About Us

About Us

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin is a diverse 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization governed by a volunteer board of directors. We are the largest of more than 158 Goodwill organizations in the world and have been providing services since 1919. Nearly 5,700 Goodwill employees work in 90 locations throughout our 23-county territory in southeastern Wisconsin and metropolitan Chicago. Our service territory consists of 13 full or partial counties in southeastern Wisconsin, and ten full or partial counties in northeastern Illinois. Goodwill’s territory covers more than 12,000 square miles of land area, ranging from Green Lake, Fond du Lac, and Sheboygan counties on the north, to Danville, Illinois, on the south, and west to Janesville, Wisconsin. This territory encompasses some of the most populated areas of both states, including Cook, Du Page, Will and Lake counties in Illinois, and Milwaukee County in Wisconsin.

Our mission is to provide training, employment and supportive services for people with disabilities or disadvantages who seek greater independence. Employment and training are Goodwill’s primary focus, assisting men and women to develop their job skills and secure work opportunities that fulfill their personal and professional goals. As the economy struggles, the need for our services continues to grow. Last year, Goodwill provided services to nearly  49,000 men and women with disabilities and disadvantages.

Goodwill carries out its mission by providing the following services:

• A variety of training programs and employment services for people with disabilities and disadvantages.
• Support and resources for the chronically unemployed, dislocated workers and other job seekers.
• A resource for the community members to donate their clothing and household items, and purchase quality, value-priced items at our Goodwill Store & Donation Centers. 
• Electronics recycling and refurbishment operation that addresses the growing issue of electronic waste.
• Laundry and linen services for area hospitals and the hospitality industry.
• Staffing, contract to hire, direct placement and recruiting services for area employers.
• Document destruction services for area companies.
• Food, logistic, and laundry services for the federal government.
• Services for seniors including day programs, case management and home-delivered meals.
• The Goodwill Cares program provides assistance with clothing, furniture and other household items for those in need in partnership with local nonprofit agencies.