Who is the Owner of Goodwill?

Goodwill Industries (commonly called Goodwill) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that runs thrift stores and workforce development programs across the United States, Canada, and several other countries. It began in 1902, founded by the Reverend Edgar J. Helms to provide job training and employment services for people facing barriers to work. Goodwill International serves as the central federation that supports and coordinates more than 150 independent local Goodwill organizations (affiliates).

As of recent reports, the Goodwill system operates thousands of retail locations and generates multi-billion dollar annual revenues used to fund job training and community programs. Goodwill Industries International is led by Steven C. (Steve) Preston, who became president & CEO of Goodwill Industries International in January 2019.

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Ownership Status of Goodwill

Short answer: Goodwill does not have a single owner. It is a nonprofit federation made up of many independent, locally governed affiliates. Each local Goodwill (for example, Goodwill of Southern NJ & Philadelphia or Goodwill Central Texas) is its own nonprofit corporation with its own board of trustees, executive leadership, budget, and programs. The national body — Goodwill Industries International — provides brand support, guidance, advocacy, and services to the affiliate network but does not “own” all Goodwill stores outright.

Major “Holders” / Stakeholders (Not shareholders)

Entity / Group	Role (ownership-like function)	Notes
Goodwill Industries International (GII)	Federation, brand steward	Supports >150 local Goodwills; provides standards, resources, and the national brand.
Local Goodwill Affiliates	Independent nonprofit corporations	Each affiliate manages stores, programs, staffing and local fundraising. They are governed by volunteer boards.
Boards of Directors / Trustees	Governance	Volunteer boards legally govern each local affiliate and set executive compensation and policy.
Donors & Customers	Provide the goods and revenue	Donated merchandise and retail sales fund local programs and services.
Employees / Program Participants	Program delivery & beneficiaries	Many Goodwill programs hire and train participants; staff operate retail and training programs.

Note: Because Goodwill is a nonprofit network, there are no shareholders or private owners who can buy the entire organization like a for-profit company.

Goodwill President and CEO – Steven C. Preston

Steven C. Preston is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Goodwill Industries International, the nonprofit organization that supports and represents the Goodwill network worldwide. He took on this role in January 2019 and is responsible for leading the national office, supporting local Goodwill affiliates, and advancing the organization’s mission of job training and workforce development. Before joining Goodwill, Preston served as the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from 2008 to 2009 and later as the CEO of Oakleaf Global Holdings, a workforce solutions company. His background in both public service and workforce development aligns closely with Goodwill’s mission-driven work.

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Steven C. Preston Net Worth

Steven C. Preston’s net worth is not publicly disclosed, and there are no verified estimates available from reliable sources. As the CEO of a nonprofit organization, his compensation is determined by Goodwill Industries International’s board and is reported transparently through nonprofit tax filings (Form 990). Unlike corporate executives, Preston does not hold equity or ownership stakes in Goodwill, as the organization has no private owners or shareholders. Any assumptions about his personal wealth found online are speculative and should not be considered accurate without official confirmation.

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Key “Ownership” Highlights

• No single private owner. Goodwill cannot be purchased like a private company because its local affiliates are nonprofit corporations governed locally.
• Federated model. The system is a federation: Goodwill Industries International (the national organization) and the local Goodwill affiliates work together but remain legally separate entities.
• Governed locally. Each affiliate has a volunteer board of directors/trustees that hires the CEO/president for that affiliate and oversees finances and programs. This is why leadership, store counts, and programs can vary by region.
• Common rumor debunked. Periodically a false claim circulates online that a single person (often the name Mark Curran or similar) “owns” Goodwill or that Goodwill CEOs make millions. Local Goodwill organizations and Goodwill International have repeatedly debunked these claims. Executive pay is set by local boards and follows nonprofit sector norms; the organization as a whole remains a nonprofit.

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Recent Developments in the Goodwill System

• Modernization and growth: In recent years Goodwill affiliates have been modernizing store layouts, expanding online sales channels, and opening new stores in strategic locations; recent news coverage highlights record system sales and continued expansion efforts. These operational changes are driven by local affiliate strategies and national support, not a change in ownership.
• Leadership continuity at GII: Steven C. Preston continues as president & CEO of Goodwill Industries International, leading the federation and representing the network nationally.

(If you want, I can expand this section with the latest annual revenue, store counts by year, or notable affiliate mergers — I used the most recent public sources to summarize the changes above.)

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FAQs

1. Who is the current owner of Goodwill?
There is no single owner. Goodwill is a network of independent nonprofit affiliates; governance is local and overseen by volunteer boards.

2. Is Goodwill privately owned or publicly traded?
Neither. Goodwill is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) in the U.S.), so it is not for sale nor listed on any stock exchange.

3. Who is the leader of Goodwill nationally?
Steven C. Preston is the president & CEO of Goodwill Industries International, which leads the federation that supports local Goodwill affiliates.

4. If there’s no owner, who controls decisions?
Local affiliate boards of trustees control decisions for their affiliate (stores, programs, budgets). Goodwill Industries International provides coordination, standards, and national representation.

5. Can someone buy Goodwill?
You cannot buy the whole Goodwill network because it’s a federation of independent nonprofit corporations. Individual local affiliates own their assets and could — in theory — sell specific property under nonprofit rules, but the organization as a whole is not a private asset for sale.

Goodwill Industries International Official site

Goodwill is not owned by a single person or corporation. It is a federated nonprofit network of independently governed local Goodwill organizations that operate thrift stores and job-training programs. The national body, Goodwill Industries International, supports the network and is led by Steven C. Preston, but it does not “own” the local Goodwills — local volunteer boards do. This structure explains why people sometimes see differences in how Goodwill operates from region to region and why rumors that a single person “owns” Goodwill are false.