Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

What Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont does

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 56-0844639) founded in 1963 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, that operates an integrated donated-goods retail enterprise and tuition-free workforce development platform across an 18-county Southern Piedmont region spanning North and South Carolina. The retail operation comprises 36 standard stores plus specialty formats (GW Boutique, The GRID technology store, Second Editions outlets) and online channels (ShopGoodwill.com, eBay, Amazon, Home by Goodwill on Facebook); this network of 50 donation drop-off sites and physical stores supplies both inventory and program funding. Workforce programming is delivered through the Goodwill Construction Skills Training Center (offering tuition-free Construction Basics, Carpentry, Electrical, HVAC, Certified Apartment Maintenance, Blueprint Reading, and a new March 2026 Building Automation Systems course), Career Centers in Charlotte and Gastonia, GoodWork Staffing (a full-service staffing agency across administrative, professional, industrial, and manufacturing sectors), and skill-building workshops including Financial Basics and digital skills labs.

The business model cross-subsidizes free community services via six revenue streams: (1) retail sales of donated goods at fixed unit prices ($0.79-$6.99 per item); (2) GoodWork Staffing placement fees for temporary, temp-to-hire, executive recruiting, outsourcing, and direct-hire services; (3) financial donations including a $10,000+ J. Michael Elder Giving Circle tier; (4) meeting and event-space rentals at the 160,000-sq-ft Goodwill Opportunity Campus ($150-$600 starting rates); (5) corporate donations and e-cycling services, including Dell Reconnect partnership and DoD-standard hard-drive shredding; and (6) Essential Edge fee-based customizable workplace training (Power Skills, Leadership, DiSC, Customer Service). Underwriting performance in 2025 included $117.4M total economic and fiscal impact, 8,882 participants supported, 90% graduate six-month employment retention, 91% program completion, 21.4M items repurposed, and 1.2M+ pounds of electronics recycled, with 1,300+ annual team members under President & CEO Christopher M. Jackson, who succeeded James Michael Elder in 2023.

Name

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

Legal name

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont

Website

https://goodwillsp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is a Charlotte-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates 36 retail stores and tuition-free workforce development programs, including construction trades training, career centers, and GoodWork Staffing, serving job seekers and employers across an 18-county region in North and South Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development and Nonprofit Retail

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Temporary Help Services (56132), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Help Supply Services (7363)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce & Job-Seeker Services (Community-Based) (EDAAAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF), Job Readiness Training & Soft Skills Development (EDAKANAD), Skilled Trades (Electricians/Plumbers/HVAC/Carpenters) Staffing (BPACAEAB)

Keywords

• Thrift retail stores
• Workforce development services
• Nonprofit staffing agency
• Construction skills training
• Donation pickup services

Headquarters

HQ city

Charlotte

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Donated Goods: Goodwill operates 36 retail stores selling donated clothing, household items, furniture, electronics and other goods. Revenue from retail sales funds workforce development programs, job search support and other community services at no cost to participants.
2. GoodWork Staffing Services: Goodwill operates Charlotte's largest nonprofit staffing company, GoodWork Staffing, specializing in providing industrial, clerical and management employees to companies. Offers Temporary, Temp to Hire, Executive Recruiting, Outsourcing, Direct Hire, On-Site Management and Payroll Services.
3. Financial Donations: Goodwill accepts financial gifts through online donations, recurring gifts, check donations, stock gifts, non-cash assets (real estate), and Qualified Charitable Distributions from IRAs. Major donor recognition includes the J. Michael Elder Giving Circle for annual gifts of $10,000.
4. Meeting and Event Space Rentals: Goodwill Opportunity Campus offers meeting rooms, conference space, banquet facilities, and outdoor spaces for rent. Prices start at $150 for meeting rooms, $600 for conference space, and $250 for Gastonia Career Center events ($200 for nonprofits).
5. Corporate Donations and E-Cycling Services: Businesses donate surplus goods and electronics to Goodwill for tax deductions. Through Dell Reconnect partnership, electronics are refurbished or recycled. On-site hard drive shredding available using Department of Defense standards, completing up to 200 drives per hour.
6. Essential Edge Workplace Training: Fee-based customizable professional development training for businesses including Power Skills, Leadership Training, Resume Lab, DiSC Training, Interview Workshop, Computer Essentials, Customer Service Training, and Coaching.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels15 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont collects donated goods from the community and resells them through 36 retail stores and online channels to fund tuition-free workforce development programs. The organization delivers job search support, career coaching, and tuition-free construction and trade-skills training (HVAC, electrical, carpentry, building automation, apartment maintenance, blueprint reading) through Career Centers and the Construction Skills Training Center. It also operates GoodWork Staffing, a staffing agency placing workers in temporary, temp-to-hire, and permanent roles, and provides paid business services including Essential Edge workplace training, meeting space rentals, and corporate donation/e-cycling services.

