Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia

What Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia does

Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1948 in Camden, New Jersey, and headquartered in Maple Shade, NJ. It operates a self-funding economic model in which material donations from the public are collected through 35+ donation centers and resold through 25+ retail thrift stores, with all margin directed toward free workforce development programs for individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers. The organization runs free career services through its Career Opportunity Center (West Philadelphia) and Helms Academy — a 100% tuition-free adult education program offering high school diplomas and up to 30 college credits — alongside specialized training pathways including CDL-B commercial driver training, ESL, Digital Skills (Microsoft Office), and the Unido-US LatinX in Finance program. It also operates a digital skills training platform and a Digital Accelerator free-internet program tied to a Comcast LIFT ZONE.

The business runs multiple revenue-generating verticals: (1) retail thrift through physical stores and the online auction platform shopgoodwill.com (the first nonprofit internet auction site, generating $1.2B cumulative national sales since 1999); (2) Goodwill Home Medical Equipment (GHME), a CHAP-Accredited wholly-owned subsidiary selling refurbished wheelchairs, walkers, and adaptive equipment from a 16,000 sq ft Bellmawr warehouse and a second Woodbury Heights location opening July 2026; (3) Retrospect, a vintage boutique on Philadelphia's South Street; and (4) donation pickup services via partnerships with Uber (since Dec 2024) and ReSupply (since 2023). Distribution channels include 25+ retail stores, 35+ donation centers, and select e-commerce platforms. Pricing on thrift goods is unit-based (e.g., dresses from $6.99, pants from $5.99) with promotional mechanics such as Colors of the Week (50% off) and Dollar Day Sundays ($1 items), plus student/military/senior discounts.

The organization is mission-driven and governed by a local Board of Trustees, independent within the Goodwill Industries International network. Its customer base is highly diversified: value-conscious thrift shoppers, adult learners, individuals with disabilities seeking employment, families needing affordable home medical equipment, and businesses contracting for staffing/light industrial outsourcing. Strategic partnerships with Lyft (transportation to interviews), Indeed (resume scanning), and Comcast (broadband/LIFT ZONES) extend the organization's service reach beyond its direct footprint. The company employs 136 people and is actively expanding physical retail and program capacity across Southern and Central New Jersey.

Name

Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia

Legal name

Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia

Website

https://goodwillnj.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1948 that funds free workforce development and adult education programs through a network of 25+ thrift retail stores and 35+ donation centers across Southern/Central NJ and Philadelphia, serving individuals with disabilities, adult learners, and value-conscious shoppers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Thrift Retail and Workforce Development Services

NAICS

Used Merchandise Retailers (459510)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Donation, Resale & Textile Recycling Coordination (HSAFABAI)

Keywords

• Thrift retail
• Donation centers
• Job training programs
• Career services
• Home medical equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Maple Shade

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Donated Goods: Resale of gently-used donated items including clothing, accessories, furniture, household items, toys, books, and electronics through retail stores and online auction platform shopgoodwill.com. Revenue funds job training programs and career services.
2. Online Auction (shopgoodwill.com): First nonprofit internet auction website created, owned and operated by a nonprofit. Sells unique and valuable items through online auctions. Since 1999, has earned cumulative sales of $1.2 billion to support local Goodwill organizations.
3. Donation-Based Revenue: Accepts material donations from public which are then sold to fund mission services. All donations are tax-deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia operates a network of 25+ thrift retail stores and 35+ donation centers across Southern/Central NJ and Philadelphia, selling gently-used donated clothing, furniture, and household items. Revenue from these retail sales funds the organization's mission-driven workforce development services, including free career training, job placement, tuition-free adult education (Helms Academy), and specialized programs such as CDL-B driver training, digital skills training, and ESL. The organization also operates Goodwill Home Medical Equipment for refurbished medical devices and the Shopgoodwill.com online auction platform.

