Upcoming Events
First Day of Class – CMfgA
Mon, Jan 13th 2025
FAQs
Here, you’ll find answers to commonly asked questions about our programs, services, donations, and how we support local communities. Whether you’re looking to learn more about our mission, how your donations make an impact, or the services we offer, this page is your go-to resource
On This Page:
Myths & Misconceptions
Does the CEO make millions of dollars?
No employee of Goodwill makes millions of dollars. This misinformation began circulating in 2005, and continues across social media today. As a CARF-accredited, IRS certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, all of our finances are publicly disclosed. Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas has received the Platinum Seal of Transparency from Guidestar, the world’s largest source of information on nonprofit organizations.
When you receive all of the donated items for free, why are you charging for them in your stores? Are you just keeping the profit?
The revenue generated from sales in our stores goes to funding our mission, where sale purchases support skills training and employment services for individuals with a variety of barriers to employment. In 2024, we provided 12,452 services, including assisting 656 individuals earn employment.
All About Goodwill
Goodwill’s mission is to empower people to discover their potential and adapt for the future through the power of work. At Goodwill, we help anyone trying to earn and keep employment. Goodwill is a true social enterprise. Money spent in our retail stores fund the free programs and services we offer to local job seekers
Goodwill provides free career assistance and educational progams to help jobseekers get a job and create a sustainable career. Our services are funded by grants, financial donations, and revenue generated in our stores.
Yes. We are recognized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization by the Internal Revenue Service.
Some thrift stores that claim to be associated with a non-profit are actually for-profit stores that arrange to use a charity’s name to collect donations in exchange for a fee or a percentage of the revenue. Oftentimes this is not publicized, and the percentage the charity actually receives may be much less than what the shareholders keep for themselves. Goodwill is a nonprofit. We are recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by the IRS. Though Goodwill is a brand recognized across the nation (and the world!), it is operated regionally. That means all your donations to MoKan Goodwill help support local job seekers in western Missouri and eastern Kansas.
Goodwill operates several Community Resource Centers across the Kansas City area at our administrative offices and some retail locations. All Community Resource Centers are FREE to the public and equipped with people and resources to help job seekers. There are computer resources as well as one of our dedicated team members available to meet, assist, and give guidance. Any job seeker can use our Community Resource Centers! Click here for a list of Community Resource Center locations, hours, and free workshops available to job seekers.
Our diverse employment services include career exploration, resume building, interview skills, real work experience, job coaching, and continued support even after going to work. Programs offered include a Certified Manufacturing Associate program to gain an industry recognized certification, Bridge to Technology where students learn a wide variety of skills to help kick start a career in technology, our new Direct Contact Services Professional course where students learn the ins and outs of customer service, and several other online courses. Click here to learn more about our programs and services.
When you donate items, you’re helping out in your own community. The items we collect are sorted, priced, and sold in our stores with revenue from the sale of these items funding job training programs and employment services. Each year, we serve thousands of individuals and help place them into good jobs. When you donate, you are partnering with us in this mission. Thank You!
No, Goodwill does not repair or clean items. Before items are placed on the sales floor we assess the quality of donations checking for damaged merchandise and other flaws. We do not sell items that are broken, torn, or soiled. Goodwill used to have a training program that taught people how to repair broken items that were then sold. Our mission model has changed over our 100+ years of service and we no longer train people to repair items.
Store employees are allowed to shop in the stores. They are not allowed to shop while working. While off the clock, employees may shop as any other customer and are not permitted in the backroom. This makes the Goodwill shopping experience fair for all customers and employees.
Over 160 Goodwill organizations exist in the U.S. and Canada, with and additional 14 Goodwill affiliated organizations in other countries around the world! Each Goodwill organization is independent and operates its own unique set of programs. Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas operates in over 80 counties. Visit Goodwill Industries of Kansas and MERS Goodwill websites for other Goodwill
Thrift Store
Find a Location Near You
MoKan Goodwill proudly operates 18 retail stores and one outlet center across our region!
