MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries

What MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries does

MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 1727 Locust Street, St. Louis, Missouri, that provides career counseling, skills training, education, and employment services to individuals facing barriers to work. The organization traces its roots to the 1940 incorporation of Metropolitan Employment Rehabilitation Services (MERS) as a Jewish Employment & Vocational Service and Missouri Goodwill Industries (established 1918), which merged in 2001 to form one of the largest nonprofits in Missouri. It operates a portfolio of mission-aligned businesses and programs, including 45 Goodwill retail/thrift stores and attended donation centers, a Commercial/Business Services division providing custodial and janitorial contracts to local businesses, the SEED program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, career centers delivering vocational counseling and job placement, and seven tuition-free Excel Center adult high school campuses across Missouri. The organization also accepts vehicle donations and partners with Missouri/Illinois Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Missouri Job Centers (WIOA), United Way, the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

The business model is a hybrid social enterprise: revenue is generated through donated-goods retail, commercial contract services, vehicle donations, and grants from federal, state, and corporate foundation sources (including a 2023 U.S. Department of Labor award of up to $2,000,000 for the Juvenile Transition Program), with proceeds reinvested into free employment, training, and education programs. Services are free to participants, retail pricing is item-level, and the organization carries 4-star Charity Navigator, BBB, CARF International, and GuideStar Platinum accreditations as well as MNSAA/NFNSSAA school accreditation for Excel Centers. The core technology stack is conventional — no proprietary AI, platform, or API products are identified — and growth has been executed through physical-site expansion (45 retail locations, 7 Excel Centers), government contract capture, and referral-based community partnerships rather than through technology differentiation.

Name

MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries

Legal name

MERS/Missouri Goodwill Industries, Inc.

Website

https://mersgoodwill.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1940

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries is a St. Louis-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers free career counseling, skills training, and employment services to individuals with employment barriers across Missouri and Illinois, funded through 45 retail thrift stores, commercial contracts, donations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Vocational Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Technical and Trade Schools (6115)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

Keywords

• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Workforce development programs
• Thrift retail operations
• Adult education services
• Commercial custodial services

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Retail Store Operations: Revenue from 45 Goodwill retail stores and attended donation centers selling donated household items, clothing, electronics, and other goods. Proceeds fund job training and employment services programs.
2. Commercial/Business Services: Contract services including custodial/janitorial services, SEED program for individuals with disabilities, and business support services provided to commercial clients.
3. Vehicle Donations: Accepts vehicle donations (cars, trucks, vans, trailers, boats, RVs) which are sold at auto auctions. Revenue stays local to fund employment services and job placement programs.
4. Federal/State Grants: Grant funding from government sources including federal grants for specific programs like the Juvenile Transition Program expansion.
5. Corporate Foundation Grants: Corporate foundation contributions such as Enterprise Holdings Foundation grants for Excel Centers adult education programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides career counseling, skills training, job placement, and adult education services to individuals with barriers to employment, including people with disabilities, economic disadvantages, and adults without a high school diploma. The organization funds these mission services primarily through a network of 45 thrift retail stores, vehicle and household item donations, commercial custodial and janitorial contracts with local businesses, and government/corporate grants. Its flagship program, the Excel Center, operates seven tuition-free accredited adult high schools across Missouri.

Product overview

MERS Goodwill Industries operates a portfolio of employment-related programs and retail operations. The core offerings include the Excel Center (tuition-free adult high schools at 7 Missouri locations), Career Centers providing vocational counseling and job placement, 45+ retail/thrift stores generating program revenue, car donation services, and Commercial/Business Services including custodial operations and the SEED program for individuals with disabilities. Revenue from retail operations funds employment services for individuals with barriers to work.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Excel Center: Accredited tuition-free high schools for adults offering high school diplomas, college credits, and industry-recognized certifications.
• SEED

