Goodwill Columbus Acquires Columbus Works, Strengthens Central Ohio’s Workforce Development Resources 

(Columbus, Ohio) — Goodwill Columbus, whose mission is to empower the lives of individuals through pathways to independence and the power of work, has acquired Columbus Works, a nonprofit organization that offers job readiness training and support services to residents living in poverty. 

Founded in 2016, Columbus Works provides transformational workforce training, job placement services, and long-term barrier removing wrap-around services for individuals experiencing trauma and poverty. The award-winning national model focuses on advancing economic self-sufficiency. 

“This acquisition enables Goodwill to build upon the significant impact Columbus Works has had in our community,” said Goodwill Columbus President and CEO Ryan Burgess. “As Columbus continues to grow and our community’s needs evolve, our combined teams will be better positioned to provide free job training and resources to meet the needs of the most challenged individuals in our community.” 

Columbus Works’ curriculum and tools will round out the existing resources Goodwill Columbus offers, better equipping Goodwill to support more people regardless of their socioeconomic status, background or job experience. 

“As we look ahead to how Columbus Works can expand its reach and serve even more of our neighbors, it’s clear that partnering with a larger, well-established organization is essential to our continued success,” said Columbus Works Founder Beth Gifford. “I am confident that this transition will be incredibly beneficial for our members, our neighbors seeking economic self-sufficiency, our employer partners, and our dedicated team members. This is an exciting time—not just for Central Ohio, but also for the future of Columbus Works.” 

“The Columbus Foundation is pleased to support Goodwill’s acquisition of Columbus Works to ensure that meaningful services remain available to those seeking bright futures through stable employment,” says Dan Sharpe, Vice President for Community Research and Grants Management at The Columbus Foundation. “Mergers and acquisitions are an important part of ensuring the health and vitality of the nonprofit sector and illustrating a proven way to provide continuity to the community.” 

Goodwill Columbus’s current free job training programs include 1-1 career coaching, industry-recognized credentials, and digital skills training. Accessible job training centers throughout Franklin County offer day and night courses in in-demand fields like technology, healthcare, and infrastructure. Through Goodwill’s job training programs, more than 85,000 individuals have been equipped with the tools they need to succeed since 2021. This acquisition of Columbus Works will strengthen Goodwill’s ability to serve under and unemployed individuals, free of charge, throughout the Central Ohio region. 

Goodwill Columbus’s Recent Growth & Expansion 

Since 1939, Goodwill Columbus has served Central Ohio by providing jobs and services that transform lives, and it continues to stand as one of the region’s largest job providers employing individuals with diverse backgrounds. Recent expansion and growth include: 

In September of 2022, Goodwill celebrated the opening of a job training center at its Brice Road location. At the opening, Gov. Mike DeWine announced that various Goodwill job training centers would serve as a partner for the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation. 

In June of 2023, Goodwill opened a job training center in downtown Columbus on South Front Street. 

In July of 2023, Goodwill opened its Clintonville location equipped with a retail store, donation center and job training facility. 

In July of 2024, the first all-encompassing location was opened in Grove City, which includes retail, donation, a job training facility and adult day services all under one roof 

The job training centers located across Central Ohio now tally more than 50,000 square feet of space. 

In September of 2024, the Work & Community Services Division re-located to a new facility serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The new facility offers additional space for skill-building labs in trades including carpentry, bike repair or technology; creative arts including guitar lessons, podcasting and music therapy groups; and life skills including sewing, cooking, and gardening. 

About Goodwill Columbus

Goodwill Columbus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has served the Central Ohio community for over 85 years. With more than 1,200 employees, Goodwill Columbus is one of the region’s largest job providers employing individuals with diverse backgrounds. Goodwill Columbus has 12 retail stores, a last chance outlet, an e-commerce facility, 10 attended donation centers, 5 I/DD service locations, and free job training services at The South Front Street Job Training Center, The Jerry Hammond Center, The Reeb Center, and 14 Columbus Metropolitan Library locations. The organization is a proud member of Goodwill Industries International, a network of over 150 community-based organizations throughout the United States and Canada that sell donated goods to create job opportunities and training in local communities. 

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