Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin Inc.
Elevating People by Eliminating Barriers to Employment
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Goodwills mission services and retail operations start with donations. Its been that way since the Rev. Edgar Helms founded Goodwill in 1902 in Boston. A member of Goodwill Industries International, Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin has been serving 35 counties throughout north central Wisconsin communities since 1971. As a nonprofit, we use donations and shopping purchases to fund skills training in our communities to make a life-changing impact for the people we serve. The work always come back to the people whose lives we touch and serve and is part of our mission of Elevating People by Eliminating Barriers to Employment.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
GoodNeighbor
GoodNeighbor provides emergency assistance — on a referral basis only — to agency clients, allowing them to select products from our retail stores. Goodwill NCW relies on the expertise of local agencies to determine a client’s need for a certificate. A limited number of certificates are available throughout the year.
Miracle League of the Fox Valley
Miracle League of the Fox Valley is a program based on the principal that Every Child Deserves a Chance to Play Baseball. The Miracle League gives children with disabilities between the ages of 4 and 19 the opportunity to play baseball in an organized, non-competitive league on a safe, accessible baseball field with a synthetic surface. In addition to the importance of being able to play baseball, the Miracle League is also about making new friends, building self-esteem, and being treated just like other kids.
Miracle League of the Lakeshore
Miracle League of the Lakeshore is a program based on the principal that Every Child Deserves a Chance to Play Baseball. The Miracle League gives children with disabilities between the ages of 4 and 19 the opportunity to play baseball in an organized, non-competitive league on a safe, accessible baseball field with a synthetic surface. In addition to the importance of being able to play baseball, the Miracle League is also about making new friends, building self-esteem, and being treated just like other kids.
Miracle League of the Chippewa Valley
Miracle League of the Chippewa Valley is a program based on the principal that Every Child Deserves a Chance to Play Baseball. The Miracle League gives children with disabilities between the ages of 4 and 19 the opportunity to play baseball in an organized, non-competitive league on a safe, accessible baseball field with a synthetic surface. In addition to the importance of being able to play baseball, the Miracle League is also about making new friends, building self-esteem, and being treated just like other kids. Play is scheduled to begin in June 2017 in Eau Claire.
Financial and Debt Solutions Services
Financial and Debt Solutions is a program designed to help people find peace of mind and self-sufficiency through financial planning, education and counseling. FISC provides services such as debt management plans, educational workshops, individual and family financial/budget/credit counseling, and long-term assistance.
Prosperity Center
Prosperity Center is designed to help people obtain post-secondary education that leads to career employment opportunities. Intake and assessment, case management, information and referral, and comprehensive wrap-around services (financial, vocational, life skills, etc.) are provided to participants who did not think that obtaining a college education was a realistic goal for them.
Support is available to participants from intake all the way through post-graduation employment.
This is a partnership program with the Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC).
Payment Partner
Payment Partner provides representative payee services to persons receiving checks from the Social Security Administration and bill-paying services for community members in general. Services provided include paying bills, budgeting, and money management in general.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) offers free tax assistance, preparation, and electronic filing services for persons with low-to-moderate incomes and persons with disabilities, as well as older tax payers (the latter is a partnership with Tax Counseling for the Elderly – TCE).
Employment and Training Program
Employment and Training Program is designed to support persons with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment in the community. The level of support provided on the job can range from short to longer term, depending on individual need.
Pre-employment Training Program
Pre-employment Training Program is a longer-term training program for persons with disabilities that utilize the Goodwill worksite to develop work skills and behaviors.
Career Assessment
Career Assessment is a program that assesses individual vocational interests, aptitudes, abilities, and needs through the use of comprehensive assessment and evaluation techniques.
Work Assessment
Work Assessment is a short-term training program for persons with disabilities that utilize the Goodwill worksite to develop work skills and behaviors.
Learning Independent Future Environments (L.I.F.E.)
Tomah Learning Independent Future Environments (L.I.F.E.) is a program designed to provide high school students with special needs with "real life” independent living and vocational training opportunities. The goal of this program is to facilitate the students’ eventual transition from high school to life after school.
Partnerships and Collaborations
Goodwill NCW has partnerships throughout north central Wisconsin. Some examples:
Complete Service Area
Goodwill has established formal contractual work relationships with Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) throughout the service delivery area. These involve the local CRP providing a crew, including persons with disabilities, to perform work at the Goodwill Store/Training Center.
Fox Valley
Goodwill continues to have a role on the Fox Cities Workforce Development Center’s (FCWDC) Management Team and is "Employer of Record” for the FCWDC Receptionist.
Oshkosh/Fox Cities/Waupaca
Career EXCELerate - a collaborative career-training program between Goodwill NCW, Fox Valley Tech and Rawhide Youth Services.
New London
Partnership with Rawhide Youth Services teaching digital and social skills to disadvantaged youth.
