“What concerns us is deception. People should know where their donated goods are going, and who will benefit from them.”
Most donors assume their clothing and household items are helping local nonprofits and strengthening their community. However, as Goodwill of Silicon Valley CEO Christopher Baker explains in a recent San José Spotlight op-ed, many donation bins throughout Santa Clara County are operated by for-profit businesses that can create the appearance of supporting charitable causes. The result is that well-intentioned donations may not benefit local workforce development and community programs as donors expect.
