# Goodwill of North Georgia

Goodwill of North Georgia is an Endowment / Foundation based in Decatur, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Decatur, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 2201 Lawrenceville Highway, Decatur, GA 30033, United States
- **Founded:** 1925
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** goodwillng.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodwill-of-north-georgia

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

Founded in 1925, Goodwill of North Georgia operates as a 501(c)(3) organization under the leadership of President and CEO Keith T. Parker. Unlike a typical endowment, the organization's deployable capital originates from a network of retail thrift stores and donation centers across the state, a model it has refined over nearly 100 years to fund free job-training programs at 14 career centers. The organization's investment mandate traverses an unusually broad spectrum for a non-profit. Strategy disclosures point to co-investment and buyout activity, alongside commitments to distressed debt, early- and late-stage ventures, fund-of-funds structures, mezzanine lending, secondaries, and special-situations plays. Goodwill of North Georgia is anchored by a board that draws from Atlanta's corporate and civic leadership. Board Chair Erica Qualls-Battey is an Area General Manager at Marriott International; Vice Chair Ellen Stern is a Senior Vice President at CBRE; Treasurer Michelle Jackson is a Senior Vice President at Capital Group. Mayor Andre Dickens serves on the board, connecting the organization to the city's economic development initiatives. Keith Parker himself maintains prominent external board seats — he serves on the Executive Committee of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Advisors for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce — placing the organization at the intersection of corporate, political, and workforce-development networks. What structurally distinguishes Goodwill of North Georgia from most foundations is its self-funding operating model. Investment returns and retail revenue are not separate silos but interdependent cash-flow streams that underwrite a single mission. This hybrid architecture — combining a large real-asset footprint, an endowment-style portfolio, and an active operating business — means capital-allocation decisions are evaluated against their ability to both generate yield and stabilize the job-training infrastructure that defines the organization's charitable purpose.

## Sectors

- Real Estate
- Infrastructure
- Private Credit
- Venture (General)
- Secondaries & Special Situations

## Offices

- Norcross Distribution and Donation Center, Norcross, GA

## People

- Keith T. Parker — President and CEO
- Erica Qualls-Battey — Board Chair
- Ellen Stern — Board Vice Chair
- Michelle Jackson — Board Treasurer

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at Goodwill of North Georgia?

President and CEO Keith T. Parker leads the organization and presides over its investment activity, supported by a board that includes senior executives from Marriott, CBRE, and Capital Group. The specific internal investment committee structure is not publicly detailed.

### How is Goodwill of North Georgia's investment activity funded?

The organization generates capital through revenue from its network of thrift stores and donation centers, supplemented by monetary donations. This retail income funds both its free job-training programs and its investment portfolio, creating a self-sustaining financial loop.

### What kind of investments does Goodwill of North Georgia make?

The organization's disclosed strategy spans direct real estate, co-investments, buyouts, fund-of-funds commitments, private credit, early- and late-stage ventures, secondaries, and special situations. This broad mandate reflects a total-portfolio approach designed to balance yield with operational liquidity needs.

### Does Goodwill of North Georgia own real estate directly?

Yes. The organization holds a portfolio of commercial and industrial properties, including its Decatur headquarters, the Norcross Distribution and Donation Center, the Uptown Square Retail Center in Fayetteville, and a network of retail stores and career centers across North Georgia.

## Related profiles

- [Frey Foundation](https://altss.com/profile/frey-foundation)
- [Michigan Health Endowment Fund](https://altss.com/profile/michigan-health-endowment-fund)

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Last updated: 2026-08-11T02:43:31.692Z

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