Giving It Away: How to Donate Your Used Stuff
It’s a fantastic time to make donations of used items. Whether you’re making room for new stuff, looking for a tax write-off, or just taking on Simple Sapien’s challenge, donating items you don’t use anymore is an easy way to take care of clutter. Here’s what you need to know to make the best decision for your stuff’s second life.
Where can I donate used items?
Two of the largest organizations include Goodwill and The Salvation Army. Both have hundreds of national drop-off locations. Any locally run and organized thrift stores in your area are likely to accept donations of gently used items. (Thrift stores may or may not give the proceeds to charity; if that’s important to you, find one that’s attached to a cause, like a youth ranch or hospital.)
How will my donation help the community?
The Salvation Army’s thrift stores focus on adult rehabilitation. The items you donate will be sold to the community, and the proceeds will go to their rehabilitation centers, which focus on work therapy and life skills. In addition, Salvation Army staff is typically part of the rehabilitation program as well. As you choose which donation path is right for you, be aware that the Salvation Army does have religious affiliations, and the rehab program includes Christian spiritual counseling.
Goodwill focuses on education and career services for disadvantaged adults. Like The Salvation Army, the proceeds go to job training and education for adults, and the stores themselves provide work opportunities for community members. A large portion of this organization’s focus is on strengthening families and financial education is a component of that. Goodwill Industries does not have any religious affiliation.
Specialized donation groups or thrift stores will have other methods of giving back to the community. You can ask them where the proceeds go, and you can also ask what percentage of proceeds are donated when making your choice.
How much can I write off without a receipt?
Up to $500 worth of material goods can be deducted without a receipt. Go over $500, and you’ll need a receipt to file along with Form 8283. Go over $5,000 and you’ll need to get the item or items professionally appraised to qualify for a tax write-off.
Bankrate’s tax valuation guide can give you a rough estimate of the value of donated items, and most tax prep software includes this feature as well.
How do I get a receipt?
First, make sure the charity is registered as a 501(c)(3) with the IRS. The IRS also lets you search for eligible charities online. You’ll also need to have established a reasonable value for the items donated based on their condition.
For tax purposes (and for the purposes of being a good person), only “good” and “better” condition items are appropriate to donate. Again, the organization you donate to won’t set the value; that’s up to you. They simply sign off on the number and type of items donated. Some organizations will automatically give you a receipt, while you’ll need to specifically request it at others. If you want the write-off, the burden is on you to take the necessary steps. It’s not hard, it just takes some advanced prep.
How do I find local resources?
Try Excess Access. This website does require you to sign up and pay a minimal fee ($5 annually), but you’ll get to enter what you have available and get matched up with local non-profits that have created wish lists. This is a cool resource for large more unusual items.
I don’t care about taxes. Any other options that will help folks in the area?
Absolutely! Try FreeCycle.org. You can join a local group or create one. Then, when you’ve got something to give away, simply post it on the message boards. Set a time for the interested party to pick up your stuff, and that’s it. You don’t even have to leave the house. Please be sure to read FreeCycle’s cautions and limitations, though, and be safe.
Are there any specialty organizations I can give to?
Call to Protect distributes cell phones to victims of domestic violence as safety lifelines.
The National Cristina Foundation takes donations of tecnology, particularly computers, and distributes to educational and job training programs throughout the US and internationally.
How can I find out if a charity is legit?
The Better Business Bureau has a great deal of info on charities. You can inquire about a specific charity or check out their Wise Giving Guide. Just click the “For Charities and Donors” link.
If you have any additional tips or groups to add, please drop into the comments and let everyone know!
This post has 15 comments
December 2nd, 2008
Sara,
Awesome, this is helpful. I never really understood the whole tax benefit of donating items. This clears things up a bit. I don’t think I donate enough each year to really see that much of a difference. Doesn’t matter though, I wasn’t donating for a tax break, heh.
My brother, my girlfriend and I just gave some clothes to the Salvation Army, however, I think I prefer Goodwill for my donations. For some reason I am biased towards companies that don’t have any religious affiliation.
I think one of the best ways to donate is to give your item(s) to someone directly. This could be someone in your immediate family who needs something, one of your distant relatives, a co-worker, someone homeless on the street corner, whoever.
I just get a much better feeling when I know my items are going directly to the people who need them without any BS in between. There isn’t always an opportunity for this, but sometimes there is!
Thanks for mentioning my challenge, Sara
- Jack Rugile
Simple Sapien
Simple Sapiens last blog post..50 Ways to Help the Planet
December 2nd, 2008
We always end up giving at least a few garbage bags of stuff every year to the Diabetes Society (they are doing essentially the same thing as the Salvation Army). Every time we put a bag together, it always amazes me. Where does this stuff keep coming from? It’s like it self-generates…
Anyhow, I’d never heard of being able to deduct hard good donations. I’ll have to look into Canadian tax laws and see if that applies up here.
Cheers,
Adam
Adam Steers last blog post..Sticky Skills Through Intelligent Movement
December 2nd, 2008
One tip is not to just leave donations on the doorsteps of the organization after business hours. This has resulted in a number of stolen donations at these places. It’s best to go in during business hours to drop off your stuff.
I have many more plates and silverware than I need for my one-person living status, so I plan on donating my goods to a local thrift store this season.
