Goodwill Industries of West Michigan, Inc.
Changing Lives Through the Power of Work
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Goodwill Industries of West Michigan believes that work is a powerful force. It plays a critical role for people to achieve security, independence, self-worth, pride and respect. Many in the communities we serve experience personal and/or systemic barriers to employment. For them, finding, keeping and advancing in good jobs is difficult. Personal challenges include having a disability, illness, criminal background, or other disadvantaging condition. System challenges include generational poverty, racism, discrimination, educational and economic inequities, and other long-term social injustices.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Customer Service Training
This program is a combination of classroom instruction and paid, on-the-job training to prepare participants for a career in customer service. The intensive program utilizes curriculum from the National Retail Federation providing an overview of the retail industry, customer service, sales, and operational strengths. Graduates will gain the skills and knowledge needed for entry-level customer service work.
Financial Training Services
Goodwill offers a variety of financial services to help people build a successful future and achieve their financial goals. Services include one-on-one support and coaching on budgeting, saving, debt reduction, and more.
Services provided at Goodwill Career Center, and other locations.
Empowering Ex-offenders in Transition (EXIT)
The EXIT program provides comprehensive support services to criminal offenders living in the cities of Muskegon and Muskegon Heights. In partnership with other community organizations, this alternative sentencing option provides participants referred by the Muskegon County Probation Office with case management, mentoring, and occupational training. The program is designed to help participants be involved in their community in more positive ways, reducing the likelihood of future criminal activity.
GoodTemps
GoodTemps is a temporary staffing agency offering displaced workers, ex-offenders, and others, assistance in entering or re-entering the job market. Using its extensive network of local employers, GoodTemps places individuals in a wide variety of occupations and skill levels. Temporary assignments are often the “foot in the door” that lead to permanent placements. There are no start-up or placement agency service fees for workers. Workers receive weekly paychecks while gaining valuable work experience and contacts.
A full-time case manager is available to provide workers with supports such as career planning, on-the-job conflict resolution, money management classes, job retention skills training, community resource assistance/referrals, and one-on-one coaching. For more information call (231) 739-9010 or visit www.goodtempsmi.com.
Ticket to Work
The Ticket to Work is a free and voluntary program that can help Social Security beneficiaries go to work and become financially independent, while maintaining their Medicare or Medicaid. Individuals aged 18-64 years old who receive Social Security benefits because of a disability most likely qualify for the program. Program eligibility and tickets are determined and provided by the Social Security Administration. The program is a good fit for people who want to improve their earning potential and are committed to preparing for full-time reintegration in the workplace. Goodwill is a qualified Employment Network (EN) for the program and can provide beneficiaries with disabilities access to meaningful employment.
Janitorial Occupational Training (JOT)
Designed to prepare individuals to meet the quality standards of janitorial services, participants gain valuable training combined with paid on-the-job training in a community setting. Using 3M™ SMART Training resources, participants learn tools and techniques of the field including: safe chemical handling, customer service, floor care, rest room cleaning, kitchen cleaning, trash and recycling, windows and glass, personal safety, and cleaning versus sanitizing. The curriculum is tailored to the needs of the participants. Job placement assistance is provided.
Work Experience Training
The Work Experience Training program uses time-limited, wage-paying jobs that combine real work, skill development, and supportive services to transition participants rapidly and successfully into the labor market. Participants learn the customs and routines of work, establish an employment record, and generate employer references to enhance their competitiveness. Participation is through eligibility requirements determined through Offender Success, EXIT, and other programs.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Goodwill provides free tax preparation services for qualifying low- to moderate-income individuals and families. Certified volunteer preparers help filers maximize their returns through state and federal tax credits such as Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Michigan Homestead Property Tax Credit, and others. Goodwill also offers free self-service and online options with support, for those who prefer to file taxes on their own. For detailed information and eligibility requirements, visit the VITA web site. To become a volunteer call (231) 722-7871.
Offender Success
The Offender Success program (formerly called Prisoner Reentry) is a state-wide strategic approach to creating safer neighborhoods and better citizens through the delivery of a seamless plan of services, programming, support, and supervision for prisoners re-entering the community. Program participants are referred by the Michigan Department of Corrections Parole Board.
Work Readiness
This program is designed to provide psychosocial / vocational rehabilitation for persons with developmental disabilities and mental impairments who need facility-based training and employment services, or who choose not to seek community-based employment. Participants may select from paid vocational training, basic skill building, community-based education, and volunteer opportunities. Participants are referred from HealthWest, MAISD, Community Mental Health of Ottawa County, local school districts, and other referral sources. Referring agencies are responsible for fees incurred from programming. Frequency of participation in programming is customized by individual service plans and needs.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
United Way Member Agency 1952
External reviews
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of job skills training courses/workshops conducted
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of participants who gain employment
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of youth receiving services (e.g., groups, skills and job training, etc.) with youths living in their community
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of clients engaged in the criminal justice system in the last 12 months
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Offender Success
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Goodwill Industries of West Michigan works to assure every person has a pathway to meaningful and sustaining work, no matter what their barrier. All are included when both individual and systemic challenges have been overcome.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Goodwill's focus is empowering people to transform their lives through the power of work. Striving to meet the needs of all job seekers - including people with disabilities, criminal backgrounds, and other disadvantaging conditions - Goodwill offers a broad range of employment and training programs and other support services to fulfill a divers set of community needs. Our Career Center in Muskegon offers a variety of free walk-in services such as resume development, computer classes, and resource referrals. Goodwill's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program provides free tax preparation assistance to thousands of West Michigan individuals and families each year. Additionally we partner with other agencies to offer paid work experience to high school students.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Founded in 1950 through the committed efforts of parents and community leaders who recognized the need for vocational training and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, Goodwill now serves nearly 5,000 people each year in a 12 county reach in Western Michigan.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2018 Goodwill served 4,995 people, placed 635 into jobs within area businesses and had 454 program participants work and earn paychecks at Goodwill. 85,644 sessions of vocational support services were provided for individuals with disabilities, 82,379 sessions of employment case management were delivered along with 2,418 sessions of occupational or other skills training.
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Goodwill Industries of West Michigan, Inc.
Board of directorsas of 01/28/2020
Tom Dake
Kendall Electic (retired)
Paul Gilbert
Brickley DeLong, P.C.
Diana Osborn
Muskegon Community College (retired)
George Johnson
Parmenter O'Toole
Marcy Joy
Community Foundation for Muskegon County (retired)
Clinton Todd
Community Shores Bank
Alan Steinman
GVSU Annis Water Resources Institute
Janelle Mair
Community Foundation for Muskegon County
Libby Cherin
Fremont Area Community Foundation (retired)
Todd Brammer
Kaydon Corporation
Kaslena Hussey
Mercy Health
Nancy Miller
Horizon Bank
Mike Muskovin
Motorola Solutions, Inc.
David Timmer
Alcoa Power and Propulsion
Harold Burrell
Lighthouse Insurance Group
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes