Myth Busters

Fact Vs. Fiction:

Myth: Your CEO makes millions.

Fact: Goodwill of Greater Detroit is a local nonprofit organization, and our leaders earn fair, community-based wages.

You may have seen a viral rumor claiming that a man named Mark Curran owns Goodwill and makes millions of dollars a year. The truth is simple: no one named Mark Curran has ever been part of Goodwill… anywhere. And because Goodwill is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we do not have an ‘owner’. Our leaders are appointed and approved by a volunteer board of directors, ensuring that pay is fair and mission focused.

Myth: You pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage.

Fact: Every employee of Goodwill of Greater Detroit – including our trainees with intellectual and developmental and mental health barriers – earns at or above minimum wage.

Myth: Goodwill employees get first dibs on donated goods.

Fact: All clothing and household items that are donated to Goodwill of Greater Detroit are processed and priced before anyone, including employees, can shop. Our goal is to ensure that every donor’s gift is used fairly and transparently to help fund our mission.

Myth: Only a small percentage of your profits support your mission

Fact: Numbers don’t lie. The fact is, 92 cents of every dollar generated at Goodwill of Greater Detroit’s thrift stores goes toward our mission, providing free career training, skills development and support programs for local residents who are living with barriers, including those with disabilities.

Myth: Goodwill is a for-profit company

Fact: Goodwill of Greater Detroit is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people overcome employment barriers and to find purpose, pride and independence through work. We run three nonprofit business – our thrift stores, an industrial recycling enterprise called Goodwill’s Green Works and a manufacturing supplier called Goodwill Integrated Solutions. All these businesses exist to provide training, and transitional or permanent employment for those we serve. Any proceeds from these nonprofit businesses helps fund free programs and services.

Myth: All the good merchandise goes to Shop Goodwill online.

Fact: We receive more than nine million pounds of donations each year. Very select high-value or collectible items (like fine art, jewelry and elite designer items) may appear on the online marketplace, shopgoodwill.com, but the majority of merchandise goes straight to the sales floor in our local stores. Any proceeds from the sale of Goodwill of Greater Detroit goods online goes toward our mission locally.