Goodwill in Rhode Island is run by Goodwill of Southern New England, based in North Haven, Connecticut, which serves Rhode Island along with south-central and eastern Connecticut. It works to enhance employment, educational, social, and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities and other challenges, funded by its thrift stores and a donation center in Providence. Website goodwillsne.org.
Goodwill runs a social enterprise: people donate used clothing and household goods, Goodwill sells them in its thrift stores, and the proceeds fund programs for people with disabilities and other challenges. Donating and shopping are the main ways the public supports the mission.
In Rhode Island, Goodwill is run by Goodwill of Southern New England, which is headquartered in North Haven, Connecticut, and serves Rhode Island as part of its regional footprint.
Goodwill of Southern New England operates a donation center in Providence, Rhode Island, along with its network of thrift stores across south-central and eastern Connecticut. Goods donated in Rhode Island help fund the organization's mission.
The organization frames its mission broadly, enhancing employment, educational, social, and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities and other challenges, a focus on overall quality of life and not only jobs.
Goodwill of Southern New England serves south-central and eastern Connecticut along with Rhode Island, and it also runs a store in South Attleboro, Massachusetts, just over the line. Serving more than one small state from one organization is common in southern New England.
Its 19 thrift stores, boutique, outlet stores, and 12 attended donation centers across the region, including the Providence donation center, fund its programs.
Goodwill accepts clean, gently used clothing, shoes, accessories, housewares, books, and many household items; check the donation guidelines before a large drop-off. In Rhode Island, the Providence donation center is the main drop-off point.
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 of Southern New England is a 501(c)(3) organization, and revenue from its stores funds its mission programs. Its EIN for tax-deductible cash gifts is 23-7431264.
The store-funded model means each donated item that sells helps pay for employment and life-skills programs for people with disabilities and challenges across the region.
Both Goodwill and the Salvation Army run thrift stores funded by donated goods, but Goodwill of Southern New England focuses on opportunities for people with disabilities and challenges, while the Salvation Army funds recovery and broad social services. For donated clothing and housewares in Rhode Island, either is a strong option.
If your priority is employment and life-skills support for people with disabilities, Goodwill of Southern New England is the regional agency; for goods better suited to direct distribution, a local shelter or reuse nonprofit may fit better.
Last updated June 2026. Goodwill of Southern New England service area (Rhode Island and south-central and eastern Connecticut), Providence donation center, mission (employment, educational, social, and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities and other challenges), and store network from Goodwill of Southern New England (goodwillsne.org); EIN 23-7431264 from GuideStar. A current CEO and revenue figure were not confirmed on the pages reviewed. We are not affiliated with Goodwill of Southern New England and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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