How long has goodwill been in business

Our IRS documentation discloses wage information. Click here. Click here for financial documentation. Click here to see our board of directors. Helms, a Methodist minister and early social innovator.

Helms collected used household goods and clothing in wealthier areas of Boston, then trained and hired those who were poor to mend and repair the used goods. The goods were either resold or given to the people who repaired them. The system worked, and the Goodwill philosophy of "a hand up, not a hand out" was born.

Skip to main content. SHOP Looking for a deal? Once the items were repaired, they were resold and the money was used to pay the wages of the workers. This cycle of donating, repairing, selling and paying wages was the beginning of Goodwill Industries.

More than years later, Goodwill remains a household name and leading nonprofit provider of educational and workforce-related services. Our History. Goodwill Founder.