9 Myths About Goodwill (And Why They’re Not True)

Fact or fiction, real or not? On this page, we’re dispelling some common misconceptions about Horizon Goodwill and Goodwill Industries in general.

• Myth #1: Goodwill pays its team members less than the minimum wage.

  Not True, and this one’s easy to debunk. All team members start at or above minimum wage. Team members are also eligible for Goodwill-funded benefits, including paid time off, insurance, and retirement. While you’re here, check out our job opportunities!

• Myth #2: Goodwill's CEO makes millions of dollars in salary each year.

  Not true! Every year, this story circulates on social media. As a 501c(3), Horizon Goodwill does not and cannot have an owner. The President and CEO of Horizon Goodwill is David Shuster, who was selected by a locally elected Board of Directors.

• Myth #3: Only a small percentage of revenue generated by Goodwill goes toward funding Goodwill educational, career training, and employment services.

  Goodwill is a responsible steward of all funding streams — retail/online sales, private donations/grants, state/federal grants, staffing services, and business contracts. For every dollar earned or received, around 90¢ is reinvested back into the communities Horizon Goodwill serves to provide no-cost programming that helps individuals get and maintain employment.

• Myth #4: Donated goods that are not purchased in-store are just thrown away.

  All items donated to Goodwill go through a comprehensive sustainability lifecycle. If they’re not sold in-store within a certain amount of time, they’re transferred back to a Goodwill warehouse, where they are processed for recycling if possible.

  There are some items that we simply cannot sell due to state and federal guidelines, like many items geared towards children and infants.

• Myth #5: Goodwill is not a nonprofit.

  For over 70 years, Horizon Goodwill (previously Hagerstown Goodwill) has been recognized by the IRS as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Our mission – Removing Barriers to Social Mobility – is on display every day in the community. We’re committed to serving the underserved – people lacking education, people with disabilities, people facing homelessness, people with a criminal background, and youth lacking opportunity – and all funding we receive powers our programs.

• Myth #6: Valuable, high-end items that are donated are only sold online, not in-store.

  While it is true that we set aside items to be sold on ShopGoodwill. because in today’s world, it’s so important for us to make the most of the internet! Your generous donations support programs that truly change lives in our community.

  Whether an item is sold online or in-store, all sales support our mission of transforming generations by empowering people through employment.

• Myth #7: Goodwill store team members get first dibs on donated items.

  No way! Horizon Goodwill has policies inplace to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to score those unique finds. Team members are not allowed to shop while they are working, and all items must be on the sales floor for a specified amount of time before they can be purchased by employees.

• Myth #8: Goodwill doesn't actually help anyone.

  We invite you to take a closer look at the concept of community impact and how it doesn’t always manifest on a large or grand scale. It’s important to recognize that meaningful contributions can also manifest in smaller, everyday actions like providing a warm coat, ensuring a meal, offering a supportive ear, or facilitating free health screenings. These, and so much more, all represent significant ways to make a difference in your community, for your neighbors.

• Myth #9: Goodwill stores are only for people of low income.

  All are welcome! Anyone can shop at Goodwill and in fact, anytime you shop at Goodwill and find a good deal for yourself, you do a great deal more for the community. Goodwill runs on the donations of the community, and we try to price all donations at a fair market value based on the brand and condition of the item. We also sell brand-new items in our store as well to supplement donations on the sales floor or offer specialty items like seasonal accessories and home decor.