Goodwill Industries of Kansas

What Goodwill Industries of Kansas does

Goodwill Industries of Kansas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, operating a network of more than 21 thrift retail stores across the state and employing approximately 660+ people, of whom roughly 404 work in retail operations. Founded in the mid-20th century, the organization runs a hybrid retail-and-mission model in which proceeds from donated-goods sales and contracted Business Services fund a portfolio of workforce development programs for adults facing barriers to employment.

The organization's programmatic portfolio includes the NexStep Alliance adult education partnership with WSU Tech, a Skills Development Adult Day Program, Community Employment services, Digital Skills Training, Re-Entry Services, and Business Services. Target populations span adults with developmental disabilities, justice-involved individuals, and underserved workers seeking digital or general workforce skills. Strategic partners include Google, Empower, the Kansas Department for Children and Families, and WSU Tech; the organization also acquired a DAV (Disabled American Veterans) thrift operation in 2023, extending veteran-serving mission scope.

Revenue is generated primarily through thrift retail sales of donated goods and Business Services contracts, supplemented by state agency funding, corporate partnership contributions, and donations. The retail network functions simultaneously as a revenue collection channel and as the operational backbone that makes workforce development programs financially sustainable, while partnerships with educational institutions, technology companies, and government agencies extend programmatic reach beyond what retail alone could fund.

Name

Goodwill Industries of Kansas

Legal name

Goodwill Industries of Kansas, Inc.

Website

https://goodwillks.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Goodwill Industries of Kansas is a Wichita-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 21+ thrift stores statewide, funding workforce development programs for adults with employment barriers through retail proceeds, Business Services contracts, and state and corporate partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Workforce Development and Thrift Retail

NAICS

Used Merchandise Retailers (459510)

SIC

Retail-Miscellaneous Shopping Goods Stores (5940)

akta.pro primary industry

Donation, Resale & Disposal Coordination (HSAFAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Donation, Consignment & Resale Coordination (HSAFAFAG), Donation Pickup & Reuse Hauling (HSAKALAI), Donation, Resale & Textile Recycling Coordination (HSAFABAI)

Keywords

• Thrift retail operations
• Workforce development services
• Adult education programs
• Job skills training
• Community employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wichita, Kansas

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales: Revenue generated from 19+ thrift retail stores selling donated goods including clothing, accessories, housewares, shoes, furniture, and books.
2. Donated Goods: Community donations of clothing, household items, and other goods that are sorted, processed, and sold to fund mission programs.
3. Financial Gifts: Donations and contributions from individuals and organizations to support mission programs and services.
4. Events: Annual fundraising events including The Edgars awards celebration that raises funds for mission services.
5. Business Services/Contracts Division: Contract services including recycling donated items, preparing insulation for local aviation manufacturers, and providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
6. E-commerce: Online sales through shopgoodwill.com/ks and Goodwillfinds.com platforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Goodwill Industries of Kansas operates a network of 19+ thrift retail stores across Kansas that sell donated clothing, accessories, housewares, furniture, and books to fund an integrated portfolio of mission programs. These programs include adult education (GED, ESL, citizenship classes), job skills training, digital skills training, STEM career exploration, community employment placement, re-entry services, and adult day services for individuals with disabilities and employment barriers. Online sales are conducted through shopgoodwill.com/ks and GoodwillFinds.com, and donation collection occurs via stores, 24-hour dropboxes, and home pickup.

