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

Aleetra Rice New CFO

By Lora B • December 2, 2025
Welcome Aleetra Rice, Chief Financial Officer.

Burlington's Success

By Lora B • November 24, 2025
Burlington's Success  Burlington recently collaborated with Goodwill Opportunity Centers in Chattanooga and Dalton to host a series of hiring events aimed at staffing Burlington store locations, including their new Fort Oglethorpe and Dalton stores. Burlington store managers Forrest Thomasson, Desmond Hubbard, and Carol Kambhampati shared that hosting hiring events with Goodwill proved to be significantly more desirable than holding hiring events at their own stores. “It was such a smooth process. Goodwill Opportunity Center staff members greeted applicants and made them feel welcome, which allowed us to focus on conducting interviews,” said Carol. Attendees were also invited to sign up for Goodwill’s free My Career Advisor online platform, which supports job seekers through every step of their career journey. The platform offers tools and resources for career exploration, resume building, training and education, and access to community resources. The collaboration between Burlington and Goodwill resulted in 132 job placements in our region. “Goodwill Opportunity Centers are a gold mine of a resource,” said Forrest. Desmond added, “I would definitely recommend that other employers reach out to Goodwill for hiring support.” Whether you're a job seeker or an employer in Southeast Tennessee or Northwest Georgia, Goodwill is here to help. Call (423) 629-2501 or visit www.goodwillchatt.org/missionservices.

Goodwill Celebrates Grand Opening of New Fort Oglethorpe Store and Donation Center

By Lora B • November 12, 2025
Goodwill Celebrates Grand Opening of New Fort Oglethorpe Store and Donation Center
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