Seattle , Wash. , June 4 : Most people know Goodwill for its thrift stores. But in Northwest Washington, it is also one of the region’s largest providers of tuition-free adult education and training people for in-demand jobs that offer family-supporting wages. That work is now receiving national recognition: TIME Magazine has named Goodwill Industries International one of the “10 Most Influential Education Companies of 2026.”
The recognition comes at a time when Washington employers are seeking skilled employees to fill roles in high-growth industries, while many job seekers are looking for faster, more affordable pathways into stable careers. In Northwest Washington, Evergreen Goodwill is helping bridge that gap. Over the last decade, the nonprofit has supported more than 50,000 students across its five county region. While its impact is comparable to some local community colleges, its approach is notably different: no prerequisites, no tuition, and very few barriers to entry.
Courses and workshops offered at local Goodwill Education Centers include:
• Job Skills Training: Beginner computer skills, English language learning, and industry-specific training to prepare people for today’s job market and connect them to employment opportunities.
• Digital Literacy & Access: Providing students with essential computer skills, including AI literacy, as well as access to laptops and Wi-Fi so people can succeed in technology-based workplaces and access online services.
• High School Completion: Helping adult learners earn credentials that open doors to higher paying jobs and break generational cycles of poverty.
TIME specifically cites the role Goodwill plays in “getting people connected to the job that’s available to them today, but also giving them a line of sight of jobs that are coming.”
Evergreen Goodwill’s partnership with King County’s JumpStart Program and more than 40 clean energy employers offers a clear example of how that national recognition is playing out locally:
Each year, 40 young people are placed into paid clean-energy internships designed to lead directly to career-track jobs. Participants from the current cohort are landing full-time roles with an average starting pay of $27 per hour – well above Seattle’s $21.30 minimum wage. Evergreen Goodwill provides comprehensive support, including case management, equipment, and job placement services, to help participants grow and succeed.
At its core, TIME’s recognition reflects something bigger: a model that puts people first. By removing barriers to education and connecting individuals to real opportunities in the workforce, Evergreen Goodwill is helping more people build stable, self-sufficient futures that strengthen families, communities, and the regional economy in the process.