Donation FAQs
Q. How do my donations and purchases help?
A. The annual budget to keep Memphis Goodwill programs operating is raised from the sale of donated items. That’s why the donations of generous Mid-Southerners is so important to our local Goodwill. Donations from our neighbors are accepted, then sold to other neighbors who shop at our stores. Those sales revenues are then used to hire even more neighbors, many of whom face barriers to employment. It’s a local non-profit benefitting the neighbors in our own communities.
Also, when you donate, you help to keep millions of pounds of materials out of our local landfills. It’s the “green” thing to do!
Q. What items does Memphis Goodwill accept as donations?
A. We accept gently used:
Women’s, men’s and children’s clothing of all types
Shoes, purses, belts and other clothing accessories
Jewelry and watches
Furniture
Wall art (framed and unframed)
Household wares (dishes, glasses, pots & pans, flower arrangements, etc.)
Electronics (TVs, microwaves, vacuum cleaners, blenders, toasters, can openers, etc.)
Computers and computer accessories (working and non-working)
Books, records, CDs, DVDs, tapes
Children’s toys, plush items
Bed linens, covers, drapes
Titled goods (cars, boats, RVs, etc.)
Q. What items Memphis Goodwill (Cannot) accept as donations?
A. Due to safety issues and other concerns, we do not accept:
Mattresses
Box springs
Paint
Food
Baby cribs
Car seats
Strollers
Gasoline
Fireworks
Weapons/ammunition
Propane, helium, and oxygen tanks
Diabetic supplies
Syringes
Prescription medication
Tires
Car batteries
Items that are wet, mildewed, rusty, or flammable
Older model televisions (big back)
Fire extinguishers
Gas cans
Explosives
Q. Are my donations tax-deductible?
A. Yes! Items donated to Goodwill are always tax-deductible. Donors may get a tax receipt card to itemize their donations every time they drop something off. Goodwill staff cannot assess the value ourselves, but you can refer to general federal guidelines for help.
Q. Does Goodwill’s CEO make $2.3 million a year?
A. Unfortunately, we sometimes stand in the line of fire from individuals and organizations that are misinformed and/or misrepresent us to the public. This negative rumor mill has recently resurfaced in the form of an email that includes a variation of a message like this: “Think about these before you donate. As you open your pockets to do a good thing and make yourself feel good, please keep these facts in mind…”
The message then quotes erroneous information and salary figures for several nonprofit organizations’ chief executives, including a reference to a so-called “Goodwill CEO and Owner Mark Curran, who profits $2.3 million a year.”
This information is erroneous.
To set the record straight, no person named Mark Curran has ever been employed at Goodwill Industries International (GII) and no one in the organization earns the $2.3 million in compensation mentioned in the rumor. Steven C. Preston is currently the president and CEO of GII and he is accountable to a board of directors. Goodwill is not owned by any individual, but is in fact a network of 156 community-based, autonomous 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.
For factual information about GII, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, visit its Annual Impact Report page, where you will find audited financial information as well as IRS Form 990 information. You can also view GII’s profile as well as other local Goodwill organizations’ profiles on the nonprofit organization database GuideStar, where Goodwill is ranked with the Platinum Seal of Approval.
For more information, visit Think Before You Donate - Goodwill Industries International.
