How to Donate Your Used Items (and Help Someone in Need at the Same Fourth dimension)

I of the easiest ways to donate your property is to achieve out to a reputable junk removal company. The organizations on this list pride themselves on donating and recycling things like furniture and appliances that may exist of use to others. There are other options too. We'll walk you through possibilities like selling your old belongings and claiming tax deductions. Yous can also consult our list of donation centers to meet if there's a location near you.

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Before donating, determine if it is still useful

Before donating, take the condition of the detail into consideration. Simply donate items that are new, unused, or "gently used," which means items that are in good condition, clean, and presentable. Do not donate items in disrepair that don't work properly, are missing parts, or are ripped, torn, or stained. If y'all tin can't use the item in its current state, neither can a charity.

Consider selling and then donating the money

Altruistic greenbacks to your clemency of choice helps yous give money to those who you believe need it most. Using auction and classified websites such as eBay, holding a garage sale, or using a consignment store are good options to sell your items. When you lot donate cash yous know the exact amount to written report to the IRS, as opposed to using the valuation (we'll cover valuation next).

If you're looking for the easiest ways to donate, check out our list of charities that selection up donations.

Revenue enhancement Deductions

Check with your tax professional person for advice, only know that donated items are usually tax deductible. If you desire a taxation deduction for donating used items, you need to get a donation receipt, and yous'll have to value your donations.

How to deduct

Make a list of all of the items you donate, and attach the receipt you receive from the charity. Retain the receipt for your taxes. If you lot are audited by the IRS, yous don't take whatever way to prove yous donated the items if you don't take a receipt.

Determining valuation

The value of the donated items depends on the particular and its condition. Use the current fair market value to determine the valuation. Items must be in adept condition or better for you to use the deduction. Goodwill and The Salvation Army both offer Donation Value Guides. The IRS also offers a publication to help you amend understand the guidelines for donating used items.

Eligible charities

Charities must be registered with the IRS every bit a 501c(3) tax-exempt organization for your donated items to be taxation deductible. You tin can check a charity'due south tax status on the IRS's website. Y'all tin also perform a groundwork check on a charity at sites such as Charitynavigator.org and Charitywatch.org.

Cars

Apply Kelley Blue Book to get an judge of your car'south worth, merely keep in mind that yous may not deduct the full blue-volume value of your automobile if it's in poor condition. The IRS also requires an independent appraisement when the value of an item is more than than $5,000. Detect an appraiser through the American Society of Appraisers.

Best places to donate your stuff

General goods

Goodwill

Sells donated items, and in turn helps individuals find jobs and develop job skills. They accept wear and accessories, electronics, household appurtenances, furniture, books and multimedia, and more.

The Salvation Ground forces

Sells donated items and uses funds to assist children and families, the homeless, veterans, and others in demand. They accept article of clothing, furniture, and other household appurtenances. Offers free pickups.

Volunteers of America

Provides support for at-risk youth, those returning from prison, the homeless, the disabled, and those struggling with addictions. Accepts clothing, household items, and other used goods at their thrift stores located in various cities throughout the United states of america.

Wearable, shoes, and accessories

Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits

Provides resource for individuals to secure and maintain employment. Donate gently used professional apparel to ane of their locations in the United states of america.

Dress for Success

Provides professional person attire and career development tools to women in need. Accepts new or near new suits, other business organization-advisable apparel, shoes, and accessories like handbags, unused cosmetics, and jewelry. Chapter locations are located in several cities beyond the Us and internationally.

Indigo Rescue

Animal rescue organization that accepts donations of jewelry only. Jewelry tin can be mailed to the accost provided on their website.

Donate Your Clothes

One Warm Glaze

Holds coat drives nationwide every fall and winter to help local charities requite coats to those in need. Coat drive drib-off locations are listed on their website.

PlanetAid

Concentrates on sustainable development projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Accepts good-quality article of clothing for their domestic austerity shops located throughout the U.s.a. and sells clothing to overseas customers where they can exist resold, creating jobs and providing a source of affordable article of clothing. Bottom-quality clothing is sent to recycling centers and repurposed into other things.

Soles4Souls/Clothes4Souls

Collects new and gently used shoes and clothing and distributes them to those in demand. Accept clothes and shoes to a nearby drop-off location or transport them by purchasing a shipping label directly from their website.

Local women's and family unit shelters

Most are in need of gently used toys, games, and children'due south clothing. Contact your local women's or family shelter.

Projection Night Nighttime

Donates Night Night packages to homeless children ages 12 and nether. Each package contains a new security coating, an historic period-appropriate children's volume, and a blimp brute. Primarily accepts new items, only check their website for guidelines before donating.

Ronald McDonald House

Houses families of sick children who are hospitalized. They take donations of toys, games, and media to stock their houses and entertain families. Contact your local Ronald McDonald Firm to find out their specific needs and how to donate.

SAFE (Stuffed Animals for Emergencies)

Accepts various items including stuffed animals, coloring books, books, crayons, blankets, children'due south clothes, and baby-related items. These items benefit children during situations such every bit fires, accidents, disease, neglect, abuse, homelessness, and atmospheric condition emergencies. Donations are accepted at their chapter locations.

Electronics (including cell phones)

Cell Phones for Soldiers

Provides complimentary communication services and funding to serving troops and veterans. Donate gently used or new cell phones and tablets at a drib-off location or mail service them to the system.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Provides services to aid survivors of domestic abuse. Donate cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, and video game systems. Nearly items are refurbished and resold; gain support the arrangement's services.

