Land of Lincoln Goodwill

What Land of Lincoln Goodwill does

Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries, Inc. (LLGI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1938 and headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, serving 33 counties in Central and Southern Illinois plus 4 counties in Western Indiana. The organization operates a network of 14 retail stores and donation centers, one outlet (pound) store, and two e-commerce channels (ShopGoodwill.com and GoodwillBooks.com) selling donated clothing, housewares, electronics, furniture, books, and media. Revenue is generated primarily through retail sales of donated goods, supplemented by monetary and item donations, with the organization explicitly not relying on government funding.

LLGI's core technology is non-proprietary retail and donation logistics infrastructure rather than software platforms. The organization's mission-driven product portfolio includes Career Development Services, Vocational Training for individuals with intellectual disabilities, Youth Services with mentoring and academic support, Community Day Services, and environmental programs such as the Dell Reconnect electronics recycling partnership. Notable programs include the Google AI Digital Career Accelerator (offering free Google certifications in IT Support, Project Management, UX Design, AI Essentials, Data Analytics, and Digital Marketing) and Special Olympics athlete programs. In 2025, the organization diverted 11.6 million pounds from landfills with an 83% diversion rate, including 80,000 pounds of electronics through Dell Reconnect and 1.7 million garments reused.

LLGI serves more than 7,000 individuals annually through career services, mentoring, employment, and life skills assistance, with primary customer segments including individuals with disabilities, job seekers facing barriers, at-risk youth, and budget-conscious thrift shoppers. Pricing is unit-based with senior/military discounts of 15%, weekly color tag sales of 50% off, and outlet pricing by the pound (as low as $0.19/lb for glass, ceramic, and china items). The organization is led by President & CEO Ron Culves and COO Wally Proenza, both of whom were appointed to the Goodwill COE Circularity Subcommittee in 2025.

Name

Land of Lincoln Goodwill

Legal name

Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries, Inc.

Website

https://llgi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1938 that operates 14 retail stores, an outlet store, and online thrift channels across 33 counties in Central/Southern Illinois and Western Indiana, funding free career training, vocational services, and youth programs through donated-goods retail sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Thrift Retail and Nonprofit Social Services

NAICS

Used Merchandise Retailers (459510)

SIC

Retail-Department Stores (5311)

akta.pro primary industry

Donation, Resale & Textile Recycling Coordination (HSAFABAI)

Keywords

• Thrift retail stores
• Vocational training programs
• Community youth services
• Electronics recycling program
• Donated goods resale

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Donated Goods: Revenue generated from selling donated clothing, housewares, electronics, furniture, and other items through 14 retail stores, one outlet store, and online platforms (ShopGoodwill.com and GoodwillBooks.com). The organization does not rely on government funding and depends on retail sales and donations to fund mission programs.
2. Donations and Philanthropic Support: Monetary and item donations from the community support the organization's programs and services. Item donations are sold in stores to fund mission operations.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates 14 retail thrift stores, one outlet/pound store, and online resale platforms (ShopGoodwill.com and GoodwillBooks.com) selling donated clothing, housewares, electronics, furniture, books, and media. Revenue from these retail operations funds free community programs including Career Development Services, Vocational Training for individuals with intellectual disabilities, Youth Mentoring Services, Community Day Services, and the Dell Reconnect electronics recycling program.

Product overview

Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries is a nonprofit organization operating a network of 14 retail stores, donation centers, and one outlet store across Central Illinois, along with online shopping platforms (ShopGoodwill.com and GoodwillBooks.com). The organization generates revenue through retail operations to fund community programs including Career Development Services, Vocational Training for individuals with intellectual disabilities, Youth Services with mentoring and enrichment programs, and Environmental initiatives through the Dell Reconnect electronics recycling partnership. The retail operations form the revenue-generating foundation that supports all mission-driven programs, while special events like Bridal Gown Shows and the Google AI Digital Career Accelerator provide additional community engagement and workforce development opportunities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dell Reconnect: Electronics recycling program partnership with Dell Technologies for responsible e-waste disposal
• Google AI Digital Career Accelerator Program
• GoodGuides

