Where does the money go from Goodwill's thrift stores? That is a question I have had for a long time. Today, we toured Goodwill's Career Center in Lexington.
There are 165 independent, community-based Goodwills in the United States and Canada that offer customized job training, employment placement and other services to people who have disabilities, lack education or job experience, or face employment challenges.
The Lexington Career Center offers anyone 18 and older the use of fax machines, telephones, computers/internet, 1-on-1 coaching for writing resumes, career counseling, and GED classes - all for free. Additionally, the center offers unique job skill training and training partnerships with local businesses.
Interesting Fact: The Lexington Career Center only holds one fundraiser per year: a golf tournament. The rest of their funding comes primarily from grants and thrift store sales. Here is a good visual of their donation cycle.
Do you ever shop at thrift stores?
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We love Goodwill. We have a Goodwill outlet near our house and the kids get excited when we go there!
It's kind of funny, because I not only give to thrift stores, I shop at them, too! I was at a thrift store recently and saw a baby outfit that we had...who knows if it was the one that I had given to it or not! :) Living in Europe, the clothes are insanely expensive, and it is much cheaper to shop at second hand or thrift stores for kids' clothes, although one may not always find what is wanted. Here it is called Carla, a division from Caritas.
Where in Europe?
Is Carla the name of the thrift store?
Another good reason to shop at the local Goodwill.
This goes to show that not all thrift stores are profiting off of their merchandise. Goodwill uses their money to help others help themselves. I think I read on the Goodwill Industries International website that 85 cents of a dollar is put back into the local communities. I have three children and they grow out of their clothes so fast Goodwill allows me to find quality clothing for a great price!
As we travel we hope to learn about other Goodwill facilities/programes as well. The organization is rather massive.
I always donate clothes to local thrift stores such as Beverly Bootstraps and sometimes donate to the local Savers which uses money raised for the Epilepsy Foundation. I think the concept that Savers has is a great one. I'm not sure if every Savers' proceeds go to the same foundation...I think they are all different!
I didn't know Savers donated proceeds. Are they a not-for-profit?
Okay so I just looked at the website and it says that they pay their nonprofit partners based on the number of boxes and bags that get donated to the store. So that isn't really profits but its still a good idea! I just know I get a tax deductible receipt every time I go!
Apparently they have paid out over $1 billion since 1954!
Thanks for the update. I am actually a big fan of for-profit companies with philanthropic initiatives.