Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc.

What Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc. does

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise formed in 2005 through the merger of two independent Goodwill organizations whose roots date to 1918 (Cleveland) and 1926 (Canton, originally as Union Mission). Headquartered at 408 Ninth St. SW in Canton, Ohio, the organization operates a dual-mission model: retail revenue from donated goods funds a portfolio of 31 mission programs serving 10 counties across Ohio and West Virginia. The retail network comprises 27 thrift stores, 2 outlet stores (North Canton and Cleveland), 10 donation centers, mobile donation trailers, and online storefronts on eBay, Shop Goodwill, and Amazon, with a dedicated Wired Up electronics store and a Salvage for Good textile-recycling line. Mission programs span pre-employment training and job placement (vocational evaluation, digital skills, IT certification, job coaching), family strengthening (emergency vouchers, financial literacy, parenting, COMPASS sexual assault services), and community outreach.

The underlying technology stack is modest but operationally relevant: the ConnectWell Community Information Exchange uses the Unite Us platform for closed-loop social-care referrals in 50+ languages; electronics recycling follows NIST 800-88 data-wiping standards; and web operations rely on Google Analytics, Crazy Egg, and Mouseflow. The organization holds CARF International three-year accreditation (the highest tier) for Job Coaching and Job Development, awarded December 2024, and GuideStar Gold Seal transparency recognition. No AI/ML capabilities, proprietary models, or technology IP are disclosed. Governance is provided by a local Board of Directors chaired by Katie Spahnie (First Financial Bank), with Anne Richards serving as President & CEO, Mark Trew as COO, and Marcie Finney as CFO.

Revenue mechanics combine thrift retail (priced by item in stores, by pound at outlets), unit-priced specialty books/media, a tiered loyalty and discount program (Good Points Plus+, Give Me Five), vehicle donations through CARS, and monetary donations including planned giving and endowments. In 2025 the organization served 27,976 program participants, processed 903,843 material donors, diverted 29 million pounds of material from landfills, and reported $46 million in total community investment, with 93% of program funding sourced from donations and purchases. Customer concentration is bifurcated: retail demand is a long-tail consumer base (low concentration), while mission funding depends on a concentrated regional foundation and healthcare-funder coalition supporting ConnectWell CIE.

Name

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc.

Legal name

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc.

Website

https://goodwillgoodskills.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise operating 27 thrift stores, 2 outlet stores, and 31 mission programs across 10 Ohio and West Virginia counties, funding employment training, family services, and community outreach through donated-goods retail revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Social Services and Thrift Retail

NAICS

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

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores (5700)

akta.pro primary industry

Donation, Resale & Textile Recycling Coordination (HSAFABAI)

Keywords

• Thrift retail stores
• Workforce development programs
• Community information exchange
• Social services nonprofit
• Textile recycling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Canton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Store Sales: Revenue generated from selling donated clothing, household items, electronics, toys, and books in 27 retail thrift stores and 2 outlet stores. The profits fund Goodwill's mission programs.
2. Outlet Store Sales: Items not sold in retail stores are sold at outlet stores priced by the pound or individual item, generating additional revenue while supporting sustainability.
3. Online Sales: Sales through third-party platforms including eBay, Shop Goodwill, and Amazon, offering clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, collectibles, electronics, books, and housewares.
4. Monetary Donations: Financial contributions including online donations, text-to-give, check donations, round-up programs, annual giving, tribute gifts, and planned giving/endowments. Tax-deductible as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
5. Vehicle Donations: Vehicle donations through partnership with CARS, generating revenue that supports mission programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio operates a nonprofit social enterprise that sells donated clothing, household items, electronics, books, and housewares through 27 retail thrift stores, 2 outlet stores, bookstores, and online marketplaces (eBay, Shop Goodwill, Amazon). Retail revenues fund 31 mission programs including pre-employment training, job placement services, family strengthening programs, sexual assault support, and community outreach. The organization also runs specialized programs like ConnectWell Community Information Exchange, Wired Up electronics recycling, and Salvage for Good textile recycling.

