About Us

What started with one truck and one storefront 100 years ago has helped thousands of people in our community receive education, training, jobs, and a second chance.

Goodwill was founded in 1902 in Boston, MA, by Rev. Edgar J. Helms. The idea was simple, fight poverty not with charity but with trade skills and provide a chance for the poor and unemployed to do productive work.


Inspired by compassion for the poor, sick, and disabled and determined to improve their quality of life, Helms put a burlap bag over his shoulder and asked for unwanted clothing, shoes, and household goods. He employed people in need to restore those collected items and taught them trades and skills as they worked. The income from the resale of those goods paid wages to these people.


With Helms as the driving force, Goodwill Industries spread throughout the United States. On July 5, 1923, Chattanooga Goodwill opened as the first Goodwill in the state of Tennessee and the 25th in the world.

Our Mission, Vision, and Values

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community where every person regardless of ability situation or background can achieve their greatest potential
The core values of a company are people , integrity , commitment , and continuous improvement.

Our Strategic Plan

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A blue sign that says our strategic plan on it

When we commit to our guiding principles, donor values should increase, profits should increase, and potential should transform into opportunity within the communities we serve.

Structure

Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area is an innovative and sustainable social enterprise that utilizes its resale strategies to provide training to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment such as multi-generational poverty, history of incarceration, and limited education and work experience. Goodwill accepts clothing and other household goods from the public and sells these donated items in multiple community-based stores. Revenue from the sale of these goods goes directly toward supporting and growing critical local programs and job placement services.


Goodwill is an autonomous 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and is a member agency of Goodwill Industries International and the United Way of Greater Chattanooga. Chattanooga Goodwill is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and serves 23 counties in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. 

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Careers at Goodwill

We believe everyone should have the opportunity to live independently, earn wages, and achieve their dreams.


We are committed to helping you achieve your personal and professional goals, whether it’s earning a credential or degree, planning for your next career, polishing your job search and interview skills, getting your finances in order, or overcoming a challenge specific to your experience or background.


We are here for you!

Our Service Area

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Newsroom

Harold's Success

By Lora B • May 5, 2025
Harold Cottrell's Success

Goodwill Week: Helping People Transform Potential Into Opportunity

By Lora B • May 1, 2025
Every year during the first full week of May, Goodwill organizations celebrate Goodwill Week. This Goodwill Week, the non-profit is encouraging you to “Get to Know Goodwill”. Goodwill is a network of non-profit organizations governed by a local president and CEO and a board of directors. Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area sells donated goods to fund education, training, and employment for people in their 23-county territory in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia. For more than 100 years, our area Goodwill has helped people find jobs, support their families and gain the satisfaction that comes from stable employment. Goodwill operates an Opportunity Campus and two Opportunity Centers in our area. Goodwill Opportunity Campus: 6104 Preservation Drive, Chattanooga, 423-629-2501 Goodwill Opportunity Center - East Brainerd: 7601 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, 423-757-9527 Goodwill Opportunity Center – Dalton: 1001 Market Street, Dalton, 706-609-5647 Goodwill operates over a dozen stores and four attended donation centers in our region. The organization employs over 350 individuals, many of whom have barriers to employment. “Goodwill believes that every person regardless of ability, situation, or background can achieve their greatest potential,” said Michelle Turner, Director of Marketing and Communications of Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area. “We are grateful to our donors, shoppers, employees and participants who help bring this vision to life.” Since 1923, Goodwill Industries of the Greater Chattanooga Area has helped people with barriers to employment get the training and support they need to find competitive jobs in the community. Barriers may include physical and developmental disabilities or other disadvantages such as a lack of formal education or a long absence from employment. When you shop or donate to Goodwill, you are helping people in your community turn their potential into opportunity. Visit www.goodwillchatt.org to learn more.  Read the Article Here .

2024 Annual Award Winners

By Lora B • April 21, 2025
Congratulations to our 2024 Annual Award Winners!
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