December 2nd, 2008
I love this post. It’s such a cleansing feeling to give away our extra stuff (and declutter in the process) — especially when the extra stuff land with folks who don’t have enough. I do think it matters where the stuff lands. Here’s what I wrote last night on a very curious use for lightly-used athletic shoes: http://www.diamondcutlife.org/the-wrong-use-of-used-shoes/
December 2nd, 2008
Hi Sara. My mother used to shop at the Salvation Army when my sisters were younger. Now I give back to them.
Davinas last blog post..When Fear Closes In, Take Action
December 2nd, 2008
Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org) is an excellent site for finding out how much of a charity’s funding goes to administration and paperwork, and how much actually goes to the stated cause. There are ratings, comments, and tips for giving. It’s independent and nonprofit.
Alexs last blog post..The CSA farm
December 2nd, 2008
Great post! One man’s trash is another man’s treasure and all that. Why toss things out when you can donate them and they can be USED by someone else?
Sagans last blog post..100 Reps Challenge
December 2nd, 2008
Sara -
I think it’s pretty great I ran into your post/site at this juncture in my life. I had been traveling recently, and started first a. giving away everything I didn’t use then b. donating it all to Salvation Army. It was a bit tough at first, but once I got going, it was pretty awesome. After I got back from Argentina, I loaded up another two bags of clothes to drop off.
The process has eliminated a great deal of mental (and of course, physical) baggage. The simple life really is better.
And thanks for the tips about tax deductions. Not why I got into donating, but I’m poor and not above taking the break if they’re giving it out!
- Chris
Christopher Lees last blog post..Transitioning Out of Travel Mode
December 3rd, 2008
We just cleaned out a ton of stuff a couple of weeks ago. Not only was it nice to free up some space in our closets and other valuable floor space throughout the house - but it just feels “good” to give this stuff away. Goodwill is a great organization, and our choice because of proximity to our house. And getting a taxable write-off is a bonus in an already win-win situation!
In a season (Christmas) when we’ll likely be getting “more” - it’s also a great time to look at ways to reduce - simplify - and remove some of the things we no longer use. Thanks for the reminder Sara!
Lances last blog post..A Simple Holiday and Life Hack
December 3rd, 2008
Good idea with donating things away. I spring clean a few times a year. I usually donate my old stuff to the Salvation Army or a Buddhist affiliated group which travels to neighboring countries devastated by natural disasters.
Evelyn Lims last blog post..Emotional Secrets To The Physical Body
December 3rd, 2008
This Christmas you might want to help needy children by donating your old car to http://www.bestcardonation.org
December 3rd, 2008
“FREE”! I have another possible option for larger items, ff you don’t need a receipt for tax deductions.
In my neighborhood people put items out near the street with a sign “FREE”. This works with kids bikes & large toys, furniture and appliances.
It may sound like this would be a problem, but the items are usually gone within a day. This saves the problem of loading up and moving large items.
We have an older guy who drives around in a pick up truck before trash day picking up certain items. I assume he repairs and sells stuff, which at least keeps it out of landfills…
Of course some neighborhoods don’t permit this, so check in your area before proceeding.
December 3rd, 2008
We’ve been donating clothing and household goods to Goodwill for many years now. I have used the tax deduction, when eligible, and have recommended that others do the same.
I’ve raised my kids in the spirit of service to organizations that educate, feed & clothe those who may be less fortunate then we are. I’ve also taught them the value of shopping at thrift stores as a way to stretch their dollar, and to continue to benefit the charity.
I am proud to say that my kids (22 & 24) aren’t swayed by slick advertising or “name brand” clothing. The “Jones Family” can have all of that overpriced clothing.
There was a period in 2000 when I was unemployed, we were on welfare and qualified for food stamps. It took me 18 months to find a job and I have never been so depressed in my life. It was a lesson that we’ll never forget.
We realize that not EVERYONE on welfare is trying to scam the system. There are truly needy people that can’t feed their families and they shouldn’t be ashamed to take whatever assistance they can find. Many are physically disabled and can’t work, others are between jobs and struggling to keep food on the table and heat their home. I was humbled by the young mother’s that were trying to find work AND daycare for their kids when they had to take the bus everywhere because they couldn’t afford the expense of a car.
Give back!
December 4th, 2008
Last month, I started making weekly trips to a small local network of runaway/homeless teen shelters. I really just meant to do a one-time donation of unused and slightly used toiletries (shower gels, freebie deodorants, shampoo that didn’t work well for me, etc), but when I joined their Yahoo group and saw the sad little weekly wishlist, I was hooked. There’s nothing quite like seeing a request for lotion for one of the girls “whose skin is so dry, she itches all the time”, or “milk, because the food pantry can no longer provide it due to cutbacks”. Now I collect unwanted toiletries and sweaters/jackets/blankets (popular winter wishlist items) from my friends and family, and drop them off with a big bag of bananas or apples (another food bank casualty) and a gallon of milk. And when I do it, I actually see the kids who benefit from my little deliveries.
MoneyMateKates last blog post..Welcome MSN SmartSpending readers!
December 7th, 2008
Phew! I’ve got my donation ready and it turns out it’s seven giant garbage bags’ worth! Absolutely crazy! As I catalogued all the items, I realized that most of the things I was ready to part with were hand-me-downs. I’m just happy to be able to give them a third (or fourth) life.
And I’ll be honest, there were a few things I had major second thoughts about. In the end, I decided to donate them. Keeping clothes for sentimental reasons is tempting, but not worth it for me in the long run!
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