1

Donation Associate Jobs in Peru, IL (NOW HIRING)

The Retail Associate assists the store management team in reaching the operational goals of the ... Donation Door Attendant: * Accepts donations from customers and maintains a clean and clear ...

BE A TEAM PLAYER - Associates are expected to be supportive and work together. * BE CARING - How do ... Support Ollie's Army and other donation programs year-round. * Assist with receiving the truck ...

Donation Associate information

See Peru, IL salary details

$22.1K

$68.5K

$153.6K

How much do donation associate jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for donation associate in Peru, IL is $68,498.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $32,400.00 and $105,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a donation associate?

Donation Associates are professionals who assist in collecting, sorting, and processing donated goods in organizations such as thrift stores, charities, or non-profits. Their responsibilities often include receiving donations from the public, ensuring items meet quality standards, organizing inventory, and sometimes helping customers or donors. Donation Associates play a crucial role in ensuring that donated items are safely and efficiently handled, supporting the organization's mission to redistribute goods or raise funds. This position often requires good organizational skills, customer service abilities, and sometimes physical stamina for lifting and moving items.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a donation associate?

To thrive as a Donation Associate, you need strong customer service skills, attention to detail, and the ability to handle and sort donated goods, often requiring a high school diploma or equivalent. Familiarity with inventory management systems and point-of-sale (POS) software is typically beneficial. Excellent interpersonal skills, teamwork, and a strong work ethic help you engage donors and maintain a positive environment. These abilities are essential for efficiently processing donations, supporting organizational goals, and creating a positive experience for donors and shoppers.

What are some common challenges donation associates face when processing incoming donations, and how can they be managed?

Donation Associates often encounter challenges like sorting high volumes of varied donated items, handling heavy or bulky goods, and ensuring all items meet organizational quality standards. Staying organized, communicating effectively with team members, and following established sorting guidelines help manage these challenges. Many organizations provide training and encourage teamwork to create a supportive environment, making it easier to process donations efficiently and maintain a positive donor experience.

What is the difference between Donation Associate vs Fundraising Coordinator?

AspectDonation AssociateFundraising Coordinator
Primary RoleAssist with donation processing, donor communication, and data entryPlan, organize, and execute fundraising campaigns and events
Required SkillsCustomer service, data management, communicationEvent planning, donor relations, project management
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organizations, charity events, office settingsNonprofits, community organizations, event venues
Common CertificationsNone required, but familiarity with CRM software helpfulFundraising or nonprofit certifications advantageous

While both roles support nonprofit missions, a Donation Associate primarily handles donation processing and donor communication, whereas a Fundraising Coordinator focuses on planning and executing fundraising campaigns. The roles often overlap in nonprofit settings, but their core responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What does a donation associate do at Goodwill?

A donation associate at Goodwill is responsible for accepting, sorting, and processing donated items, ensuring they are properly organized for resale. They may also assist donors, maintain the donation area, and help with inventory management using basic tools or systems. The role often requires good customer service skills and physical activity, such as lifting and standing for extended periods.

What cities near Peru, IL are hiring for Donation Associate jobs?

Cities near Peru, IL with the most Donation Associate job openings:

Part-Time Retail Associate

Peru, IL โ€ข On-site

$15/hr

Part-time

Re-posted 13 days ago


Job description

Position Status: Part-Time
Hourly Rate: $15.00
Location/Address: 1307 N 38th ST Peru IL 61354.
The Retail Associate assists the store management team in reaching the operational goals of the site by functioning in various capacities within the retail location. The titles of the various jobs the Retail Associate may be called upon to learn and work include: Cashier, Textiles or Wares Producer, Donation Door Attendant, eCommerce Producer, e-Books Producer, and Rack or Cart Runner.
Example Duties and Activities
Cashier:
  • Rings up customer orders, maintains a balanced drawer, and follows all cash handling procedures and protocols.
  • Provides general information about Goodwill programs to educate customers and answer questions. Directs all higher-level questions to the appropriate associate or manager.
  • Maintains cleanliness of the sales floor (purge, size, run racks, and merchandise).

