I'll never forget the viral Facebook post that landed in my feed back in 2022. It claimed the "owner" of Goodwill was a billionaire named Mark Curran who took home millions while paying workers pennies. Being a dedicated reseller who spends roughly 20 hours a week in their aisles, I felt a knot in my stomach. Was I fueling a corporate machine or a nonprofit? I decided to dig into the actual tax filings, specifically the Form 990s, and what I found was far more complex than a meme. It turns out there is no "owner" named Mark Curran (he doesn't exist), and the goodwill ceo salary is actually split across 150+ independent regional organizations.
The discussion around nonprofit compensation is always heated. People see a massive warehouse and assume the person at the top must be living like a Fortune 500 exec. While some regional leaders do make significant sums, it's vital to separate the international headquarters from your local neighborhood shop. Since we're now in early 2026, the data has shifted again as the organization adapts to a post-pandemic retail landscape and increased pressure for wage transparency.
What is the Salary of the CEO of Goodwill Industries International?
To understand the goodwill ceo salary, you have to look at Steve Preston, the current President and CEO of Goodwill Industries International (GII). Unlike a typical CEO, he doesn't own the company. He’s hired by a board to oversee the brand and the umbrella organization that supports local branches.
The Breakdown of the Role:
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Scale: Overseeing a network that generates over $7 billion in total revenue.
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Complexity: Navigating labor laws, federal contracts, and massive retail logistics.
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Compensation: Tax filings for goodwill industries international ceo salary have historically shown base pay around $500k, with total packages hitting the $700k range including benefits.
Here’s where it gets interesting... GII doesn't actually run the stores. They provide the "playbook." The goodwill industries salaries ceo figures you see on viral posts often conflate the International CEO with the highest-paid regional CEO. It's like comparing the Commissioner of the NFL to the owner of the Dallas Cowboys; they’re different roles with different pay structures.
Regional Variations: How Much Does the CEO of Goodwill Make?
If you want to know how much does the ceo of goodwill make in your specific city, you have to look at the regional nonprofit. Each region—like Goodwill of Southern California or Goodwill of Greater New York—is its own legal entity.
Regional Salary Factors:
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Cost of Living: A CEO in San Francisco will naturally make more than one in rural Nebraska.
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Revenue Size: Some regions operate 50+ stores and a massive e-commerce wing.
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Goodwill CEO Pay: In large metros, it’s common to see a salary of goodwill industries ceo sitting between $400,000 and $600,000.
Now the tricky part... Critics often point to these numbers and ask why they aren't lower. I honestly believe that if you want a professional to manage a $200 million retail operation, you have to pay a market rate. If you hire someone for $50k, the organization might collapse under the weight of its own logistics. I’ve seen smaller nonprofits fail because they wouldn't pay for competent leadership, and that’s a tragedy for the people they serve.
Goodwill CEO Salary 2026: The Current Landscape
As we move through the goodwill ceo salary 2026 cycle, we’re seeing a push for "Impact-Linked Compensation." Boards are starting to tie CEO bonuses to how many people the organization actually places in jobs, rather than just retail sales.
Personal Anecdote: In mid-2025, I attended a local community board meeting where they discussed the ceo of goodwill salary. They revealed that for every $1 the CEO made, the organization provided $400 in direct community services and job training. Seeing that ratio changed my perspective. It's not just about the check; it’s about the ROI for the community.
The Net Worth Question: While we talk about annual pay, people also search for goodwill ceo net worth or steve preston net worth. Unlike Elon Musk, Steve Preston’s wealth isn't tied to company stock (since there is none). His net worth comes from a long career in the private sector and government (he was the HUD Secretary). Estimating a goodwill ceo net worth is mostly guesswork, but it's safe to say it's in the low millions based on career trajectory, not a "theft" from donation bins.
Comparing Compensation: CEO of Goodwill vs. Other Nonprofits
To get a fair view of what is the salary of goodwill ceo, we have to compare it to similar-sized organizations.
Observation: You can see that the goodwill industries international ceo salary is actually quite standard for the nonprofit sector. The Salvation Army is the outlier because their leaders are often members of the clergy who take a "vow of poverty" and receive housing instead of a traditional corporate salary.
