Know these fast facts & Donate with confidence
The following facts make it easy for customers, donors, and others in the community to understand the work that Goodwill does in the community and to dispel many of the rumors and myths that circulate online.
But don’t just take our word for it. Fact-check what you read and see online by visiting legitimate watchdog websites, such as Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, GuideStar, and Snopes. These are third-party organizations that independently rate and review nonprofit organizations and provide information on executive compensation, efficiency, transparency, financial reports, and more.
1
We don’t know who Mark Curran is, but we know he isn’t our President or CEO.
Despite the assertions in erroneous emails and social media posts that periodically surface, the richly compensated Mark Curran is neither the CEO of Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina nor the CEO of any other Goodwill agency. The Board of Directors sets the salary and compensation of the CEO, and has a clear process for doing so which includes annual reviews of performance, community impact, and market evaluations of nonprofit executive compensation.
2
Goodwill consistently ranks among top charities that make your donations go further.
An important measure of a nonprofit’s effectiveness is the percentage of revenues channeled into programs and services. The Better Business Bureau says that a “good” charity channels at least 65 percent of revenues into mission-based services. With 87 percent of our revenues supporting mission and sustainability, Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina far exceeds that minimum. For more information, access more information about Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina including financial and annual reports.
3
goodwill is a non-profit organization.
Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has served the local community since 1926.
4
all goodwill employees earn above minimum wage.
Starting wage for our employees is $13.50/hour and they receive numerous benefits including a pension, health insurance, dental and vision coverage, paid time off, retail bonuses, education reimbursem*nt, and more. It’s a great place to work and we are always looking for dedicated people to join our team.
5
Goodwill puts people to work.
In the last year, Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina helped more than 26,000 people plan for new careers, improve their employability, obtain marketable job skills, and earn nationally recognized, industry-specific credentials.
6
Goodwill must compete for the best employees, just like any successful organization.
Like for-profit businesses, nonprofit organizations need to pay competitive salaries to attract and keep strong talent that can run an organization well. Running a Goodwill is a complicated business – our goal is to raise as much revenue as possible through innovative, sustainable, sound business ventures, so that we can set up more job training programs, employment placement services, and other support services that put more people to work in our communities. There has been a great deal of misinformation about leadership salaries at Goodwill. Get the facts through independent watchdog sites like snopes.com before spreading false rumors that have the potential to negatively impact the people who need us—and other nonprofits—the most.
7
Goodwill services are free.
Goodwill does not charge for its employment and training services because they are funded by our retail stores. Skills training classes often charge a fee, but that fee is paid to our community college partners—not to Goodwill. When an individual cannot afford a skills training class fee, Goodwill will cover the cost through our Outreach Scholarship Fund.
8
Your donated items make programs possible.
Donated items are sold through our retail stores, and revenues go to fund Goodwill’s skills training, career counseling, and youth services that help put adults to work and youth on a positive path of self-discovery and success. Without the revenue from our stores, we would not be able to help unemployed and underemployed people in our community find hope, opportunity, and a chance at a better life through the power of work.
9
Goodwill has everyday bargains and “special finds” that are priced differently.
Each and every day, we try to create a positive experience for our customers by providing quality items at bargain prices while, at the same time, generating as much revenue as we can from our donations so that we can support our mission and continue to provide free services to thousands of people in the local community.
