Goodwill Industries Of The Southern Rivers

What Goodwill Industries Of The Southern Rivers does

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers Inc. (GoodwillSR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Columbus, Georgia, serving 50 counties across west Georgia and east Alabama. Founded in 1960 and operating as one of 156 independent Goodwill affiliates in North America, the organization runs a social enterprise model in which revenue from donated-goods retail funds free workforce development services for individuals facing employment barriers. In 2025 the organization served 38,882 people, placed 6,090 individuals in jobs, served 2,732 veterans, awarded $765,000 in scholarships, and prepared 5,767 free tax returns, while maintaining a 9.8% administrative cost ratio.

The operating footprint comprises 12 retail thrift stores (expanding to 18 with the announced Auburn, Alabama location), 21 attended donation centers, 7 career centers, 6 training academies, the Opportunity Center, and the Virtual Career Center digital platform. Revenue and program services are concentrated in five streams: (1) retail sales of donated goods through physical stores and shopgoodwill.com/columbusga; (2) PowerWorks Industries contract custodial and grounds maintenance services at Fort Benning and Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base; (3) Round Up register donations funding scholarships; (4) the Goodwill Perks loyalty program and ReSupply home pickup fees; and (5) grants and program partnerships with the IRS (VITA), AmeriCorps, Dell (Reconnect), NRF, ServSafe, AHLEI, OSHA, and regional technical colleges that underwrite Training Academy credentials.

The technology stack is conventional nonprofit enterprise IT: UltiPro for HR, Microsoft 365 and SharePoint for productivity, the My Career Advisor-powered Virtual Career Center for remote job-seeker services, and shopgoodwill.com for online auctions. Career services, training, certifications, GED preparation, and tax preparation are provided at no cost to participants; retail goods are priced individually with weekly color-tag discounts and an outlet store selling by the pound. The organization is governed by a local board and reinvests approximately 90.2% of revenue into mission programs.

Name

Goodwill Industries Of The Southern Rivers

Legal name

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers Inc.

Website

https://goodwillsr.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving 50 counties in west Georgia and east Alabama through 12+ thrift retail stores, donation centers, career centers, and training academies, delivering free workforce development, certifications, and social services to job seekers with employment barriers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Workforce Development & Thrift Retail (Nonprofit Social Enterprise)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Asset Recovery, Surplus & Decommissioning Services (EUAIANAD)

Keywords

• Thrift retail stores
• Workforce development services
• Job training programs
• Career placement services
• Donated goods resale

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Donated Goods: GoodwillSR operates retail thrift stores selling donated clothing, household items, and other goods. Revenue is generated from the sale of donated items. Approximately 99% of donations remain in stores; a small portion is sold online or at outlet stores by the pound. This is the primary funding mechanism for all career services.
2. Online E-Commerce Sales: Online sales through shopgoodwill.com reach more customers beyond physical store locations. Items include jewelry, collectibles, and other bargains. No fees and penny shipping are offered.
3. PowerWorks Contract Services: PowerWorks Industries, an affiliate of GoodwillSR, provides grounds maintenance and custodial services for military installations (Fort Benning and Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base), generating contract revenue.
4. Round Up Donations: The Round Up program allows shoppers to round up purchases at retail registers, with the difference donated to fund scholarships and career-based services.
5. Scholarship Program Funding: Scholarships funded by the Round Up program cover GED, CNA, Phlebotomy, Construction, Retail Certification, Food Services, Hospitality, and other training programs for eligible community members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers operates a social enterprise that sells donated clothing and household goods through 12+ thrift retail stores and ShopGoodwill.com online auctions, then reinvests the proceeds to deliver free career services, job training, and certification programs through 7 career centers, 6 training academies, and a Virtual Career Center. It also offers specialized programs (BRIDGE GED, HYPE Youth, Veterans Services, free IRS VITA tax preparation, Round Up scholarships) and runs PowerWorks Industries, which provides grounds and custodial contract services at Fort Benning and Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base.

Product overview

Goodwill Industries of the Southern Rivers operates a multi-service nonprofit organization combining retail operations with workforce development programs. The core offering includes thrift retail stores and an online auction platform (ShopGoodwill.com) that generate revenue to fund free career services. The organization provides physical and virtual Career Centers offering job placement assistance, resume building, and computer access, alongside the Goodwill Training Academy delivering industry-recognized certifications (NRF, ServSafe, OSHA 10, CNA, and more). Specialized programs include veteran's services, youth programs (HYPE Summer Youth Program with CGSP certification), BRIDGE GED preparation, VITA free tax preparation, Round Up scholarship program, and Goodwill PERKS loyalty rewards. Additional offerings include PowerWorks Industries (military contract custodial/grounds services), Dell Reconnect e-waste recycling, and the CREATE Campaign showcasing creative upcycling. The organization serves 50 counties across west Georgia and east Alabama through career centers, training centers, retail stores, and donation centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PowerWorks: Contract custodial and grounds maintenance services for military installations including Albany Marine Corps Logistics Base and Fort Benning.
• Goodwill Perks
• Goodwill Training Academy
• Goodwill Kids