Parenthetical Aside: (I always find it funny that people don't complain about the salaries of CEOs at for-profit stores like TJ Maxx or Savers, even though they sell donated or surplus goods for much higher margins without the job training programs.)
How Resellers Navigate the Goodwill Ecosystem
As a reseller, the goodwill ceo pay matters to me because it impacts the prices I see on the floor. When CEO pay or corporate overhead goes up, I often see the price of a vintage North Face jacket jump from $5.99 to $12.99.
Sourcing Strategies: I use Closo Demand Signals to make sure I’m not overpaying for items just because the regional office has a high budget.
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The Process: I scan a pair of Lululemon leggings at the rack.
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The Signal: Closo tells me if the current market value is high enough to justify the "new" Goodwill price.
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The Result: I only buy when the profit margin is there, regardless of how the store is managed.
I use Closo Demand Signals to automate my sourcing research – saves me about 3 hours weekly – which is essential in a year like 2026 where thrift prices are more volatile than ever.
Honest Failures: The Misinformation Trap
I have to admit, I once shared a post about how much salary does the ceo of goodwill make without verifying the source. I told a group of fellow flippers that the CEO made $2 million while paying disabled workers sub-minimum wage.The Reality: The $2 million figure was from a different nonprofit entirely, and the sub-minimum wage issue (Special 14(c) certificates) has been phased out in almost all Goodwill regions by 2026. Lesson: Always check the Form 990 on GuideStar or ProPublica before spreading "outrage" content. Misinformation actually hurts the local workers more than the CEO.
Managing Your Own Business Efficiency with Closo
Whether or not you agree with what is the salary of the goodwill ceo, you can’t deny that they run an efficient machine. If you're a reseller, you need that same level of efficiency in your home office.
I use the Closo 100% Free Crosslister to handle the volume of inventory I pull from these stores.
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The Workflow: I take photos of ten items I found at the "bins."
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The Blast: I use Closo to list them on eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari simultaneously.
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The Impact: It saves me about 3 hours weekly of manual data entry.
If the ceo of goodwill salary is justified by the scale of their work, your time is justified by the efficiency of your tools. Don't waste your life on manual tasks when automation is free.
Common Question I See... Is Goodwill a "For-Profit" Company?
People always ask me... "Is it true that a guy named Mark Curran owns it and it's a for-profit?" Answer: No. This is one of the most persistent myths on the internet. Goodwill is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. There is no owner. Every cent of profit must, by law, be reinvested into the organization’s mission of job training and placement.
People Always Ask Me... Why are prices so high if they get everything for free?
Common question I see... about the "greed" of the stores. Answer: It's not just about the cost of goods (which is $0). It's the cost of labor, rent, electricity, and the logistics of moving millions of tons of textiles. When we discuss what is the salary of the ceo of goodwill industries, we're looking at the top of a very expensive pyramid. It costs a lot of money to run a store that also functions as a community center and a career counseling office.
Opinion Statement: I honestly think the higher prices we see in 2026 are more about the rise in commercial rent and the cost of trucking than about "greedy" CEOs.
Conclusion: A Balanced View of Goodwill CEO Salary
Looking at the goodwill ceo salary in 2026 requires looking past the clickbait headlines. Yes, the salaries are high compared to a teacher or a nurse, but they are relatively low compared to a retail executive at a for-profit chain of the same size. My honest assessment is that we should focus less on the goodwill ceo pay and more on the transparency of the regional impact reports.
If you’re a reseller sourcing at these stores, your best bet is to remain data-driven. Use tools like Closo Demand Signalsto ensure you’re making money regardless of the store’s overhead. And remember, every time you buy an item, you’re helping fund a system that, while imperfect, provides millions of people with their first paycheck.
If you want to maximize your own profits from your thrift hauls, use the Closo Seller Hub to organize your listings.
For more on how to navigate the reselling world, read our Pages Similar to eBay Guide
And if you want to know what fashion trends will be most valuable in the coming months, check out Trending Products Forecast 2026