Textiles or Wares Producer:
  • Sorts product to identify quality and value (checks for holes, missing buttons, defective zippers, or stains and cleans as needed) and properly barbs, tags, and hangs textiles or wares. Sort textiles (curating for quality).
  • Produces 100 items per hour for wares/85 items per hour for textiles adhering to Goodwill's pricing standards and updating daily production tracking sheet.
  • Occasionally uses a pallet jack and regularly uses a conveyor belt.

Donation Door Attendant:
  • Accepts donations from customers and maintains a clean and clear donation door.
  • Quickly and accurately sorts products and distributes them to appropriate areas.
  • Maintains an efficient working area by ensuring the backroom is clean and organized (all boxes labeled, everything in its place, and a place for everything).
  • Loads and unloads trucks as needed and regularly uses heavy equipment, including a pallet jack, double stacker, floor scrubber, and hydraulic lift.

eCommerce Producer:
  • Develops a keen eye to identify and secure items of value for ClickGoodwill.
  • Stays informed of the market value of merchandise through eBay and other Internet shopping sites to properly tag, itemize, and secure items in totes for ClickGoodwill and educates team of eCommerce high ticket items.
  • Properly, efficiently and carefully pack curated products onto pallets, wraps, and ships totes to ClickGoodwill to meet the store budget regarding totes shipped per week.

e-Books Producer:
  • Scans books received by the store and decides what is sent to ClickGoodwill or displayed at the store location to meet the store budget.
  • Prints inventory sheets and packs, seals, and ships totes for ClickGoodwill.
  • Identifies top sellers and manages a clean, organized, in-store sales-effective display.

Rack and Cart Runner:
  • Checks each rack/cart to ensure quality and value.
  • Properly sizes, merchandises, and purges the sales floor.
  • Maintains a clean and orderly sales floor, puts away carts, and stocks shelves.
  • Runs one textile rack/wares cart per 15 minutes and updates daily production tracking sheet.

Required Competencies
  • Degree and Credential Requirements- NONE! We value candidates who can demonstrate capability and articulate how prior experiences will help them contribute. We believe in continuous learning and professional development.
  • Customer Focus - Has the ability to see, comprehend and relate with customers in an impartial, unbiased yet effective and balanced manner; builds and maintains customer satisfaction with the products and services offered by the organization; provides excellent service to internal and external customers.
  • Teamwork - Works well with others and makes valued contributions to the outputs of others in order to assist the team or project to achieve the required outputs.
  • Ethical - Adheres to procedures and protocol, including maintaining confidentiality in passwords, logging on and off procedures, and adherence to Goodwill's values.
  • Attention to Detail - Attends to details and pursues quality in accomplishing tasks, including safety awareness.
  • Time Management - Manages one's own time and the time of others effectively.

Preferred Competencies
  • Technical Knowledge - Has familiarity with computers and relevant software including basic computer and Internet navigation skills.
  • Communication Skills - Articulates thoughts and expresses ideas effectively using oral, written, visual and non-verbal communication skills, as well as listening skills to comprehend customers' needs. Delivers information in person, in writing, and in a digital world.
  • Mathematical Aptitude - Develops and applies mathematical thinking in order to solve a range of problems in everyday situations.
  • Critical Thinking - Uses judgment and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Other Requirements
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable people with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
  • Hard to Very Hard Physical Work - Is able to spend time in excess of 8 hours sitting, standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, and crouching. Uses hands to grasp, carry, feel, or touch products and machinery. Has the ability to move and lift 10-50 pounds.
  • Can manage frequent exposure to moderate noise and temperature variations.

Benefits: Part-time employees may participate in a comprehensive benefits program that includes:
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and free Mental Health Counseling Services
  • Robust discount and wellness programming
  • Financial education program
  • Sabbatical leave
  • Daily pay options available

Mission and Values: click here (for IN) and here (for IL)
Goodwill is an EEO Employer/Vet/Disabled