Product overview

Goodwill Industries of Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio operates as a social enterprise nonprofit with a dual business model: retail operations (thrift stores, outlet stores, bookstores, and online platforms) that fund mission programs. The retail network includes 27 stores, 2 outlet locations, and online presence through eBay, Shop Goodwill, and Amazon. Mission programs include Pre-Employment Training and Job Placement Services (vocational evaluation, career exploration, digital skills training, IT certification), Family Strengthening Programs (emergency vouchers, financial literacy, parenting), and Community Outreach (Ken Weber Community Campus, ConnectWell CIE, Coming Together For Good DEI training, Project Blueprint leadership development). Specialized programs include Salvage for Good textile recycling, Wired Up electronics, and the Good Points Plus+ loyalty program. All programs are funded through retail store revenue and donations, serving 10 counties across Ohio and West Virginia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ConnectWell: Community Information Exchange (CIE) serving East Central Ohio, partnering with local agencies, providers, and community members to link individuals with housing, food, transportation, healthcare, legal aid, and other essential resources.
• Coming Together for Good
• Project Blueprint
• Wired Up
• Good Points Plus+
• Salvage for Good
• Goodwill Ken Weber Community Campus
• Give Me Five
• Book Works

Products and services

• Goodwill Retail Thrift Stores Physical retail stores selling donated clothing, household items, electronics, toys, books, and accessories at affordable prices. Revenue from sales funds Goodwill's mission programs. Located across a 10-county service territory.
• Goodwill Outlet Stores Outlet stores selling unsold donated merchandise priced by the pound or per item at deeply discounted prices, with bins rotated every half hour. North Canton Outlet and Cleveland Outlet locations.
• Goodwill Online Thrift Store E-commerce platform selling donated goods through Amazon, eBay, and ShopGoodwill.com, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, collectibles, electronics, books, and housewares.
• Pre-Employment and Job Placement Services Employment skills programming including vocational evaluation, career exploration, work adjustment, situational assessment, digital skills training, IT certification, youth transition services, job coaching, job development, and comprehensive case management for individuals with disabilities or other barriers to employment.
• Family Strengthening Programs Programs including emergency voucher program, social services assistance, financial literacy, literacy services, COMPASS sexual assault support, parenting skills training, home-based parenting, and Parents Anonymous support groups.
• Community Outreach Programs Outreach services including the Ken Weber Community Campus hosting 23+ nonprofit organizations, Book Works children's literacy program, Table of Hope meal program, COMPASS rape crisis services, and Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health services.
• Coming Together For Good (DEIB Training) Customizable Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging education and training program for organizations and groups covering topics including equity vs. equality, micro-aggressions, pronoun shift, emotional intelligence, mental health, workplace diversity, and generational diversity.
• Project Blueprint Leadership Development Four-session leadership development program designed to empower individuals from different backgrounds to take on meaningful roles in nonprofit leadership through board governance, strategic planning, public policy, and resource development.
• Salvage for Good Textile Recycling Sustainability program that bales textiles and sells to after-market vendors for manufacturing, insulation, and rag making. Also serves other Goodwills across the U.S. to keep unsellable items out of landfills.
• Wired Up Electronics Recycling Electronics recycling program accepting donated electronics including games, game consoles, cameras, tablets, computer accessories, and cell phones. All computers are securely data-wiped to NIST 800-88 standards. Operates through the Tanglewood location and the Dell Reconnect partnership.
• Mobile Donation Centers Mobile donation trailer service where Goodwill parks a trailer at a donor's home or business for up to four days at no cost, filled with boxes, furniture, or household goods for donation.
• Good Points Plus+ Loyalty Program Loyalty rewards program where customers earn one point per dollar spent on regular priced items and redeem every 100 points for a $5 reward. Members receive surprise offers, early sale notifications, birthday gifts, and extra rewards for email subscribers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 27,976 people served through mission programs in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Integration10 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and strategic.

• Unite UscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Unite Us is the nation's trusted technology partner for ConnectWell CIE implementation. They provide a closed-loop referral system enabling secure electronic referrals with client consent in over 50 languages, enhancing healthcare and non-medical services delivery.
• Dell Technologies / Dell ReconnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides consumers with free and convenient electronics recycling while supporting circular economy by recovering materials from used electronics to make new technology through Dell's open-loop process.
• CARS (Charitable Adult Rides & Services)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCARS facilitates vehicle donations to Goodwill, providing a tax-deductible way for donors to contribute vehicles that support Goodwill's mission of empowering people on their journey to independence.
• ReSupplyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReSupply offers fee-based home pickup service for donors, employing licensed and insured drivers with promise of donation pickups in 48 hours or less, accepting items regardless of quantity or staircases/disassembly needs.
• Goodwill Industries International (GII)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation with international Goodwill network of more than 150 independent Goodwill organizations. CEO Steven Preston leads the international organization.
• Ohio Association of Goodwill Industries (OAGI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level affiliation supporting Ohio Goodwill organizations.
• CARF InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational accrediting body that awarded Goodwill three-year accreditation for Job Coaching and Job Development programs in December 2024.
• Sisters of Charity Health SystemstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerExploring collaboration on new Opportunity Center in Cleveland's Central Neighborhood to further uplift Cleveland communities through workforce development and social services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GoodwillGoodSkills
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goodwillgoodskills

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Greater Cleveland and East Central Ohio, Inc.