Goodwill

What Goodwill does

Goodwill Industries of Erie, Huron, Ottawa & Sandusky Counties, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 419 W. Market St., Sandusky, Ohio. It operates a mission-driven social-enterprise model in which donated-goods retail sales fund workforce-development services for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. The organization runs 7 thrift retail stores, 2 manufacturing/assembly plants (Sandusky and Bellevue), 2 vocational habilitation centers, and 8 donation drop boxes across Erie, Huron, Ottawa, and Sandusky Counties; it also operates the shopgoodwill.com online auction channel for unsold inventory. Beyond retail and donation logistics, the chapter delivers an accredited suite of programs including Job Search Assistance, Vocational Habilitation, Works4Me, Summer Youth Work Experience, Pre-ETS, the ReStart program for justice-involved individuals, the federally funded SCSEP program for low-income adults aged 55+, the Project LIFE two-year work-readiness program for young adults with developmental disabilities, and a Community Health Worker service. The organization employs approximately 400-450 individuals across Business Services, Workforce Development, Retail Operations, Manufacturing, and Recycling, with manufacturing wages starting at $12/hour plus benefits.

The primary revenue engine is donated-goods retail (charity thrift model) supplemented by contract manufacturing and assembly services, which account for 30% of annual revenue. The Manufacturing & Assembly business is concentrated in light manufacturing, packaging, kitting, inspection, bagging, re-work/repair, labeling, and sorting, producing 22+ million parts annually across two plants and ranking in the top 20 Goodwill organizations nationally by manufacturing volume. Commercial clients include Whirlpool (preferred supplier; 10M+ parts built in 2022), Berry Global (3.3M+ bucket handles placed in 2022), Envases (41,174 boxes of cans packed in 2022), and Ventra (3M+ parts built). A secondary revenue stream is government and grant funding, anchored by an $8.02M U.S. Department of Labor SCSEP grant in program year 2025 (of which the local chapter received a $321,296 sub-award). Charitable donations—including vehicle donations, financial contributions, and Dell Reconnect e-waste recycling that diverts ~1,200 tons of material from landfills annually—provide additional, smaller revenue inputs.

The go-to-market combines a value-retail showroom (walk-in donation and thrift shopping across 7 stores plus e-commerce), enterprise field sales (B2B manufacturing for Whirlpool/Berry/Envases/Ventra), and a community-led mission/referral model in which OOD, DODD, county boards of developmental disabilities, DJFS, and county job-and-family services channel participants into Goodwill programs. Distributors, customers, and program participants are concentrated in a 4-county Ohio footprint; supporting partnerships span Key Bank (financial literacy), Dell (Reconnect electronics recycling), United Way of Sandusky County, and Norwalk City Schools. The chapter is CARF-accredited (14th consecutive three-year term) and DODD-certified, signaling conformance to nationally recognized quality standards for community employment services. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability stack, mobile app, or proprietary platform—the technology layer is conventional retail ERP plus the shared shopgoodwill.com auction platform operated at the network level.

Name

Goodwill

Legal name

Goodwill Industries of Erie, Huron, Ottawa & Sandusky Counties, Inc.

Website

https://goodwillsandusky.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Goodwill Industries of Erie, Huron, Ottawa & Sandusky Counties operates 7 thrift stores, 2 manufacturing plants, and an accredited workforce-development program serving people with disabilities and other barriers across 4 Ohio counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Thrift Retail Services

NAICS

Used Merchandise Retailers (459510), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (458110)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)

akta.pro primary industry

Donation, Resale & Disposal Coordination (HSAFAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Donation Pickup & Reuse Hauling (HSAKALAI), Textile & Apparel Sorting/Recovery Facilities (EUAIADAJ)

Keywords

• Thrift retail stores
• Workforce development
• Employment services
• Contract manufacturing
• Vocational rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandusky

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Donated Goods: Sale of donated clothing, furniture, household goods, and other items in retail stores; unsold items recycled or repurposed; over 400,000 shoppers visited stores in 2023
2. Retail Store Revenue: 2025 revenues exceeding $7 billion across North American Goodwill network; consumer shift to thrift shopping amid inflation and economic uncertainty drives growth
3. Commercial Manufacturing Services: Outsourced labor and contract manufacturing services for businesses; light manufacturing, packaging, inspection, bagging, re-work/repair, labeling, and sorting; commercial services account for 30% of annual revenue
4. Government-Funded Workforce Programs: SCSEP federal program funding ($8,017,889 partial grant from U.S. Department of Labor covering 90% of SCSEP costs in program year 2025); local Goodwill received sub award of $321,296 plus $37,713 in-kind contributions
5. Financial Contributions: Tax-deductible charitable donations supporting workforce development programs; $100 provides on-the-job support to an employee, $75 provides interviewing assistance, $50 provides computer training, $25 provides transportation assistance
6. Vehicle Donations: Accepts cars, trucks, farm equipment, SUVs, motorcycles, ATVs, and boats; proceeds fund employment programs for adults with disabilities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Goodwill operates thrift retail stores selling donated clothing, furniture, and household goods, and uses the resulting revenue plus contract manufacturing income to fund workforce development programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to employment. The organization also provides light manufacturing and assembly services (over 22 million parts annually) for commercial clients, vocational habilitation, job placement, community health worker services, electronics recycling, and financial literacy classes.

Product overview

Goodwill Industries of Erie, Huron, Ottawa & Sandusky Counties operates a network of retail thrift stores as its primary revenue-generating platform, funding a comprehensive suite of workforce development and employment services. The organization offers multiple interconnected programs: Retail Stores selling donated goods; Workforce Development services including Job Search Assistance, Vocational Habilitation, Works4Me, Summer Youth Work Experience, Pre-ETS, SCSEP, ReStart, On-The-Job Supports, and Community-Based Assessment; Community Programs including Community Health Workers; Manufacturing & Assembly Services producing commercial parts; and ancillary services such as Computer Recycling (via Dell Reconnect), Cleaning Rags, and Financial Literacy Classes (via Key Bank partnership). All programs are accredited by CARF and serve individuals with disabilities and employment barriers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Goodwill Retail Stores Network of 7 thrift retail stores across Erie, Huron, Ottawa, and Sandusky Counties in Ohio selling donated clothing, furniture, household goods, and other items at value prices; over 400,000 shoppers served annually.
• Workforce Development Programs Comprehensive suite of CARF-accredited employment services including Job Search Assistance, On-The-Job Supports, Pre-ETS, Summer Youth Work Experience, Works4Me, Community-Based Assessment, Vocational Habilitation, and SCSEP for individuals with disabilities and other barriers.
• Project LIFE Two-year work readiness program for post-graduates ages 18-25 with developmental disabilities, rotating participants through six job sites across multiple industries including healthcare, retail, and manufacturing.
• ReStart Program
• Community Health Worker Program
• Manufacturing & Assembly Services
• Computer and Electronics Recycling
• Financial Literacy Classes
• Vehicle Donation Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 2025 revenues exceeding $7 billion across North American Goodwill network
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Dell Computers (Dell Reconnect)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Dell Reconnect program for computer and electronic equipment recycling. Donors may drop off used computers at any Store or Donation Center. Goodwill recycles computers, hard drives, accessories, printers, tablets, cell phones, and other electronics, diverting materials from landfills.
• Key BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to present Financial Literacy Classes in Sandusky and Norwalk locations. Classes cover budgeting, buying a car, credit 101 and scores, debt management, identity theft, emergency preparation, and homeownership. Includes light refreshments, gift card drawings, certificates of completion, and one-on-one budgeting mentorship options.
• Huron County Board of Developmental Disabilities (HCBDD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for Project LIFE program, a two-year work readiness program for post-graduates ages 18-25 with developmental disabilities. Participants rotate through six job sites across industries, gaining exposure to various employment settings and workplace skills.
• Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary referral agency for workforce development programs including Summer Youth Work Experience and other vocational rehabilitation services. OOD determines eligibility for Vocational Rehabilitation services and Pre-ETS programs.
• Tractor Supply Company (TSC)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject LIFE rotation site in Willard where participants ages 18-25 complete first rotation of their two-year work readiness program before moving to additional job sites.
• Fisher Titus Medical CentersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject LIFE rotation site where participants complete their final rotation, gaining healthcare sector work experience as part of their two-year program.
• Norwalk Area United FundsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting Financial Literacy Classes and other community programs, hosting sessions at their facility in Norwalk, Ohio.
• United Way of Sandusky CountysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner supporting wraparound services and community programs, collaborating on social determinants of health and community wellbeing initiatives.
• Norwalk City SchoolssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for educational initiatives and programs supporting community members in the Norwalk area.
• OHgosecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation partner providing services to help program participants access employment and training opportunities through the transit system.
• WhirlpoolcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor manufacturing client; Goodwill is a preferred supplier having built more than 10,000,000 parts for Whirlpool in 2022 alone. This demonstrates the quality and expertise of Goodwill's assembly operations.
• EnvasessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPackaging partner for whom Goodwill packed 41,174 boxes of cans in sizes ranging from ¼ pints to Gallons in 2022. Showcases Goodwill's ability to handle diverse packaging needs.
• Berry GlobalsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturing partner for whom Goodwill placed over 3,312,516 handles on buckets, requiring precision and attention to detail. Goodwill has consistently delivered high-quality results.
• VentrasecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturing partner at Ventra Sandusky for whom Goodwill built more than 3,000,000 parts, demonstrating commitment to excellence and unique client needs.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Umbrella organization coordinating 3,400+ North American Goodwill stores and $7B+ in network revenue. The local chapter is a direct franchise of this network, so it shares brand, training infrastructure, accreditation programs, and shopgoodwill.com platform.
• Adecco Group: Global staffing and workforce services provider offering contract manufacturing and assembly labor services to enterprise clients including those Goodwill serves. Comparable B2B contract labor and light-manufacturing service line, though at vastly larger scale and without social-mission overlay.