Product overview

Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia operates a network of retail thrift stores and donation centers that form the economic foundation for its mission-driven workforce development programs. The organization offers a portfolio of career services including the Helms Academy (tuition-free adult education for high school diploma and college credits), CDL-B Bus Driver Training, Digital Skills Training, ESL Programs, and specialized programs like the Unido-US LatinX in Finance Training. The Career Opportunity Centers provide free employment placement and career readiness services. Specialty operations include Goodwill Home Medical Equipment (refurbished medical equipment retail with CHAP Accreditation) and the online Shopgoodwill.com auction platform. The organization also partners with ReSupply and Uber for donation pickup services, Lyft for transportation to jobs, and Comcast for internet access through LIFT ZONES. The company's retail operations span over 25 stores across Southern/Central NJ and Philadelphia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Goodwill Home Medical Equipment (GHME): Refurbished home medical equipment retail operation selling wheelchairs, canes, crutches, electric scooters, bath items and rollators. Located in Bellmawr, NJ with CHAP Accreditation.
• Retrospect
• Career Opportunity Center
• Helms Academy

Products and services

• Goodwill Retail Thrift Stores Network of 25+ thrift retail stores in Southern/Central NJ and Philadelphia selling gently-used donated clothing, accessories, furniture, toys, books, and household items. Revenue funds job training and career services.
• Goodwill Donation Centers 35+ attended donation centers across Southern/Central NJ and Philadelphia accepting clothing, household items, furniture, and electronics. Operates with Pop and Drop service guidelines.
• Career Opportunity Center Facilities providing free career building services including employment placement, job training, resume assistance, and career readiness programs for individuals with disabilities and barriers to employment.
• Helms Academy 100% tuition-free adult education program allowing adults 18+ to earn their high school diploma while simultaneously earning up to 30 college credits. Features flexible scheduling including 24/7 online learning.
• CDL-B Bus Driver Training Program Commercial driver's license training program to help individuals secure commercial driving licenses for stable careers in transportation.
• ESL Programs English as a Second Language training programs supporting non-native English speakers in learning the language to improve employment opportunities.
• Digital Skills Training Computer and digital literacy training including Microsoft Office skills, basic computer skills, and technology proficiency for employment readiness.
• Goodwill Home Medical Equipment (GHME) Refurbished home medical equipment retail operation selling wheelchairs, canes, crutches, electric scooters, bath items, rollators, and adaptive equipment for adults and children. Based in Bellmawr, NJ with CHAP Accreditation.
• Shopgoodwill.com Online auction platform selling rare and unique items including collectibles, electronics, and vintage items to support Goodwill's mission. Since inception has generated cumulative sales of $1.2 billion supporting local Goodwill organizations.
• My Career Advisor My Career Advisor Career resource platform providing guidance and support for job seekers in their career development journey.
• Business Services Business Services Staffing and outsourcing services for businesses including filling permanent and temporary jobs and outsourcing light industrial work.
• Retrospect Vintage Boutique Vintage boutique located at 508 South Street in Philadelphia featuring retro clothing, accessories, and home goods with 1960s and 1970s flare. Recognized by Philadelphia Magazine as a standout shop.
• Donation Pickup Services Home pickup services for donations including partnerships with ReSupply for furniture and large items, and Uber for bagged and boxed donations within 15 miles of donation centers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 90 adult learners graduated from Helms Academy in 2025 - largest graduating class ever
• +2 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

