About Us » Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Goodwill a business or a charity?
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We're a charity that runs a business. Goodwill is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization that funds its mission opportunity wages and free service programs through revenues generated by its donated goods business.
- Are all Goodwills around the country the same?
Yes and no. Goodwill is an association of more than 180 autonomous member organizations, each governed by a local board of directors. Every Goodwill adheres to common practices governing ethics, fiscal responsibility and the like. At the same time, every Goodwill organization is designed to respond to the local needs of the communities it serves.
- What happens to my donations?
We sort, price and sell your donations in our GoodNeighbor Centers. Ultimately, we turn your donations into good jobs, good homes and good neighborhoods.
- What happens to the stuff that doesn't sell?
Donations that don't sell are sold to salvage merchants who ship the material to third-world countries where jobs and wages are created through sorting and selling these items. Goodwill provides a valuable recycling service to our community. We receive more than 500,000 donations every year and divert over 13 million pounds of goods away from local landfills.
- Do you repair items I donate?
No. These days, the cost of repairing items greatly exceeds the price we charge.
- Why does Goodwill refuse to accept certain items?
We are unable to resell certain items and in some cases incur excessive costs to dispose of them per EPA-mandated guidelines (open cans of paint, non-working computers and TV monitors, for example) or due to federal regulations.
- Do you accept cars?
Yes. We also accept boats, motorcycles, RVs, motor homes and any other item with a title. Simply drop your vehicle at your nearest Goodwill or call us at 941-487-3566 to arrange for a free pickup.
- Will you pick up my donations?
Yes. Our Home Pickup division operates six days a week. Just call us at 351-8946 to schedule a time that's convenient for you.
- Will my contribution stay in our area?
Yes. Contributions of goods and money made to Goodwill support programs and services provided by Goodwill Industries-Manasota.
- How many people do you help a year?
We served more than 15,000 people in 2009.
- Does Goodwill only provide services to people with disabilities?
No. We serve people with disabilities and other barriers to employment, including former welfare recipients, single mothers, recent immigrants, high school dropouts and individuals with a history of chronic unemployment, incarceration or substance abuse.
- Do you charge for your services?
No. We are able to offer all of our services are offered free of charge thanks to our donated goods business.
- Why are your facilities located on some of the most valuable real estate in our area?
We focus on donor convenience. In 1997, we received a federal welfare-to-work grant that enabled us to purchase these buildings, greatly increasing donor convenience.
- Are the people who staff your facilities volunteers?
They are employees. An important component of our mission is to provide employment opportunities through our donated goods business.
- Why do you charge for stuff you get for free?
We incur many expenses while collecting, transporting, sorting and selling donated goods. They include salaries and benefits, utility bills, and gas and tires for our vehicles. And we utilize the revenues generated by our sales to fund a wide array of human services.
- Why do you have a foundation?
The Goodwill Foundation was established to fund current services at a deeper level and to guarantee future Goodwill services. The Foundation attracts philanthropic dollars -- cash, stocks and bonds, charitable estate bequests and trusts, real estate and other planned gifts -- which come back to our community in the form of bigger and better social services.