Product overview

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont operates a multi-channel nonprofit enterprise centered on donated goods retail and workforce development. The core retail operation includes 36 retail stores, three specialty formats (GW Boutique, The GRID technology store, Second Editions outlets), and online marketplaces via ShopGoodwill.com, eBay, and Amazon. Workforce development programs include tuition-free Construction & Trade Skills Training (Construction Basics, Commercial Carpentry, Electrical, HVAC, Certified Apartment Maintenance, Building Automation Systems, Blueprint Reading), delivered at the Construction Skills Training Center with wraparound career support. Employment services encompass Career Centers, GoodWork Staffing (staffing agency), Skill-Building Workshops, and the Pathways team member coaching program. Business services include Essential Edge customizable workplace training, Meeting & Event Space rentals, and Corporate Donations & E-Cycling. The organization uses Shopify for in-store checkout, Paylocity for recruiting, and integrates with multiple e-commerce and payment platforms for online sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GoodWork Staffing: Full-service staffing agency operated by Goodwill, specializing in temporary, permanent, and temp-to-permanent placements across administrative, professional, industrial, and manufacturing sectors. Offices in Charlotte, Concord, and Gastonia.
• GW: A Goodwill Boutique
• The GRID
• Second Editions
• Essential Edge
• GoodWork Staffing