Integration9 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• UbercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2024Partnership for donation pickup service allowing donors to schedule pickup for bagged and boxed donations through Uber's platform for a small fee. Donors within 15 miles of Goodwill donation centers in Southern/Central NJ or Philadelphia can use this service.
• ReSupplycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2023Home pickup service for furniture and large items. ReSupply retrieves items from donors' homes within 48 hours, issues donation receipts, and transports to Goodwill. ReSupply also helps veterans transition into civilian life through career skills and internships.
• ComcastflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2021Comcast donated $35,000 in grants and 500 laptops to support digital literacy. Made Helms Academy Stratford location a certified LIFT ZONE with high-speed internet. Part of 10th anniversary celebration of Internet Essentials program - nation's largest broadband adoption program.
• Support Philly FashionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2021Volunteer-based initiative supporting sustainable fashion. Created striking window display for Philly Fashion Week highlighting designers who design sustainably. Window display at 321 South Street, Philadelphia.
• IndeedcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021Indeed Instant Scan technology for free resume review. Job seekers can upload resumes or use Indeed resume to scan for content, spelling, grammar errors and formatting issues. Service free to Goodwill job seekers through Indeed + Goodwill landing page.
• LyftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2020Lyft's Job Access Program provides free transportation to job interviews, job training programs, and first few weeks of new jobs. Available in 20 major cities including Philadelphia. Part of broader effort to remove transportation barriers to employment.
• Medical Ministry International – PeruminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership to provide adaptive pediatric equipment to children with disabilities in Peru. GHME donates wheelchairs, Hoyer lifts, walkers and other essential items to support schools and orphanages throughout Peru.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Salvation Army Thrift Stores: National nonprofit operating thrift retail stores funded by donated goods, with proceeds supporting social services including workforce and rehabilitation programs. Most direct competitive overlap in the donation-based thrift retail model and mission-driven workforce development space; operates multiple locations in the same NJ/Philadelphia geography.
• Savers / Value Village: For-profit thrift retail chain operating Value Village, Savers, and Unique Thrift Store banners, with comparable business model of acquiring and reselling donated secondhand goods. Closest for-profit comparable; operates Value Village locations in the Northeast U.S. and competes directly for both donation supply and value-conscious shoppers.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores: Nonprofit home goods and furniture resale chain with locations across the U.S., funded by donated items and supporting affordable housing programs. Comparable in donation-driven resale model and nonprofit mission structure, though focused on home furnishings rather than apparel and operated as a secondary revenue stream for Habitat rather than a primary one.
• The Arc of New Jersey Thrift Stores: Local nonprofit operating thrift stores in New Jersey with proceeds supporting services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Highly comparable mission and operating model in the same geography, competing for donations, shoppers, and workforce-development mission positioning.
• Goodwill of New York and Northern New Jersey: Larger regional Goodwill affiliate serving the New York metro area, including parts of northern New Jersey that border Goodwill SNJP's territory. Operates the same thrift retail, donation center, and workforce development model with overlapping geographic reach; the closest direct geographic peer and a useful scale benchmark.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Parent network umbrella organization overseeing 1,200+ local Goodwill affiliates across 13 countries. Directly comparable as it operates the same thrift retail and workforce development model, but at global rather than regional scale; manages the Goodwill brand, shopgoodwill.com platform, and provides support services to local affiliates like Goodwill SNJP.

Regional players

• Housing Works Thrift Shops: New York City-based nonprofit operating thrift stores and a used book café, with proceeds funding housing and services for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Mission-driven nonprofit peer in the same donation-to-retail model, primarily in New York rather than Philadelphia/Southern NJ, but functionally comparable.
• Goodwill of Delaware and Delaware County: Adjacent regional Goodwill affiliate operating in Delaware and Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Uses the identical business model (thrift stores, donation centers, workforce programs) but serves a different geography that borders Goodwill SNJP's southern service area.

Emerging players

• ThredUP: Online-first resale platform for secondhand apparel with public-equity backing. Competes for the same secondhand clothing inventory and value-conscious shoppers but operates without physical retail footprint; represents the for-profit digital competitor reshaping donation flows in the secondhand apparel space.
• Poshmark: Peer-to-peer online marketplace for secondhand fashion and accessories owned by Naver Corp. Indirectly competes with Goodwill for the secondhand apparel supply chain, as consumers increasingly resell directly via Poshmark rather than donating. A relevant digital competitor reshaping consumer behavior around used goods.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/GoodwillNJ
• Facebookfacebook.com/GoodwillNJ
• Instagraminstagram.com/goodwillnj
• TikToktiktok.com/@goodwillnj
• Pinterestpinterest.com/goodwillnj
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/goodwill-industries-of-southern-new-jersey-and-philadelphia

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia