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Goodwill starts with your support
Learn about Goodwill NCW and our mission that begins with the communities’ support through donations. These donations in turn are sorted and merchandised for sale in our stores, which provide meaningful training and employment opportunities for people across the Wisconsin counties we serve.
The resources generated through the sale of donated goods are invested in our people, community, mission and future.
Our programs enhance people’s dignity and quality of life by seeing them for who they are and helping them reach their goals through skill building and the power of work.
Get to know the positive impact of Goodwill NCW
Is Goodwill a nonprofit?
Absolutely.
Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Nationally, Charity Navigator — an independent organization that evaluates philanthropic organizations — gives Goodwill NCW a rating of 100 out of 100.
We also are proud to be recognized by GuideStar with its Platinum Seal of Approval, the highest rating for nonprofit organizations.
How do we support our team members?
We pay all team members and program participants, regardless of ability, at least minimum wage. Although the Fair Standards Act provision known as 14(c) allows some employers to pay substandard wages to workers with impairments, Goodwill NCW does not follow 14(c) and believes in the importance of supporting our team members with competitive pay and benefits. Additionally, some individuals are paid through government or community partnership and others who receive Social Security disability benefits have income limits and only can work a certain number of hours a month.
Who is Goodwill NCW’s CEO?
Chris Hess is the President and CEO of Goodwill NCW, which covers counties across north central Wisconsin and reports to a local, volunteer board of directors.
Goodwill NCW is part of a network of more than 150 independent, community-based Goodwill agencies. As a nonprofit, each Goodwill is “owned” by the communities it serves and is governed by a local, volunteer board of directors.
Does Goodwill NCW give back to those in need?
Goodwill NCW partners with community service agencies, school districts and other organizations to help people in need by providing gift cards to our stores for the purchase of clothing, outwear, household essentials, footwear and other necessary items. In 2023, with the support received from our donors and shoppers, we gave away more than $810,000 in merchandise to people in need.
How does Goodwill NCW help in our local communities?
We have partnerships throughout the counties we serve, regularly offering our trainings to local businesses and non-profits and to individuals of all ages served through such organizations as the Wisconsin Veterans Village Association, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Pillars homeless shelter and Rawhide Youth Services. In addition, we offer our programs within our stores and through our partnerships with local governments, school districts and other community service organizations.
How does Goodwill NCW support sustainability and our environment?
Practicing sustainability since 1902, Goodwill promotes the use of secondhand goods and responsible recycling. Our sustainability efforts extend to fashion by giving new life to secondhand items, to leadership by investing in the workforce and upscaling for shared prosperity, to communities by providing social and economic opportunities for all, and to ambassadorship by promoting responsible consumption, recycling and landfill diversion.