Products and services

• Goodwill Retail Stores Network of 36 physical retail stores selling donated clothing, household items, furniture, electronics, and other goods at affordable prices to consumers; revenue funds the organization's free workforce development programs.
• GW: A Goodwill Boutique Specialty boutique offering affordable designer and name-brand women's and men's apparel, jewelry, shoes, accessories, and home d\u00e9cor to consumers in Charlotte's South End.
• The GRID Technology Store Technology and electronics-focused retail location offering new, refurbished, and donated computers, games, gaming consoles, televisions, and related electronics at Goodwill prices.
• Second Editions Outlet Stores Outlet 'pound stores' selling donated merchandise by weight starting at $0.79 per pound in Charlotte, NC and Rock Hill, SC locations.
• GoodWork Staffing Full-service staffing agency providing temporary, temp-to-hire, executive recruiting, outsourcing, direct hire, on-site management, and payroll services to companies in administrative, professional, industrial, and manufacturing sectors; offices in Charlotte, Concord, and Gastonia.
• Career Centers Full-service Career Centers in Charlotte and Gastonia offering computer access, resume review, job search support, training program enrollment, and career guidance to job seekers at no cost, with partner support at NC Works locations in Concord.
• Skill-Building Workshops Free workshops covering Drop-In Resume Help, Career Accelerator Program, Resume Workshop, Interview Skills, Digital Navigators Learning Labs, and Financial Basics Workshops delivered at Charlotte and Gastonia Career Centers.
• Pathways Program Career coaching program for Goodwill team members providing individualized career coaching, customized action plans, tuition reimbursement, and the L.E.A.D. Conference to support internal professional advancement.
• Essential Edge Workplace Training Fee-based customizable workplace training for businesses covering Power Skills, Leadership Training, Resume Lab, DiSC Training, Interview Workshop, Computer Essentials, Customer Service Training, and Coaching, delivered on-site or at Goodwill facilities.
• Meeting & Event Space Rentals Rental of meeting rooms, conference spaces, banquet facilities, outdoor spaces, and community rooms at the Goodwill Opportunity Campus and various retail and Career Center locations, including office/cubicle space at $24/sq ft annually.
• Donation Pickup Services Donation pickup services including ReSupply priority fee-based pickup (48-hour turnaround, accepts all items) and free standard pickup for eligible zip codes with at least two large furniture items.
• Corporate Donations & E-Cycling Corporate donation program for businesses accepting surplus goods, office furniture, and electronics with tax deduction, free pickup, and on-site secure data destruction using Department of Defense-standard hard drive shredding (up to 200 drives/hour).
• Construction & Trade Skills Training Tuition-free hands-on construction and trade skills training at the Construction Skills Training Center in Charlotte covering Construction Basics, Commercial Carpentry, Electrical, HVAC, Certified Apartment Maintenance, Building Automation Systems, and Blueprint Reading & Estimating, with wraparound career coaching.
• Building Automation Systems Training Program 180-hour tuition-free training program in building automation and energy efficiency for careers in smart buildings, developed by Stacks+Joules in partnership with Distech Controls, with Distech Controls hardware provided; graduates earn approximately $25/hour starting wages.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of immersive program participants complete their program and graduate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Stacks+JoulescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026Stacks+Joules developed Goodwill's new building automation and energy efficiency workforce program. The 180-hour training course is offered at Goodwill's Construction Skills Training Center, with graduates expected to earn approximately $25/hour starting wages.
• Distech ControlscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026Smart building company providing training hardware and recruiting contractors to hire graduates of Goodwill's building automation program. First cohort began training in March 2026.
• Dell ReconnectcoreTechnology or IntegrationElectronics recycling partnership through which donated electronics are refurbished or recycled responsibly. Supports Goodwill's e-cycling program with data security and environmental compliance.
• ReSupplyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVeteran-owned service partner providing priority donation pickups for a small fee. Offers 48-hour pickup with no disassembly needed, accepts items of all sizes and conditions.
• Common Wealth CharlottecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Financial Basics workshops - free financial-empowerment series offered in Charlotte and Gastonia. Part of Goodwill's skill-building workshop offerings.
• Center for Digital EquitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigital Navigators from the Center for Digital Equity are on-site at Charlotte and Gastonia Career Centers to help community members learn technology basics, navigate safely, and access services.
• Charlotte Community Health Clinic & DentistryminorOthersGoodwill Opportunity Campus partner providing quality, accessible, affordable health services to adults and children. Offers primary care, specialty care, behavioral health services, and health and wellness education.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Goodwill of North Georgia: Another independent Goodwill affiliate operating the same integrated model of thrift retail, workforce development training, and staffing services in the Atlanta region. Directly comparable nonprofit mission, retail-to-training flywheel, and GoodWork-style staffing subsidiary structure.
• Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake: Mid-Atlantic Goodwill affiliate operating retail stores, workforce development, and staffing services across Maryland and DC region. Same nonprofit structure, similar mix of construction trades training, career services, and corporate partnerships.
• Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana: Major Goodwill affiliate operating across central Indiana with comparable retail-to-training integrated model. Provides same combination of thrift retail, tuition-free training programs, and employment placement services.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores: Nonprofit home goods and furniture retail operation supporting Habitat's housing mission. Competes for furniture and household goods donations, and operates a similar nonprofit retail model where revenue funds mission activities.
• Goodwill of the Olympics and Rainier Region: Pacific Northwest Goodwill affiliate operating retail, workforce training, and staffing services. Closely comparable regional nonprofit model with diversified revenue streams and tuition-free training programs.

Broad incumbents

• Savers / Value Village: Largest for-profit thrift retailer globally with hundreds of stores. Directly competes for donated goods supply and thrift retail customers, and as a publicly-traded scaled operator represents the most significant commercial competitive threat to Goodwill's retail revenue base.
• Adecco Group: Global staffing and workforce solutions company providing temporary, permanent, and outsourcing placements. Competes with GoodWork Staffing in the industrial, clerical, and administrative placement space, but at vastly greater scale.
• Robert Half International: Major staffing and consulting firm specializing in professional, administrative, and finance placements. Competes with GoodWork Staffing's professional/clerical segment while offering a fee-based, for-profit service model.

Emerging players

• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free technology workforce training with strong employer placement outcomes. Comparable tuition-free training model and employer pipeline focus, though concentrated in IT rather than construction trades.
• Year Up: National workforce development nonprofit providing training, mentorship, and corporate placement for young adults. Comparable mission-driven workforce model and strong employer partnerships (e.g., Fortune 500 hiring), but focused on urban youth and IT/corporate roles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GoodwillSP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/goodwillsp
• Facebookfacebook.com/goodwillsp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goodwill-industries-of-the-southern-piedmont
• Instagraminstagram.com/goodwillsp
• TikToktiktok.com/@goodwillsp

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Industries of the Southern Piedmont