Products and services

• Excel Center Adult High School A tuition-free accredited adult high school that allows adults age 21 and older to earn a Missouri High School diploma while earning college credits and industry-recognized certifications. Operates seven campuses across Missouri including St. Louis, Springfield, Poplar Bluff, Columbia, Kansas City, Florissant (North County), and Cape Girardeau. Includes free childcare, flexible scheduling, small class sizes, and life coaching.
• Career Centers Career counseling, vocational goal setting, skills training, and job placement services for individuals with barriers to employment, including people with disabilities, those with criminal justice involvement, and economically disadvantaged job seekers. Delivered through in-person Career Center offices across Missouri and Illinois.
• Commercial/Business Services Contract-based custodial, janitorial, and business support services provided to local businesses, government agencies, banks, manufacturers, transportation companies, retailers, and educational institutions. Employs over 100 individuals, many with barriers to employment.
• SEED (Services for Extended Employment and Development) Hands-on learning, discovery, exploration, job development, and real workplace employment program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Provides supported employment pathways through the Business Services Division.
• Goodwill Thrift Retail Stores Network of 45 retail/thrift stores and attended donation centers selling donated household items, clothing, shoes, jewelry, books, electronics, housewares, and small appliances. Revenue funds the nonprofit's job training and employment services programs.
• Vehicle Donation Program Online and phone-based program accepting donations of cars, trucks, vans, trailers, and some boats and RVs, with free towing. Donated vehicles are sold at auto auction, with revenue staying local to fund employment services and job placement programs.
• Juvenile Transition Program Program assisting youth with barriers to employment — particularly those transitioning from juvenile justice systems — into employment and education pathways. Funded in part by an up to $2 million federal grant awarded in 2023.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ individuals served annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2025Three-year partnership providing MERS Goodwill employees with educational and career advancement opportunities. Eligible employees receive $5,250 in annual employer-sponsored tuition assistance plus discounts for part-time undergraduate or graduate degree programs, and 20% discount on non-credit professional courses through UMSL's Advanced Workforce Center.
• United Way of Greater St. LouiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMERS Goodwill is a proud member of United Way, receiving support that enables the organization to better serve the community through employment programs and services.
• Jewish Federation of St. LouiscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMERS Goodwill is the grateful beneficiary of generous gifts from the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, enabling enhanced community service delivery.
• Goodwill Industries InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMERS Goodwill is a member of Goodwill Industries International network, providing brand affiliation and access to best practices in employment services and retail operations.
• Missouri/Illinois Division of Vocational RehabilitationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding through VR for services to individuals with disabilities. Referrals from VR Counselors to appropriate MERS Goodwill employment programs.
• Missouri Job Centers (WIOA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce Innovations and Opportunities Act services provided through Missouri Job Centers, serving job seekers with employment assistance.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: The umbrella network of 150+ autonomous Goodwill affiliates worldwide, including MERS Goodwill. Operates the same retail-to-mission employment services model and shares branding, best practices, and donor infrastructure.
• SourceAmerica: National nonprofit that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through federal AbilityOne contracts and a network of nonprofit agencies, comparable to MERS Goodwill's mission-aligned contract services model.
• Equus Workforce Solutions: Major national workforce development provider operating WIOA-funded programs across multiple states, competing directly with MERS Goodwill for government workforce contracts and employer partnerships.
• Sevita Health (formerly ResCare): Large national provider of home and community-based services including vocational rehabilitation and supported employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities — directly overlapping with MERS Goodwill's SEED program and VR partnerships.

Direct peers

• Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona: Large regional Goodwill affiliate operating retail stores, career services, and youth/adult education programs — a strong operational peer demonstrating the scaled Goodwill affiliate business model.
• National Industries for the Blind (NIB): Nonprofit that creates employment for people who are blind through manufacturing and contract services, paralleling MERS Goodwill's model of using commercial revenue to fund mission-aligned employment for individuals with disabilities.
• Jewish Vocational Service (JVS): National network of Jewish-affiliated vocational service organizations (MERS itself originated as a Jewish Employment & Vocational Service in 1940). JVS agencies provide career counseling, skills training, and job placement to similar barriered populations.
• Goodwill of Kansas (MOKAN): Direct sibling Goodwill affiliate serving Western Missouri and Kansas, explicitly linked from MERS Goodwill's homepage. Operates the same retail-thrift and employment services model in an immediately adjacent territory.
• Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette: Regional Goodwill affiliate serving Oregon and Southwest Washington with retail, workforce development, and disability employment programs — a comparable multi-state nonprofit Goodwill operation.

Emerging players

• Year Up: National nonprofit providing workforce training and job placement for young adults facing economic disadvantage. Operates a tuition-free model with employer partnerships, partially overlapping with MERS Goodwill's career services and Excel Center mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCX5wnGAeFB4ZCE-KU9l5S5Q
• Xx.com/mersgoodwill
• Facebookfacebook.com/mers.goodwill

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MERS Missouri Goodwill Industries