Emerging players

• Half Price Books: Regional for-profit retailer of used books, media, and related goods, accepting donations and reselling at value prices. Partially comparable used-merchandise retail format and budget-conscious customer base, though focused on books/media rather than apparel and household goods.
• Buffalo Exchange: For-profit resale clothing chain buying directly from consumers and reselling secondhand apparel. Comparable secondhand retail channel serving similar value- and sustainability-conscious customers, though focused on clothing rather than broad household goods.

Direct peers

• Salvation Army Family Stores: National nonprofit operating thrift retail stores funded by donated goods, with proceeds supporting adult rehabilitation and workforce programs for underserved populations. Directly comparable mission-driven social-enterprise model to this Goodwill chapter.
• Savers / Value Village: Largest for-profit thrift store operator in North America (and major Goodwill donor), running 300+ thrift stores under Savers/Value Village/Village des Valeurs banners. Directly comparable thrift retail format, donation supply model, and budget-conscious customer base.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit operating thrift stores and workforce/affordable housing programs that serve vulnerable populations. Directly comparable mission-driven model combining donated-goods retail with employment and rehabilitation services.
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Thrift Stores: Nonprofit thrift retail chain that funds veteran employment services. Comparable donation-based thrift model with a workforce-development mission, though narrower beneficiary focus than Goodwill.

Others

• CareerSource Ohio / Workforce Development Boards: State/local workforce development entities that are primary referral and funding sources for Goodwill's SCSEP, Pre-ETS, and vocational rehabilitation programs. Comparable workforce development mission and beneficiary base; functions more as a referrer/funder than direct competitor.

Regional players

• ARC Thrift Stores (Aspire): Nonprofit thrift stores (Colorado/Pennsylvania) operated by Aspire, serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Highly comparable dual mission of thrift retail plus employment services for people with disabilities, though serving a different geographic region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/goodwillsquad
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Goodwillsandusky
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Goodwillsquad/341247242656927
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2877055?trk=tyah
• Instagraminstagram.com/goodwillsquad

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Goodwill