It is against our policies to sell merchandise from the back room. Employees also cannot hold merchandise for shoppers in the back room. Some antiques and collectibles may be held in the backroom or in the store manager’s office to be sold on one of our online stores.
All purchases (excluding books & media) may be returned within seven days of purchase for store credit or an exchange credit. All items must have original tags attached and be returned with the purchase receipt. Cash, debit, and credit card refunds are not available.
The revenue generated in our retail locations funds our mission to empower people with a wide variety of barriers to gain employment through individualized programs and services. Check out some of our client success videos to learn more about the people we serve!
Yes! We sell gift cards in various denominations in our stores. Visit a store location to purchase.
Everyone! Treasure hunters, hobbyists, collectors, college kids, and people looking to save money – whatever your reason, Goodwill is good for you.
New merchandise is put on our sales floor everyday and in busy seasons, every hour! Items that don’t sell go to the outlet location after 5 weeks in our stores. We receive thousands of donations every week and process them as quickly as possible in order to make them available for sale. No matter when you visit, Goodwill will always have something new!
Donations
donation perks
All of our tax receipts come with a coupon for a 15% discount off your next purchase!
MOKAN Goodwill offers some pick-up services on a case by case basis. We also accept donations at all of our store locations during normal business hours as well as accepting donations at many community events. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok to hear about updates on special donation events.
No. To be kind to our neighbors and get the most value out of donations we ask that they aren’t left unattended when the center is closed. Most of our stores and donation centers are open until 8:00 PM. Find a location near you.
Goodwill is unfortunately unable to accept some items. However, see below for community partners that may be able to help you properly donate, recycle or dispose of these items.
- Auto parts, tires, and car batteries
- Contact The City of Kansas City, MO Public Works Department or your local city’s office
- Baby gear and furniture that hold a child including cribs, baby gates, changing tables, pack n plays, car seats, strollers, swings and bouncers
- Contact our partner, Rose Brooks, or Community Services League
- Batteries and hazardous chemicals including paint, solvent, oil
- Jackson County Household Waste Disposal Facility (or your local county)
- Building materials including timber, drywall, concrete mix, putty, carpet
- Hangers
- Arrow Dry Cleaners or your local dry cleaners
- House electrical features or anything that mounts to a wall including ceiling fans, or other hardwired electrics, and lightbulbs
- Exercise machines including ab rollers, treadmills, stationary bikes or elliptical
- Large appliances including stoves, washers, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers
- Mattresses and box springs
- Contact Sleepyhead Beds to see if your bed meets their needs
- Magazines: contact your local recycling drop-off center
- Medical Equipment including wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, canes
- Personal hygiene items
- Donate to Harvesters Donation or Contact GivingThe Basics
- Televisions (this includes all TVs, even flat-screen televisions) and console stereos
- Review recycling policies at Best Buy for these items
- Weapons including guns, bows, ammunition, pocket knives
- Contact your local police department
Need a little more help moving the items you would like to donate to Goodwill? Have a lot of items to donate such as office equipment or liquidation? Contact our Community Donations Manager to discuss details at ajennings@mokangoodwill.org
Have other items we are unable to accept? Try the Recycle Spot.
Yes. Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. According to the IRS, donated goods (in good, used condition or better) are tax-deductible. We will provide you with a tax receipt when you make a donation (and all of our tax receipt come with a coupon for a discount off your next purchase!)
Absolutely! You may make monetary donations by clicking here. Financial donations are also tax-deductible. Be sure to print your receipt to keep for your tax records. We appreciate your support in helping us put people to work.
Our goal is to be good stewards of your generosity. We have recycling programs to minimize our environmental footprint, so we recycle items we cannot sell through qualified salvage dealers and recyclers. We diverted over 18 million pounds of goods from landfills in 2023!
Information on our financials and other reporting can be found here.
Upcoming Donation Events
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