Frequently Asked Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions

 Is Goodwill a charity?
Yes, Goodwill is a 501c3 charitable organization.
What is Goodwill’s charitable mission?
Goodwill of Greater Washington’s mission is to transform lives and communities through the power of education and employment. Goodwill fulfills its mission by providing free job training, education, and employment services to people with disabilities or other barriers to employment.
What types of job training programs does Goodwill offer?
Goodwill of Greater Washington presently offers free job training in hospitality services and construction.  In addition to the training, Goodwill offers other supportive services and job placement assistance.  Goodwill also operates an adult charter high school called The Goodwill Excel Center that provides adult DC residents the opportunity to earn their high school diploma.
How does Goodwill fund its mission?
Goodwill of Greater Washington funds its mission through revenue generated by its business operations.  Goodwill runs a chain of retail stores and an ecommerce operation that sell donated goods.  91 cents of every dollar raised in those stores supports Goodwill’s mission services.  Goodwill also operates a diverse contracts operation that includes a custodial business, pest control business, and grounds maintenance business.  Goodwill secures government contracts in partnership with Source America, a U.S. nonprofit agency that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities through its national network of affiliated nonprofit agencies.  Almost 80% of all man hours worked by team members in Goodwill’s contract operations are performed by people with severe disabilities.
Where is the Goodwill store or donation center nearest to me?
You can find the address, contact information, and directions to all Goodwill of Greater Washington stores and donation centers by clicking here:  STORES  |  DONATION CENTERS.
What items does Goodwill accept?
You can find a complete list of the items Goodwill can accept here.
What types of items does Goodwill sell?
The inventory in any Goodwill of Greater Washington retail store is fully dependent upon the goods that are donated to Goodwill. Those items change daily.
Does Goodwill accept and/or sell furniture?
Most Goodwill of Greater Washington stores do accept and sell furniture. The type of furniture can vary by location but Goodwill cannot accept mattresses, sofa beds, or office furniture. The only Goodwill store in the DC area that does not sell furniture is our store at 725 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD.
What hours is Goodwill open?
The hours can vary by location. Please check the hours of operation for your store or donation center of choice.
Does Goodwill offer home pickup service?

Goodwill of Greater Washington ended its free home pickup service many years ago.  However, Goodwill partners with ReSupply, who will come to your home, pick up your donations and deliver them to Goodwill for a fee.  If you arrange a pickup through ReSupply, they will also provide you with a donation receipt.  You can get more information here (link to https://dcgoodwill.org/donation2/donation-home-pickups/priority-donation-pick-up/)

Does Goodwill accept vehicle donations?
Yes, Goodwill will gladly accept any vehicle, in any condition. We also accept boats, RVs, motorcycles, lawnmowers and more. Learn more here.
Does Goodwill accept cash donations?
Goodwill of Greater Washington gladly accepts donations of cash, stock, and real estate. For more information, please contact our development office at 202-636-4225.
Does Goodwill only hire people with disabilities?
No, Goodwill of Greater Washington is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes team members of all walks of life who are interested in an exciting career with growth opportunities while making a positive impact on our community.  If you’d like more information on job opportunities at Goodwill visit here.
Does Goodwill repair and/or clean items?
No, Goodwill does not repair or clean items. Before items are placed on the sales floor we assess the quality of donations, checking for damaged merchandise and other flaws. We do not sell items that are broken, torn, or soiled. At one time Goodwill taught people how to repair broken items that were then sold. However, our mission delivery model changed decades ago, and we no longer train people to repair items.
Are Goodwill employees allowed to shop in the stores?
Store employees are allowed to shop in other Goodwill stores but not at the store where they work. Even on their days off Goodwill retail store employees can shop at any other Goodwill store but their “home” store. This makes the Goodwill shopping experience fair for all customers and team members.
Since the merchandise Goodwill sells is donated, how do you determine the price of those items?
While Goodwill is a social enterprise, the organization’s mission is to provide free job training, education, and employment services to people with disabilities and disadvantages.  We can only do that if we charge for the items we sell.  The prices are determined by a variety of factors:  First, what can we afford to charge in order to pay our employees a fair wage, provide them with healthcare, pay the rent, utilities, and keep our business and mission services operational.  Second, we look at what other thrift stores and/or discount retailers in our area charging and try our best to make sure our prices are similar, if not lower, in most categories.  Finally, the economy impacts our prices.  When we are in the midst of a recession for example, and the price of gas, supplies, and wages are increasing, we may need to adjust our pricing to ensure we can continue to afford the resources required to keep our charitable agency functioning efficiently while fulfilling our critical mission.
Does Goodwill pay its employees minimum wage?
Goodwill of Greater Washington’s starting wage actually meets or exceeds both local and federal minimum wage standards.
Does Mark Curran own Goodwill and earn $2 million annually?
Goodwill does not have a CEO named Mark Curran and never has. Goodwill of Greater Washington’s CEO is Catherine Meloy. The circulating rumors on social media about Mark Curran and his executive compensation are completely and totally fraudulent.
Goodwill is a nonprofit, charitable agency and is not owned by anyone. It is a social enterprise comprised of independent and autonomous Goodwill agencies that each serve a defined geographic territory and have their own local leadership, business operations, and boards of directors.
Additionally, no Goodwill CEO has ever earned close to $2 million annually. Goodwill of Greater Washington posts its annual report, IRS 990, and audited financial statements on its website as a matter of transparency.