Products and services

• Goodwill Retail Stores Network of 14 retail stores and donation centers offering gently worn clothing, shoes, housewares, jewelry, electronics, and other donated merchandise at discounted prices; merchandise changes weekly and supports Central Illinois communities.
• Goodwill Outlet Store Bulk discount store selling clothing, linens, shoes, purses, toys, electronics, housewares, books, and media by the pound with items priced as low as $0.19 per pound for glass, ceramic, and China items.
• ShopGoodwill Online Online auction platform for purchasing donated goods including collectibles, electronics, clothing, and home goods through online bidding.
• Goodwill Books Online platform for purchasing books, media, and educational materials donated to Goodwill locations.
• Dell Reconnect Electronics Recycling Free electronics recycling program accepting any brand of used computers, monitors, printers, scanners, hard drives, keyboards, mice, speakers, cables, and cell phones in any condition, supporting Dell's closed-loop reuse process.
• Google AI Digital Career Accelerator Program Free online career training program offering Google certifications in IT Support, Project Management, UX Design, AI Essentials, Data Analytics, and Digital Marketing & E-commerce with one-on-one career coaching and no eligibility requirements.
• Career Development Services Employment assistance helping individuals find jobs and obtain careers through job market guidance and support services, serving 7,000+ individuals annually.
• Youth Services Mentoring and youth development program providing academic support, life skills training, workforce development, GoodGuides mentoring, and enrichment activities for at-risk youth across Central Illinois.
• Vocational Training Program Vocational training program designed to help individuals with intellectual disabilities develop skills for more productive lives and gain employment opportunities.
• Bridal Gown Shows Annual special-event retail shows held at 5 locations showcasing new and gently used bridal gowns, flower girl dresses, mother-of-the-bride dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and accessories at discounted prices.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11.6 million pounds of material diverted from landfills with 83% diversion rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GooglecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 August 2025Google AI Digital Career Accelerator program offering free Google certifications including IT Support, Project Management, UX Design, AI Essential Skills, Data Analytics, and Digital Marketing. Program is 100% free, fully online with no eligibility requirements, available across all LLGI-serviced communities with one-on-one career coaching.
• Dell Technologies / Dell ReconnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides free e-waste recycling for consumers and small businesses. Accepts any brand in any condition of computers, monitors, printers, scanners, hard drives, keyboards, mice, speakers, cables, and cell phones. Supports circular economy by recovering materials for Dell's closed-loop process and provides job training opportunities.
• Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Youth Summit 2026. Executive Director & CEO Candace Silas serves as keynote speaker. Partnership connects at-risk youth with housing assistance and family stability resources.
• Lincoln Land Community College (LLCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWEI and Pathway Program collaboration. Candace Silas, Director of WEI and Pathway Program at LLCC, participated as presenter and vendor at Youth Summit, providing resources for youth reaching future goals.
• John A. Logan CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization where youth program participant Lovely Jackson signed to play women's basketball. LLGI Youth Services supports student athletes in pursuing higher education and athletics.
• SIU MedicineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranshandra Owens, Licensed Clinical Social Worker from SIU Medicine, provides mental health resources at LLGI Youth Summit and community events.
• U.S. Bank - 6th Street BranchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner participating in Thanksgiving Dinner resource fair, providing financial literacy resources to youth and families.
• Omega Nu Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFraternity organization participating in Thanksgiving Dinner resource fair supporting youth mentoring and community programs.
• Oral Roberts UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth enrichment trip destination where LLGI youth toured campus to explore higher education opportunities and learn about college paths.
• Potawatomi Fire / TBL ConferenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth attended TBL Conference Finals as guests of Potawatomi Fire team. Coach Mark Dannhoff hosted the group, providing championship-level sports experience and lessons in teamwork and perseverance.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights2 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/llgoodwill
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/llgi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Land of Lincoln Goodwill