Goodwill's 21st Century Initiative

Goodwill has committed to serving 20 million people by 2020.
On the occasion of its 100th anniversary in 2002, Goodwill Industries launched an international workforce development initiative designed to get millions of people into the workplace and up the career ladder by the year 2020.
Known as the Goodwill Industries 21st Century Initiative, the plan includes broad strategies for getting people into good jobs that enable them to become self-sufficient:

  • Training people for careers in the 21st century workforce
  • Providing family services that support workers’ success
  • Increasing the use of technology to promote workers’ success
  • Developing business opportunities that offer good jobs to people who have been considered unemployable in the past.

The Goodwill Industries 21st Century Initiative includes partnerships with corporate employers such as Bank of America, CVS/pharmacy, ADT Security Services and others.
Read about Goodwill programs that demonstrate these strategies in action in our Success Stories.

Three groups of diverse people served by Goodwill Cartoon of boy in wheelchair with lunchbox Man in wheelchair holding a paycheck
Centennial Commemorative Art,
Drew Struzan, 2002
"Good Willy"
Milton Caniff, 1951
"First Paycheck"
Norman Rockwell, 1958