Goodwill gambit to move nonprofits to San Jose HQ starts to pay off

SAN JOSE — A creative gambit by Goodwill of Silicon Valley has enabled it to help other nonprofits set up shop in the big San Jose office building that Goodwill bought earlier this year.

Abode Services, a nonprofit dedicated to ending homelessness, has become the first tenant in Goodwill’s headquarters building at 1600 Technology Drive in north San Jose.

“We’re transforming this building into a hub that will deliver meaningful impact for people who need it most,” said Christopher Baker, chief executive officer of Goodwill of Silicon Valley.

Goodwill of Silicon Valley paid $17 million in January 2025 to buy the eight-story, 198,000-square-foot office building that has become the organization’s headquarters.

The nonprofit bought the building at a huge 82% discount compared with the building’s value of $94.2 million in January 2025, as calculated by the Santa Clara County Assessor’s Office. An assessed value is just one metric that can be used to gauge a building’s worth. An appraisal, which typically isn’t made public, can also provide a value snapshot.

Goodwill of Silicon Valley gained ownership of the building by purchasing a delinquent loan levied on the property and then foreclosing on the failed mortgage. A $10 million gift from MacKenzie Scott, an author and philanthropist, supported Goodwill’s purchase deal.

“We embrace Goodwill’s vision to transform the space into a hub for local nonprofits to share ideas and fulfill their collective missions in a spirit of cooperation,” said Vivan Wan, chief executive officer of Adobe Services.

Adobe Services will lease a full floor in the eight-story building. Abode Services signed a five-year lease with Goodwill of Silicon Valley at a below-market rate.

“Goodwill of Silicon Valley’s mission to help people overcome employment barriers is at the heart of this real estate decision,” said Erik Hallgrimson, chairman of the Board of Goodwill Silicon Valley. “Our new headquarters will enable us to fulfill our mission more efficiently, befitting our immediate and future needs.”

The lease by Adobe Services brings together workforce development and housing services under one roof in the new Goodwill headquarters, the two nonprofits noted.

“It’s a practical, results-driven model for strengthening the social and economic fabric of Silicon Valley,” said Trish Dorsey, Goodwill of Silicon Valley’s vice president of community engagement.