National Cristina Foundation

Provides organizations with engineering science to help low-income individuals, those with disabilities, and at-adventure students. Accepts computers, software, printers, and other technology. Use the Non-Profit Locator on their site to observe a drop-off location.

Earth Computer Exchange

Provides refurbished used computers to organizations in developing countries. Drop off your working reckoner at a local chapter or mail it to their headquarters.

Sports and fitness equipment

Bikes for the World

Sends used bicycles and parts to organizations in developing countries. Accepts bicycles, bicycle parts, and accessories at drib-off locations, through bicycle shop partners, and at scheduled drove events. The organization also asks for a $10 donation to help get your wheel overseas.

I Globe Running

International program promotes health and fitness by providing running shoes and athletic equipment to those in need in the Us and throughout the world. Y'all can donate at driblet-off locations throughout the US or mail service shoes to their main location.

Peace Passers

Provides soccer supplies to communities in demand. Accepts most types of soccer equipment, including balls, pumps, jerseys, shorts, soccer socks, soccer cleats, ball bags, and more. Peace Passers connects those with gear to groups that ensure the items are used.

Books

Most charities but accept specific types of books, peculiarly those most relevant to the organizations to which they donate. Always cheque their website first for guidelines earlier sending books.

Improve World Books

Sells books through its website and uses the funds to support literacy programs. You lot tin can ship your volume donation prepaid or drop them off at one of the arrangement's Volume Bins.

Books for Africa

Ships books to schools and libraries in Africa. Donations are accepted at one of their warehouses or via mail. Books for Africa also requests a donation of l cents per volume to embrace shipping costs.

Donate Your Unwanted Books

Functioning Paperback

Sends books to troops overseas. Sign up on their website to become a volunteer shipper and asking addresses to ship your books to troops overseas, veterans, or military families.

Article of furniture

Donation Town

Offers a database of local charities that choice up donations of clothing and other household goods.

Freecycle

Offers an online forum where people give away goods, including furniture. Offer your furnishings on the site as a mode to give to someone who may not be able to afford them otherwise.

Goodwill

Donated furniture funds their resale store, and yous can use the Goodwill Locator to find a drop-off middle.

Habitat for Humanity's ReStore

Owned by local Habitat for Humanity organizations. Proceeds from the ReStore are used to help fund local and national Habitat for Humanity housing programs. Accepts new and gently used furniture, appliances, housewares, and building materials at local store locations.

The Conservancy Ground forces

Salvation Army stocks furniture in their resale shop. Locate a drop-off center on the Salvation Regular army website.

Homeless shelters

Homeless shelters provide housing and food to those in need and often have furniture donations. Your local United Way can provide y'all with a listing of homeless shelters in your area.

Local women'south and family unit shelters

Sometimes they are in need of piece of furniture donations. Contact your local women'due south or family shelter.

Appliances

Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army, and other charities

Many charities with resale shops have working small appliances. They also may have larger appliances, but their policies vary at each location. Check with your local store.

Matter of Trust

Donation website where you tin post your available items, including appliances, and you are connected with nonprofits and charities seeking the items you are offering. The organization also accepts pilus, fur, wool, and fleece clippings to create special mats to gainsay the effects of oil spills.

Cars, RVs, Boats

American Diabetes Association

Works to prevent and cure diabetes and improve the lives of those with diabetes. Accepts cars, trucks, boats, trailer, jet skis, and RVs.

Habitat for Humanity Cars for Homes

Builds and rehabilitates homes to provide housing for families in need. Accepts cars, trucks, boats, and other vehicles.

National Kidney Foundation Kidney Cars

Dedicates their efforts to the awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney affliction. They accept donations of cars, trucks, vans, boats, motorcycles, motocross bikes, power sports equipment (such as ATVs), off-road motorcycles, construction equipment, personal watercraft (such every bit Jet Skis), and farm equipment, including tractors with a serial number.

Purple Eye

Offers a variety of nationwide programs for wounded soldiers, veterans, and their families. Accepts car, truck, gunkhole, and RV donations.

The Conservancy Army

Oft accepts vehicle donations including boats, but non all types of vehicles are accepted at all locations. Check with your local Conservancy Army first, or call them at ane-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825) to get more than information almost vehicle donations.

Volunteers of America

Provides support for at-risk youth, those returning from prison, the homeless, the disabled, and those struggling with addictions. Donate your motorcar, truck, boat, or RV. Pickup is gratuitous.

Your local loftier school or vocational college

You may be able to donate your used car for utilize in the schoolhouse's machine-repair classes. Contact the school straight to discuss their needs.

Whether you want to articulate your clutter or set up for your adjacent move, there's no better time than the nowadays moment to first sorting your unused and unwanted things. After making a few telephone calls or visiting a few websites, you tin can have a plan in identify. When you donate your used items to do-skillful organizations like those listed, y'all'll clear your space while contributing to charitable organizations and doing your part to go out the world a better identify

Christa Baxter

Written by

Christa Baxter

Christa Baxter has worked as an editor for more than than eight years and specialized in moving content for the last three. She leads the Movement.org content squad in producing whip-smart moving tips and recs. Later on relocating 4 times in the last calendar twelvemonth, she's got strong opinions about moving best practices. (But don't ever pull a Marie Kondo and suggest she whittle down her personal library.) She earned a BA and MA in English with a small-scale in editing.