Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois

What Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois does

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois is an independent, community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered at 850 N. Church Street, Rockford, Illinois. The organization operates a dual-purpose model in which retail thrift revenue funds workforce development and educational programs serving individuals facing employment barriers. Its retail arm comprises 12 Good Deals thrift stores across northern Illinois (Rockford, Machesney Park, Freeport, Sterling, DeKalb, Ottawa, McHenry, Huntley, Crystal Lake, Algonquin) and Beloit, Wisconsin, complemented by an online storefront at ShopGoodwill.com/Rockford. Stores process donations of clothing, household goods, electronics, and vehicles, with 19 million+ pounds of goods recycled or repurposed annually and 1 million+ retail customers served in 2025. Donation pickup is enabled through a partnership with Resupply Inc.

The mission services division operates an extensive portfolio of workforce and education programs serving 29,750 participants in 2025, including: GoodGRADS (HSE/GED preparation), the Accelerate Program (CDL Class A, CNA, Pharmacy Technician, Warehousing certifications for ages 16-24), the Supported Employment Program for adults with disabilities (CARF accredited), Re-Entry Programs for justice-involved individuals, the Veterans Career Resource Program, the Goodwill Excel Center (tuition-free adult high school), and CEJA clean energy training (solar, EV, weatherization, CNC machining) delivered in partnership with seven trade unions and Rock Valley College. Over 1,500 individuals were placed in or retained employment in 2025.

The organization is led by President Ben Bernsten and six Vice Presidents overseeing Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Mission Services, and Retail, with a Governing Board chaired by Jim Corbett. Revenue mechanics include thrift retail sales, individual and corporate donations, vehicle donations, and customer round-up scholarships — with approximately 85% of retail revenue directed back to community programs. The organization holds a third consecutive three-year CARF accreditation (2024) with zero recommendations, a quality benchmark achieved by only 3% of CARF surveys, and maintains primary funding relationships with Illinois DRS-VR, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Name

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois

Legal name

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois

Website

https://goodwillni.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois is an independent nonprofit operating 12 thrift retail stores across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, funding workforce development and education programs — including GED, vocational training, supported employment, re-entry services, and clean energy credentialing — that served 29,750 participants and placed over 1,500 individuals in jobs in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Rockford

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Donated Goods: Revenue generated from selling donated clothing, household items, electronics, and other goods through 12 retail stores. All sales revenue funds mission services programs.
2. Individual Donations: Receipt of donated goods from individuals which are then sold to generate revenue for mission programs. Received over 19 million pounds of goods in 2025.
3. Vehicle Donations: Acceptance of car, truck, motorcycle, and boat donations in all conditions through dedicated vehicle donation program.
4. Scholarship Programs: Round-up donations at checkout where shoppers round up purchases to fund scholarships for individuals with disabilities at community colleges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois operates a dual-purpose nonprofit model combining thrift retail operations with workforce development programs. The retail arm sells donated clothing, household goods, electronics, and other items through 12 physical Good Deals stores and an online ShopGoodwill.com platform. The mission services arm provides job training, employment placement, GED/HSE education, supported employment for individuals with disabilities, re-entry services for justice-involved individuals, veterans career support, and clean energy training programs, all funded by retail revenue.

Product overview

Goodwill Industries of Northern Illinois operates a dual business model combining retail thrift operations with comprehensive workforce development services. The retail arm includes 12 physical Good Deals thrift stores and an online shopgoodwill.com platform selling donated merchandise. The mission services division offers employment and educational programs including GoodGRADS (GED/HSE attainment), the Accelerate Program (CDL, CNA, and healthcare training), the Supported Employment Program for adults with disabilities, Re-Entry Programs for justice-involved individuals, the Goodwill Excel Center (tuition-free adult high school), the Veterans Career Resource Program, and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) clean energy training initiative. Additional services include donation acceptance, vehicle donation, and corporate donation drives. Revenue from retail operations funds the mission services programs serving 29,750 program participants in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Goodwill Excel Center: Awarding industry-recognized certifications and high school diplomas to adult learners
• GoodGRADS
• Accelerate Program
• Attire to Hire
• Goodwill Book Nook

