goodwill’s Strategic Plan for 2008-2013 implements Balanced Scorecard, a management approach that utilizes measurement-based tools. These tools help measure our success from four perspectives: financial, internal business procedures, learning and growth, and customer.
- What percentage of Goodwill’s annual budget goes toward administrative costs?
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7.7% of our budget is used for administrative costs
- Who founded Goodwill?
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Goodwill was founded by Edgar J. Helms in Boston in 190s. Goodwill Industries of Northern New England began operations in 1933.
- Who is in charge of Goodwill?
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Goodwill has a volunteer Board of Directors. The President of the Board is Judith Stone.
Donation Questions
- Are my donations to Goodwill tax deductible?
- How do I get a tax receipt?
- How many donations do you receive each year?
- How many people donate to Goodwill each year?
- I lost my donation receipt, can I request a copy?
- If the items in your stores are donated, why don’t you charge less for them?
- What are my donations worth?
- What can I donate to Goodwill?
- Will Goodwill pick up my donations?
- Are my donations to Goodwill tax deductible?
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Yes, all your donations are tax deductible. In accordance with IRS regulations, Goodwill does not assign value to your donation. Receipts for donations are available at all Goodwill stores and attended donation centers.
- How do I get a tax receipt?
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Donation tax receipts are available upon request when you donate to Goodwill.
- How many donations do you receive each year?
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In 2007, Goodwill received approximately 28,231,000 pounds of donations!
- How many people donate to Goodwill each year?
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We estimate that 639,000 people made donations to Goodwill in 2007.
- I lost my donation receipt, can I request a copy?
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Unfortunately, Goodwill does not keep copies of donation tax receipts.
- If the items in your stores are donated, why don’t you charge less for them?
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As with every business, there are built-in costs that are necessary to our operation. We pay the salaries, benefits, education and training costs of our employees who pick-up, process, distribute and sell our goods. Our costs also include transportation, fuel, vehicle maintenance and utilities such as electricity, heat, water and sewer. Goodwill prices items to maximize their value and uses the capital to benefit our Through your donations, Goodwill strives to be a self-sufficient nonprofit organization.
- What are my donations worth?
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To determine the value of a donation, Goodwill provides handouts at each store and donation center as well as an online donation value guide.
If your item is not listed, it is suggested that using 30% of the item’s original price reflects its fair market value.
- What can I donate to Goodwill?
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Our Acceptable Donations page has an up to date list of items Goodwill can and cannot accept.
- Will Goodwill pick up my donations?
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Goodwill is not able to offer home pick-up service at this time.
Retail Questions
- Can anyone open a Goodwill Store?
- Can I drop off items at the stores?
- Do Goodwill stores offer any discounts?
- If the items in your stores are donated, why don’t you charge less for them?
- Can anyone open a Goodwill Store?
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Local Goodwills are autonomous 501 (c) 3 non-profit organizations that are members of Goodwill Industries International. Each organization has a geographic territory to cover and develops plans to open Goodwill stores in locations that meet certain criteria and that it can best serve.
- Can I drop off items at the stores?
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Yes, any of our 25 retail store locations will gladly accept your donation.
- Do Goodwill stores offer any discounts?
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Yes, Goodwill offers a shopper loyalty program, Club Goodwill. For $10 a year, you receive 10% off every purchase, 25% your entire purchase on your birthday, invitations to events and a monthly e-newsletter.
- If the items in your stores are donated, why don’t you charge less for them?
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As with every business, there are built-in costs that are necessary to our operation. We pay the salaries, benefits, education and training costs of our employees who pick-up, process, distribute and sell our goods. Our costs also include transportation, fuel, vehicle maintenance and utilities such as electricity, heat, water and sewer. Goodwill prices items to maximize their value and uses the capital to benefit our Through your donations, Goodwill strives to be a self-sufficient nonprofit organization.