Products and services

• Thrift Retail Stores
• ShopGoodwill.com (Columbus GA) Online Auctions
• Attended Donation Centers
• Career Centers
• Training Academies (Goodwill Training Academy)
• Virtual Career Center
• VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) Free Tax Preparation
• BRIDGE GED Program
• HYPE Summer Youth Program
• Veteran's Services
• Round Up Scholarship Program
• PowerWorks Industries Contract Services
• Dell Reconnect E-Waste Recycling
• Goodwill Perks Loyalty Program
• Opportunity Center
• ReSupply Donation Pickup Service
• BRIDGE GED Program (Young-Adult Edition)

Quantifiable outcome

• 38,882 people served in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dell / Dell ReconnectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwillSR participates in the Dell Reconnect program for responsible computer and e-waste recycling. Donors can drop off any brand of computer equipment at Goodwill stores, which is then inspected, refurbished, or recycled by Dell Reconnect.
• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwillSR partners with AmeriCorps to offer an 11-month paid service opportunity, providing individuals with community service experience while generating AmeriCorps members who support Goodwill's mission. AmeriCorps logo appears prominently on the website footer.
• IRS (VITA Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwillSR is an official IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site, providing free tax preparation for households earning less than $67,000 annually. The IRS provides training, materials, and program oversight.
• BRIDGE GED ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwillSR partners with the BRIDGE GED program to offer free GED preparation and testing. BRIDGE is a fast-track 15-week classroom program for young adults to earn their GED.
• ReSupplyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGoodwillSR has partnered with veteran-owned ReSupply for donation pickup services. ReSupply provides scheduled and priority pickup of donated goods from donors' homes for a per-piece fee.
• National Retail Federation (NRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwillSR offers NRF Customer Service and Retail Skills Certification through its Training Academy, providing nationally recognized credentials for job seekers.
• Technical Colleges (Regional)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with technical colleges throughout the community enable Goodwill to offer Manufacturing Ready Certification, forklift training, and other programs in conjunction with accredited educational institutions.
• Spartan ChemicalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwillSR partners with Spartan Chemical for Custodial & Floorcare training and certification programs offered through the Training Academy.
• American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwillSR offers AHLEI Guest Services and Certified Maintenance Employee certifications through its Training Academy, providing hospitality industry credentials.
• National Restaurant Association (ServSafe)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwillSR offers ServSafe Food Handler and Food Service certifications through its Training Academy, developed by the National Restaurant Association for food safety training.
• OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwillSR offers OSHA 10 certification as part of its Manufacturing and Forklift Safety program, providing occupational safety credentials.
• United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Way logo appears in the website footer as a community partner of GoodwillSR.
• Financial Institutions and Community OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners in the Financial Services / VITA program providing banking, savings, financial counseling, and other asset-building services for low-to-moderate income taxpayers.
• Regional EmployerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional employers partner with GoodwillSR for recruitment assistance, hiring events, and pre-screening of candidates. Goodwill provides meeting space for interviews and training on employer premises.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Federation of 156 independent community-based Goodwill organizations across the U.S. and Canada, including GoodwillSR. Directly comparable by mission (thrift-funded workforce development) and shared brand, but operates as an umbrella/trade body rather than as a regional operator.
• Winmark Corporation: Franchisor of resale brands including Play It Again Sports, Once Upon A Child, and Style Encore. Comparable on the model of operating retail storefronts that buy/sell used goods, but in a for-profit franchise structure targeting different product categories.
• The Salvation Army: National nonprofit operating thrift/family stores whose proceeds fund adult rehabilitation, workforce, and social services. Overlaps with GoodwillSR on thrift retail plus social mission and serves similar low-to-moderate-income customer segments, but at much larger geographic scale.

Emerging players

• Per Scholas: National nonprofit providing tuition-free tech and IT training to unemployed and underemployed adults, with employer-connected job placement. Comparable career-services model to GoodwillSR's Career Centers and Training Academy, focused on a different (technology) certification track.
• ThredUp: Online resale platform operating a national thrift marketplace with branded "Goody Boxes" and Resale-as-a-Service. Competes for both donors and shoppers with GoodwillSR's retail and ShopGoodwill channels, and represents the digital-native shift reshaping the broader secondhand market.
• Year Up: Workforce development nonprofit providing training, certifications, and job placement for young adults from underserved communities. Directly comparable to GoodwillSR's HYPE youth program and Training Academy on mission and target demographics, though without the retail/thrift funding engine.

Direct peers

• Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana: One of the largest regional Goodwill organizations in the U.S., operating retail stores, career centers, and training programs funded through donated goods sales. Closest like-for-like comparable to GoodwillSR in operating model, scale, and mission-driven services mix.
• Goodwill of the Chesapeake: Another sizable regional Goodwill organization operating retail stores, career services, and contract programs in MD/VA/NC/DC. Same operating model, brand, and revenue model as GoodwillSR, providing a direct cross-regional benchmark for store density, mission reinvestment, and program outcomes.
• Savers / Value Village: For-profit thrift retail chain operating hundreds of stores globally with a "reuse-based" sourcing model similar to GoodwillSR's donated-goods intake. Directly comparable on core retail mechanics (donated/secondhand inventory, value pricing), though without the workforce development mission overlay.

Others

• America's Job Center (workforce development boards): Federally funded network of local workforce development boards providing free career services, training, and job placement in every U.S. state. Ecosystem peer to GoodwillSR's Career Centers operating under similar WIOA-aligned funding streams and serving overlapping employer and job-seeker segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC9aYJOT_jwAFFd7uTib5V6Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/GoodwillSR
• Instagraminstagram.com/goodwillsr

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Industries Of The Southern Rivers