Products and services

• Good Deals (Retail Stores) Thrift retail stores selling donated clothing, household goods, electronics, and other items at discounted prices. The organization operates 12 retail locations across northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, including Rockford, Machesney Park, Freeport, Sterling, DeKalb, Ottawa, McHenry, Huntley, Crystal Lake, Algonquin, and Beloit, WI.
• Shop Goodwill Online Online e-commerce platform accessible at shopgoodwill.com/rockford for purchasing donated merchandise digitally.
• Donations Services Accepts donated goods from individuals and businesses including clothing, electronics, furniture, and vehicles. Services include store drop-off, scheduled pickup (via Resupply Inc.), and corporate donation drives. Processed over 19 million pounds of goods in 2025.
• Donation Pickup Service Residential donation pickup service powered by Resupply Inc., allowing scheduling up to two weeks in advance or within 48 hours for urgent needs. Partners with former military logistics specialists.
• GoodGRADS Program High School Equivalency (HSE/GED) education program providing classroom learning, one-on-one attention, small class sizes, case management, and scholarship support for testing fees. Programs are held in McHenry, Belvidere, Ottawa, and Freeport.
• Goodwill Excel Center Tuition-free high school offering industry-recognized certifications and high school diplomas to adult learners. Includes flexible schedules, on-site childcare, transportation assistance, and career counseling. Accepting applications for next semester.
• Goodwill Scholarships Scholarship program funded by customer round-up donations at registers, supporting individuals with disabilities at 7 local community colleges including Blackhawk Technical College, Highland, Illinois Valley, Kishwaukee, McHenry, Rock Valley, and Sauk Valley.
• Workforce Development Services Comprehensive employment services including workforce readiness training, job placement assistance, Attire to Hire clothing vouchers for interviews, and employer resources for pre-screened candidate matching.
• Supported Employment Program (SEP) Vocational janitorial training, job development, and employment in a supported work environment for adults with disabilities, transitioning to community integrated employment. CARF accredited in 2018, 2021, and 2024. Locations in Sterling and Freeport, IL.
• Accelerate Program No-cost training and career opportunities in transportation, distribution, logistics, and healthcare industries. Offers Warehousing 101, CDL Class A, Pharmacy Technician, CNA, and CCMA certifications for young adults aged 16-24 in Winnebago County.
• Re-Entry Programs Services for justice-involved individuals including Re-Entry Peer Navigators, Pathway Home (incarceration-to-community transition), and Re-Entry Simulations. Operates in Winnebago County.
• Veterans Career Resource Program Employment services for US military veterans including employability training, school/training assistance, resource navigation, and employer connections. Currently operating from Sterling store location.
• Attire to Hire Program providing clothing vouchers for interview and employment-appropriate attire. Requires referral from organization or case manager.
• Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) Program Clean energy training and career opportunities in energy efficiency, electric vehicles, manufacturing, CNC machining, weatherization, construction, pre-apprenticeship, and solar. Includes Climate Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program in partnership with trade unions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29,750 total program participants served in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 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 and minor.

• Resupply Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020Partnership with Resupply Inc. for donation pickups. Resupply picks up gently used goods from households and delivers them to Goodwill and other charities. Resupply has picked up from over 150,000 households in 39 states and delivered to over 400 charities.
• The Workforce ConnectioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwill is a proud partner of The Workforce Connection, the area's workforce system serving Winnebago, Boone, and Stephenson Counties. Services include job training, services for young adults, computer and internet access, job search assistance, career information, and services for veterans and workers with disabilities.
• Rock Valley CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Clean Energy/CEJA training programs and pre-apprenticeship programs. Also a recipient of Goodwill scholarships for individuals with disabilities. Home to the Advanced Technology Center for CNC machining training.
• Trade Unions (Carpenters, Ironworkers, Laborers, Painters, Plumbers & Pipefitters, Sheet Metal Workers, Roofers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with multiple trade unions (Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council, Ironworkers Local 498, Laborers' International Union Local 32, Painters Union Local 30, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 23, Sheet Metal Workers' Local 219, United Union of Roofers Local 11) for pre-apprenticeship and construction trades training programs.
• Rockford Area Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Goodwill's Pre-Apprenticeship Program (Climate Works) for construction and building trades training.
• Community Colleges (Blackhawk Technical College, Highland, Illinois Valley, Kishwaukee, McHenry, Rock Valley, Sauk Valley)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwill funds scholarships for individuals with disabilities at seven local community colleges: Blackhawk Technical College (Beloit, WI), Highland Community College (Freeport, IL), Illinois Valley Community College (Oglesby, IL), Kishwaukee College (DeKalb, IL), McHenry Community College (Crystal Lake, IL), Rock Valley College (Rockford, IL), and Sauk Valley College (Dixon, IL).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GoodwillNIL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/GoodwillNIL
• Facebookfacebook.com/goodwillnil
• Instagraminstagram.com/goodwillnil
• Pinterestpinterest.com/goodwillnil
• TikToktiktok.com/@goodwillnil

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 Industries of Northern Illinois