The internet is a source of information. But it’s also a great source of misinformation. Know the facts about Goodwill and other organizations so you can make informed choices about where to give money or donate your household goods and clothing.
1. Goodwill Industries of the Valleys serves 35 counties and 14 cities in Central, Southwest, and Southside, Virginia.
We’re local. We are right here, living and working in the heart of Virginia. The value of your donations stays here in Virginia. Your donations benefit our neighbors and friends who need help finding employment. Our leadership makes decisions and takes actions based on the specific needs in our service area. Together, we are building a stronger Virginia – one job, one stable family, one changed life at a time!
2. We employ nearly 1,000 employees in Central, Southwest, and Southside, Virginia.
We provide training for the community, and we provide opportunities for our own employees. All our employees earn minimum wage or more. Our full-time employees are eligible for benefits like healthcare coverage, paid time off, and retirement savings. We value diversity and inclusion. We want our associates to find their strengths and advance to their fullest potential.
3. Richmond Vincent is our CEO, and he doesn’t “own” Goodwill.
Not everything you see on the internet, email, or social media is true. Unfortunately, Goodwill and other nonprofits were targeted with constant, untrue rumors and messaging. It’s been around since 2010 and claims “Goodwill CEO and owner Mark Curran profits $2.3 million a year.” It looks something like this:
We added FALSE. The information listed is not accurate. No one named Mark Curran works or has ever worked for any Goodwill organization. The salary/compensation quoted is false. As a registered 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys does not have an owner. Richmond Vincent is our CEO & President, and he is a 10+ year veteran of Goodwill. He reports to a local volunteer Board of Directors. You don’t have to take our word for it; Snopes researched and debunked this rumor. Clark Howard also set the record straight on this rumor.
Another FALSE “updated graphic” lists Jim Gibbons as the CEO & Owner of Goodwill. Jim Gibbons was a prior CEO of Goodwill Industries International. He was not the owner and did not make $2.3 million a year.
We DO encourage people to think before they donate. And research their chosen nonprofit before they give. Guidestar.org is a resource for information on nonprofits across the country.
4. We give over 86 cents of every dollar we spend to our mission: training and employment services for people in our communities.
Stewardship is one of our core values. We are proud of this number and what it says about the effectiveness of our operations. We are committed to helping people receive the training they need to gain independence or find employment to allow them to be financially secure.
5. Donations are just the beginning.
Donations set in motion what we call “The Circle of Hope.” First, a generous donor decides to give to Goodwill. Then donations are processed and sold in one of our retail stores.
Then the real magic happens. We turn your donations into jobs! Our stores are for-cause operations. The funds from selling donated items support training and employment programs like our youth, adult, and senior programs or classes and career services.