Product overview

Goodwill Industries of Kansas operates a network of retail thrift stores selling donated clothing, accessories, housewares, furniture and other goods, along with online shopping platforms (shopgoodwill.com/ks and GoodwillFinds.com). The retail operations fund an integrated portfolio of workforce development programs including NexStep Alliance (adult education and career training in partnership with WSU Tech), Skills Development Adult Day Program, Community Employment services, Digital Skills Training, STEM Career Exploration, Re-Entry Services, and Business Services/contracts division. The organization also operates Opportunity Centers providing centralized access to education and workforce services. The flagship programs support individuals with disabilities and employment barriers through education, job training, and placement services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NexStep Alliance: Partnership between Goodwill Industries of Kansas and WSU Tech providing adult education, GED instruction, ESL classes, and career certification programs.
• Edgar James Apparel

Products and services

• Retail Thrift Stores
• Online Shopping (shopgoodwill.com/ks) E-commerce auction platform featuring specialty items donated to Goodwill Industries of Kansas, accessible through shopgoodwill.com/ks.
• GoodwillFinds.com E-commerce storefront operated by Goodwill Industries of Kansas for purchasing thrift items online.
• NexStep Alliance Adult education partnership with WSU Tech providing GED prep, ESL classes, citizenship integration classes, and college-level certification programs for individuals with disabilities and employment barriers.
• NexStep Unlocked Initiative helping Kansans exiting the justice system gain their GED and college-level certifications to support successful re-entry.
• Skills Development Adult Day Program Day services program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities teaching independent living, social skills, and job skills while participants earn a paycheck.
• Community Employment Job placement and employment support services connecting people with disabilities to community employment opportunities.
• Digital Skills Training (Learn IT Digital Skills Classroom) Mobile digital skills training program in partnership with Google providing hands-on workshops to help Kansans gain workforce-ready technology skills.
• STEM Career Exploration (FutureMaker Mobile Learning Lab) Career exploration program delivered via the FutureMaker Mobile Learning Lab providing hands-on STEM experiences in nursing, advanced manufacturing, aviation, and other fields.
• Re-Entry Services Support services for individuals exiting the justice system, including the NexStep Unlocked program helping participants gain education and employment credentials.
• Adult Education Educational programs including GED preparation, ESL classes, citizenship integration classes, and other adult learning opportunities.
• Opportunity Centers Community centers providing centralized access to education, workforce services, and support resources for individuals with employment barriers.
• Business Services / Contracts Division Contract services division providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities through tasks such as recycling donated items and preparing insulation for local aviation manufacturers.
• Donation Services Accepts donations of clothing, household goods, furniture and other items at retail locations, through 24-hour donation dropboxes, attended donation centers, and via ReSupply home pickup service.
• Gift Cards Gift cards available for purchase for use at Goodwill retail stores.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 18,000 program services delivered in 2025 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 August 2026State agency investing in Family Resource Centers across Kansas. Goodwill awarded funding to serve families in area codes 67217 and 67204, supporting parents with education, skills training, and workforce opportunities.
• Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation of Kansas (CPRF)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 August 2026Goodwill customers round up purchases to support CPRF's mission of empowering Kansans with disabilities through customized services, support, technology, accessible housing, and mobility solutions.
• Thrive Restaurant GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 20262026 Premier Agency sponsor. Partnership provides Success Coach positions at Goodwill in partnership with Thrive Restaurant Group.
• Kansas Big Brothers Big SistersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026Community partnership announced in March 2026 to empower futures together.
• Wichita Habitat for HumanityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 March 2026Community partnership announced in March 2026.
• TextronminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 January 2026Textron's team effort yielded 1,800 pounds in donations to Goodwill.
• NexStep AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 August 2025Partnership between Goodwill Industries of Kansas and WSU Tech providing GED instruction, ESL classes, citizenship integration classes, and college-level certifications. Includes Success Coach positions in partnership with employers.
• ReeceNichols South Central KansasminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 August 2024Real estate broker facilitating property acquisition for new retail locations including the northeast Wichita store near 29th & Greenwich.
• EmpowercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024Nonprofit organization in Wichita's North End providing workforce readiness, education, and small business development. Partnership established Goodwill Opportunity Center at Evergreen location for education and workforce services.
• City of WichitacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 August 2024Public-private partnership providing the Empower space for the Goodwill Opportunity Center. Partnership demonstrates commitment to improving lives of community members.
• Bike Walk WichitaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 July 2024Partnership through ReCycle program. Goodwill donates bikes that cannot be placed on sales floor to Bike Walk Wichita for repair and distribution to those in need. Nearly 10-year relationship.
• Dondlinger ConstructionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 February 2024Construction company building new Goodwill retail facilities including the Greenwich location and other stores.
• Schaefer ArchitectureminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 February 2024Architecture firm designing new Goodwill retail facilities including the 24,000 square-foot Greenwich location.
• Galloway & Company ArchitectureminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 February 2024Architecture firm that designed the remodeled store at 5455 E. Central (former DAV location).
• Disabled American Veterans (DAV)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2023Goodwill acquired former DAV thrift store locations in Wichita to ensure continued community access to gently used goods and donation locations while supporting DAV's ability to continue serving veterans.
• J.P. Weigand & Sons, Inc.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 17 November 2023Commercial real estate representation for the DAV transaction.
• ReSupplyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 September 2023Home pick-up service for furniture and large items. ReSupply retrieves items from homes, issues donation receipts, and transports to Goodwill. ReSupply's mission includes helping veterans transition into civilian life through career skills.
• Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 July 2023Goodwill donated over 270 denim jackets to BACA to support their mission of empowering and protecting children who have suffered from abuse.
• Dell ReConnectminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Electronics recycling program available at all Goodwill locations. Provides safe and secure way to recycle old electronics like laptops, cell phones, and tablets.
• WSU Tech (Wichita State University Campus of Applied Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership to form NexStep Alliance, providing GED instruction, ESL classes, and college-level certifications. Also partners on FutureMaker Mobile Learning Lab bringing STEM career exploration to communities.

Scale indicators22 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• ThredUp: Online resale platform processing donated and consigned apparel at scale. Comparable as a competing channel for secondhand clothing donations, directly affecting Goodwill's donation supply and pricing.
• Buffalo Exchange: For-profit resale/buy-sell-trade clothing chain. Comparable as a competing secondhand apparel channel that intercepts potential Goodwill donors and sellers in the same demographic.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Parent federation of the 150+ autonomous regional Goodwills. Comparable as the broader brand/operating-system incumbent but does not run retail directly; provides standards, brand, and shared platforms used by Goodwill of Kansas.
• Savers / Value Village: For-profit thrift chain that partners with nonprofits to process donated goods. Comparable as a major regional thrift operator with overlapping donation-supply logistics and store footprint.
• The Salvation Army: National nonprofit operating thrift/family stores whose proceeds fund social and rehabilitation programs. Comparable as a large-scale nonprofit that monetizes donated goods to support mission services.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Nonprofit home-goods resale network funding affordable housing programs. Comparable in operating donated-goods retail outlets to fund a separate mission, though focused on furniture/building materials rather than broad apparel.

Direct peers

• Goodwill of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey: Larger urban Goodwill affiliate offering thrift retail plus workforce development and re-entry programs. Comparable as a mission-funded, retail-anchored nonprofit with similar program mix.
• Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana: Regional Goodwill affiliate operating thrift retail stores that fund mission-driven workforce and community programs. Highly comparable as a same-model, multi-store 501(c)(3) nonprofit in a single U.S. state.
• Goodwill of North Georgia: Regional Goodwill operating a substantial thrift store network that funds employment and training services for people with disabilities and barriers to work. Closely mirrors Goodwill of Kansas's operating model.
• Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake: Mid-Atlantic Goodwill affiliate combining retail thrift operations with employment, training, and disability services. Directly comparable in mission structure, retail-funded programming, and population served.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/GoodwillKS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/goodwillkansas
• Facebookfacebook.com/GoodwillKS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goodwillks
• Instagraminstagram.com/goodwillks
• TikToktiktok.com/@goodwillks
• Pinterestpinterest.com/goodwillks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Kansas