Goodwill Houston, formally Goodwill Industries of Houston, has served the Greater Houston area since 1945, turning donated goods into career training and employment services for people who face barriers to work. It runs more than 60 retail stores and over 40 donation centers, and says it puts 95 cents of every dollar into programs. Michael Winckler serves as president and CEO. Website goodwillhouston.org.
Goodwill Houston runs a social enterprise: people donate used clothing and household goods, Goodwill sells them in its thrift stores, and the proceeds fund career training and employment services. Donating and shopping are the main ways the public supports the mission.
The agency has operated in the Greater Houston area since 1945 and says it directs 95 cents of every dollar into programs, keeping overhead low.
Goodwill Houston operates more than 60 retail stores and over 40 donation centers throughout the Houston area. That retail footprint is what funds the mission, with each store and donation center feeding revenue into job programs.
The Greater Houston area is one of the largest metros in the country, so the agency's reach across the region is substantial.
Goodwill Houston's Career and Connect Centers offer career-readiness skills, digital literacy, job-search help, and training in fields such as construction, clean tech, and office and networking skills. Services include resume preparation, interview skills, and workplace-success training.
Its EmployAbility program provides holistic, supportive training for people with multiple barriers and disabilities, and the Goodwill Career and Technical Academy offers structured training programs. Michael Winckler leads the organization as president and CEO.
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 centers and stores across the Houston area.
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 Houston is a 501(c)(3) organization, and revenue from its stores funds its mission programs. The agency emphasizes that 95 cents of every dollar goes to programs, a high program ratio for a retail-funded nonprofit.
Its EIN for tax-deductible cash gifts is 74-1285095.
Both Goodwill and the Salvation Army run thrift stores funded by donated goods, but Goodwill focuses on career training and employment while the Salvation Army funds addiction recovery and broad social services. For donated clothing and housewares, either is a strong option in Houston.
If your priority is workforce development, Goodwill Houston is the dedicated agency at scale in the region; for goods better suited to direct distribution, a local shelter or reuse nonprofit may fit better.
Last updated June 2026. Goodwill Houston CEO (Michael Winckler), founding (1945), 60-plus stores and 40-plus donation centers, 95-cents-per-dollar program ratio, and Career and Connect Centers, EmployAbility, and Goodwill Career and Technical Academy programs from Goodwill Houston (goodwillhouston.org); EIN 74-1285095 from GuideStar. We are not affiliated with Goodwill Houston and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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