Our History

Founded on the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, Goodwill of Greater Detroit has long connected metro Detroiters to job training, supportive services and employment opportunities that lead to greater stability and independence.

Goodwill’s story began in the late 1890s, when Boston Methodist minister Edgar J. Helms searched for practical ways to support immigrants. He collected unwanted household items, hired people to repair and refurbish them, then sold the goods and used the proceeds to pay the workers. This innovative idea became the foundation of the Goodwill method of self-help, officially established in 1902 and centered on skill-building, job training and employment placement.

In April 1921, Rev. John E. Martin of the First Methodist Church in Berkley, Michigan, brought that vision to Detroit by founding Goodwill of Greater Detroit. The organization created work opportunities for older adults and individuals with physical disabilities through the repair and sale of donated goods. Over time, services evolved to meet the changing needs of the community, but Goodwill of Greater Detroit remained rooted in its mission to support those facing barriers to opportunity. At one point in its history, the organization merged with the League for the Handicapped, expanding its ability to serve the region and respond to community needs.

More than 100 years later, our values remain the same: helping people and families move from poverty and dependence to prosperity and independence.

Today, Goodwill of Greater Detroit operates three nonprofit businesses: Donated Goods Retail stores, Goodwill’s Green Works and Goodwill Integrated Solutions. Together, these enterprises generate revenue that supports life-changing programs while creating hands-on training and work opportunities.

Through this model, Goodwill serves metro Detroit residents living with mental health challenges or developmental disabilities, returning citizens and individuals facing chronic unemployment or underemployment.