Think Before You Donate

Putting the Goodwill rumors to rest

Individuals in our community occasionally receive an old email or social media post that contains false information about a number of nonprofits, including Goodwill. We know that you want your donations to be used wisely, so we’d like to provide you with the correct information for responding to these rumors.

The email falsely claims a person named Mark Curran is the president and “owner” of Goodwill. Goodwill is a network of 180 worldwide autonomous non-profit charitable organizations governed by local volunteer Boards of Directors. Goodwill Industries International is an association office that supports the independent Goodwills and is headed by Steve Preston. Goodwill International is governed by a volunteer board composed primarily of local Goodwill members, and as such does not have an “owner.” Furthermore, no one by the name of Mark Curran has ever headed a Goodwill organization in the country.

We would like to address some of the other issues raised in promoting false information. Please note the following facts about Goodwill Industries of Tenneva:

  • Goodwill Industries of Tenneva is a registered, reputable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
  • As a nonprofit, Goodwill is “owned” by the communities it serves and is governed by a board of directors made up of volunteers from throughout its 17-county service area.
  • Donations to Goodwill support our mission of providing job training and career development services, particularly to individuals with disabilities or other barriers to employment.
  • Goodwill served more than 700 individuals in 2021.
  • More than 93% of Goodwill of Tenneva’s revenue supports its life-changing mission. Nationally, CharityWatch, an independent organization that evaluates philanthropic organizations, gives Goodwill an “A” rating – one of the highest in the country for a non-profit organization.

At Goodwill Industries of Tenneva, we believe everyone should “think before you donate.” When you do, you may rest assured that your generous donations to Goodwill help individuals find meaningful employment, thereby building lives, families, and communities one career at a time.

Think Before You Donate

Putting the Goodwill rumors to rest

Individuals in our community occasionally receive an old email or social media post that contains false information about a number of nonprofits, including Goodwill. We know that you want your donations to be used wisely, so we’d like to provide you with the correct information for responding to these rumors.

The email falsely claims a person named Mark Curran is the president and “owner” of Goodwill. Goodwill is a network of 180 worldwide autonomous non-profit charitable organizations governed by local volunteer Boards of Directors. Goodwill Industries International is an association office that supports the independent Goodwills and is headed by Steve Preston. Goodwill International is governed by a volunteer board composed primarily of local Goodwill members, and as such does not have an “owner.” Furthermore, no one by the name of Mark Curran has ever headed a Goodwill organization in the country.

We would like to address some of the other issues raised in promoting false information. Please note the following facts about Goodwill Industries of Tenneva:

  • Goodwill Industries of Tenneva is a registered, reputable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
  • As a nonprofit, Goodwill is “owned” by the communities it serves and is governed by a board of directors made up of volunteers from throughout its 17-county service area.
  • Donations to Goodwill support our mission of providing job training and career development services, particularly to individuals with disabilities or other barriers to employment.
  • Goodwill served more than 700 individuals in 2021.
  • More than 93% of Goodwill of Tenneva’s revenue supports its life-changing mission. Nationally, CharityWatch, an independent organization that evaluates philanthropic organizations, gives Goodwill an “A” rating – one of the highest in the country for a non-profit organization.

At Goodwill Industries of Tenneva, we believe everyone should “think before you donate.” When you do, you may rest assured that your generous donations to Goodwill help individuals find meaningful employment, thereby building lives, families, and communities one career at a time.