Where we work
Awards
Partners with Business 2020
Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of clients served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children, Economically disadvantaged people, Veterans, Unemployed people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Goodwill NCW, including GoodNeighbor, has served more than 31,000 people for four consecutive years. More than half of those people were supported by emergency assistance at our retail stores.
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of press releases developed and distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Most press releases are of seasonal nature, dealing with mission impact stories, donation needs or promotional events/campaigns.
Number of people on the organization's email list
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We continue to work on growing our email list, while ensuring the accuracy and relevance of those subscribed.
Number of website pageviews
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We've seen very positive growth in website traffic over the past three years. In 2022, we redesigned our site to lead with mission
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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?
Our mission is Elevating People by Eliminating Barriers to Employment. Its why we do what we do. We repurpose the used goods donated to Goodwill, sell them in our retail stores and training centers and use the revenues to support the programs and services that improve lives and our communities.
At Goodwill NCW we provide pathways for people who are underserved, underrepresented and/or disadvantaged who have a goal of building job skills that lead to sustained employment and improved financial stability.
Since filing Articles of Incorporation in 1971 as a not-for-profit corporation, Goodwill NCW has existed solely to address the social and human service needs of Wisconsins most vulnerable individuals and families. Today, Goodwill NCW services across the State of Wisconsin focus on helping individuals with barriers secure the life skills and workforce development and training supports they need to obtain and retain gainful employment to support themselves and their families. Goodwill NCW, unlike the majority of nonprofit organizations around the country, is a self-funded social service organization. The business model functions by collecting donated used materials that households no longer want or need, keeping those 50 million pounds of household materials out of our landfills each year. The goods are then sold at reduced prices in thrift stores to those who need or seek lower-priced goods. All proceeds are invested back into the organization and into operating social services across the state.
The programs and services of Goodwill NCW make a life-changing difference in our communities by eliminating barriers to employment through job training, addressing financial literacy, promoting access to services and supporting community participation.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Goodwill has been practicing sustainability since 1902 through the use of secondhand goods and responsible recycling. We approach sustainability from a people, planet and prosperity perspective.
Goodwill NCW’s mission begins with the communities’ support through donations. These donations in turn are sorted and merchandised for sale in our stores, which provide meaningful training and employment opportunities for people across the 35 Wisconsin counties we serve.
The resources generated through the sale of donated goods are invested in our people, community, mission and future.
Our work, community and financial programs and services support our mission of Elevating People by Eliminating Barriers to Employment.
We will advance our mission through these guiding principles:
-Practice mission-based (our why) decision–making at all times.
-Attract and retain talented team members.
-Know the business, understand what we are doing and the related outcomes.
-Focus on the experience of our customers and our team members.
-Innovate and grow to impact the needs of our communities.
-Be good stewards of the communities’ resources.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
According to our CARF survey, "Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin demonstrates substantial conformance to the standards. Goodwill NCW provides high-quality services to the clients served in the northwest region of Wisconsin. The organization has strong leadership and staff and is committed to its mission of serving people with disabilities. The organization is invested in strategic planning and demonstrates capable financial practices to manage its growth. The organization also has invested in technology to support its business operations and service delivery. The stores are warm, welcoming and inviting and provide a good customer shopping experience and positive working environments for the staff and clients. Its variety of vocational and employment services has earned the satisfaction of the clients and employers. Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin is encouraged to continue to build on its strengths in applying the CARF standards to be the leader of innovative services in the region. There are areas for improvement that should be addressed, including health and safety, workforce development and management, accessibility planning, performance improvement action planning, and enhancing the parameters of service descriptions. Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin is commended for seeking international accreditation in its quest for continuous quality improvement. The organization is encouraged to continue to use the CARF standards as a framework for continuous quality improvement and effective service delivery."
"Goodwill Industries of North Central Wisconsin appears likely to maintain and/or improve its current method of operation and demonstrates a commitment to ongoing quality improvement."
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Our retail stores and training centers are mission integrated and provide job training to individuals with barriers to employment. In 2022, Goodwill NCW provided 103,186 hours of on-the job training to individuals within Goodwill NCW retail stores. Goodwill NCW’s career development, job placement and training services play a vital role in helping individuals and the economy return to stability and health.
In addition, Goodwill NCW helped divert more than 51.7 million pounds of items from the landfill. Every donation provided on average three hours of job training and opportunities helping individuals enhance their dignity and quality of life.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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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 North Central Wisconsin Inc.
Board of directorsas of 12/07/2023
Christyn Abaray
Lawrence University
DeDe Heid
Heid Music
Gregg Curry
McCarty Law LLP
Gary Lichtenberg
Retired, financial industry
Christyn Abaray
Lawrence University
DeDe Heid
Heid Music
Chris Hess
Goodwill NCW
Tina Schoner
Greif Inc.
Autumn Anfang
St. Norbert College
Jesse Ostrom
Thrivent Trust Co.
Ricardo Abud
Retired
Craig Huss
Church Mutual Insurance Co. S.I.
Dr. Stephen Shapiro
Gundersen Health System
Randy Van Straten
Bellin Health
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data