Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota (GESMN), based in St. Paul, turns donated goods into job training and customized career support designed to eliminate barriers to work and independence. Revenue from more than 50 retail stores across Minnesota and western Wisconsin, along with grants and other contributions, funds programs that serve nearly 6,000 people a year. Dr. Michael Wirth-Davis has led the organization as president and CEO for more than 35 years. Website goodwilleasterseals.org.
Goodwill runs a social enterprise: people donate used clothing and household goods, Goodwill sells them in its thrift stores, and the proceeds, along with grants and other contributions, fund job training and career support. Donating and shopping are the main ways the public supports the mission.
GESMN combines the Goodwill and Easter Seals missions, focusing on eliminating barriers to work and independence through customized services for people who face significant obstacles.
Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota operates more than 50 retail stores, with locations across Minnesota and into western Wisconsin. That retail base, supplemented by grants and fees, funds programs that serve nearly 6,000 people a year.
The organization is headquartered at 553 Fairview Avenue North in St. Paul and works throughout the state, giving it one of the broadest reaches of any single nonprofit in Minnesota.
GESMN offers job training and customized career support that includes industry-specific training, digital literacy, resume help, family-stability services, and help navigating work with a disability. The customized approach reflects its mission of meeting people where they are.
Dr. Michael Wirth-Davis has led the organization as president and CEO for more than 35 years, an unusually long tenure that has shaped its statewide programs.
Goodwill accepts clean, gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, housewares, books, and many household items; check the donation guidelines before a large drop-off. Donations go to more than 50 stores across Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
Donations are tax-deductible, and donors should keep a receipt and an itemized list for their records. For a full breakdown, see our guide on what Goodwill accepts.
Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota is a 501(c)(3) organization, and revenue from its stores, along with grants and fees, funds its mission programs. Its EIN for tax-deductible cash gifts is 41-0706171.
Because GESMN blends retail revenue with grants, store proceeds work alongside other funding to support its job-training and career services.
Both Goodwill and the Salvation Army run thrift stores funded by donated goods, but Goodwill focuses on job training and career support while the Salvation Army funds recovery and broad social services. For donated clothing and housewares in Minnesota, either is a strong option.
If your priority is workforce development and customized career support, especially for people with disabilities, GESMN is distinctive thanks to its combined Goodwill and Easter Seals mission.
Last updated June 2026. Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota CEO (Dr. Michael Wirth-Davis, 35-plus years), 50-plus retail stores across Minnesota and western Wisconsin, nearly 6,000 people served a year, job-training and customized career services, and St. Paul headquarters (553 Fairview Avenue North) from GESMN (goodwilleasterseals.org); EIN 41-0706171 from Charity Navigator and GuideStar. We are not affiliated with Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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