How to Donate Your Used Items (and Help Someone in Need at the Aforementioned Time)

1 of the easiest ways to donate your belongings is to reach out to a reputable junk removal visitor. The organizations on this list pride themselves on donating and recycling things like article of furniture and appliances that may be of use to others. There are other options as well. Nosotros'll walk you through possibilities like selling your quondam belongings and claiming tax deductions. You tin can as well consult our list of donation centers to see if there'southward a location near yous.

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Earlier donating, determine if it is still useful

Before donating, have the condition of the particular into consideration. Just donate items that are new, unused, or "gently used," which means items that are in skilful status, make clean, and presentable. Do not donate items in disrepair that don't work properly, are missing parts, or are ripped, torn, or stained. If you can't use the item in its current land, neither can a charity.

Consider selling and and so altruistic the money

Donating cash to your charity of choice helps you give money to those who yous believe demand it most. Using sale and classified websites such as eBay, holding a garage sale, or using a assignment shop are expert options to sell your items. When you donate cash you know the exact amount to report to the IRS, as opposed to using the valuation (we'll embrace valuation next).

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

Tax Deductions

Check with your tax professional for advice, but know that donated items are usually tax deductible. If you want a tax deduction for donating used items, y'all need to get a donation receipt, and you'll have to value your donations.

How to deduct

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

Determining valuation

The value of the donated items depends on the item and its condition. Use the current fair market value to decide the valuation. Items must exist in skilful condition or better for you lot to use the deduction. Goodwill and The Salvation Army both offer Donation Value Guides. The IRS also offers a publication to aid you meliorate sympathise the guidelines for donating used items.

Eligible charities

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

Cars

Use Kelley Blue Book to get an estimate of your auto's worth, but keep in mind that you lot may not deduct the full blueish-book value of your car if it's in poor condition. The IRS too requires an independent appraisement when the value of an item is more than $5,000. Discover an appraiser through the American Society of Appraisers.

All-time places to donate your stuff

Full general goods

Goodwill

Sells donated items, and in plow helps individuals find jobs and develop job skills. They accept habiliment and accessories, electronics, household goods, furniture, books and multimedia, and more.

The Salvation Army

Sells donated items and uses funds to help children and families, the homeless, veterans, and others in need. They take habiliment, furniture, and other household goods. Offers free pickups.

Volunteers of America

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

Clothing, shoes, and accessories

Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits

Provides resource for individuals to secure and maintain employment. Donate gently used professional person dress to one of their locations in the US.

Dress for Success

Provides professional attire and career evolution tools to women in need. Accepts new or nearly new suits, other business-appropriate clothes, shoes, and accessories like handbags, unused cosmetics, and jewelry. Affiliate locations are located in several cities across the US and internationally.

Indigo Rescue

Fauna rescue organization that accepts donations of jewelry merely. Jewelry can be mailed to the address provided on their website.

Donate Your Clothes

One Warm Coat

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

PlanetAid

Concentrates on sustainable development projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Accepts good-quality habiliment for their domestic austerity shops located throughout the The states and sells clothing to overseas customers where they can exist resold, creating jobs and providing a source of affordable article of clothing. Lesser-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 need. Take clothes and shoes to a nearby drib-off location or transport them past purchasing a shipping label straight from their website.

Local women's and family shelters

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

Project Night Dark

Donates Night Night packages to homeless children ages 12 and nether. Each package contains a new security blanket, an age-appropriate children's book, and a stuffed brute. Primarily accepts new items, simply bank check their website for guidelines before donating.

Ronald McDonald House

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

Rubber (Blimp Animals for Emergencies)

Accepts various items including stuffed animals, coloring books, books, crayons, blankets, children's clothes, and baby-related items. These items benefit children during situations such as fires, accidents, illness, fail, abuse, homelessness, and weather emergencies. Donations are accepted at their affiliate locations.

Electronics (including cell phones)

Cell Phones for Soldiers

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

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Provides services to assistance survivors of domestic corruption. Donate jail cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, and video game systems. Most items are refurbished and resold; gain back up the system'south services.

National Cristina Foundation

Provides organizations with engineering to assistance low-income individuals, those with disabilities, and at-hazard students. Accepts computers, software, printers, and other engineering science. Use the Not-Turn a profit Locator on their site to detect a drop-off location.

World Computer Exchange

Provides refurbished used computers to organizations in developing countries. Drop off your working computer 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 drop-off locations, through bike shop partners, and at scheduled drove events. The system also asks for a $10 donation to help go your bike overseas.

Ane World Running

International program promotes wellness and fitness by providing running shoes and athletic equipment to those in need in the U.s. and throughout the world. You tin donate at driblet-off locations throughout the US or mail shoes to their principal location.

Peace Passers

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

Books

Nigh charities simply accept specific types of books, peculiarly those virtually relevant to the organizations to which they donate. Always check their website outset for guidelines before sending books.

Better World Books

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

Books for Africa

Ships books to schools and libraries in Africa. Donations are accustomed at one of their warehouses or via postal service. Books for Africa as well requests a donation of 50 cents per book to cover shipping costs.

Donate Your Unwanted Books

Operation Paperback

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

Furniture

Donation Boondocks

Offers a database of local charities that option upwards donations of habiliment and other household goods.

Freecycle

Offers an online forum where people give abroad goods, including furniture. Offering your furnishings on the site every bit a way to give to someone who may not be able to afford them otherwise.

Goodwill

Donated furniture funds their resale shop, and you lot can utilize the Goodwill Locator to find a drop-off center.

Habitat for Humanity'southward ReStore

Owned by local Habitat for Humanity organizations. Gain from the ReStore are used to assist 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 Salvation Army

Conservancy Army stocks article of furniture in their resale shop. Locate a drib-off center on the Salvation Army website.

Homeless shelters

Homeless shelters provide housing and food to those in demand and often take furniture donations. Your local United Way tin provide you with a list of homeless shelters in your area.

Local women's and family shelters

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

Appliances

Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Ground forces, and other charities

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

Affair of Trust

Donation website where you can post your available items, including appliances, and you lot are continued 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 combat the effects of oil spills.

Cars, RVs, Boats

American Diabetes Clan

Works to prevent and cure diabetes and ameliorate 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 demand. Accepts cars, trucks, boats, and other vehicles.

National Kidney Foundation Kidney Cars

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

Purple Heart

Offers a diverseness of nationwide programs for wounded soldiers, veterans, and their families. Accepts automobile, truck, boat, and RV donations.

The Conservancy Army

Often accepts vehicle donations including boats, but not all types of vehicles are accepted at all locations. Check with your local Salvation Regular army first, or call them at 1-800-SA-TRUCK (ane-800-728-7825) to get more than information about 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 automobile, truck, boat, or RV. Pickup is free.

Your local high school or vocational college

You may exist able to donate your used car for use in the school's auto-repair classes. Contact the schoolhouse directly to discuss their needs.

Whether yous want to articulate your clutter or prepare for your side by side move, at that place'southward no improve time than the present moment to start sorting your unused and unwanted things. After making a few phone calls or visiting a few websites, y'all tin can have a plan in identify. When you donate your used items to do-proficient organizations like those listed, you'll clear your space while contributing to charitable organizations and doing your part to leave the earth a ameliorate identify

Christa Baxter

Written by

Christa Baxter

Christa Baxter has worked equally an editor for more than 8 years and specialized in moving content for the last iii. She leads the Move.org content team in producing whip-smart moving tips and recs. After relocating four times in the last calendar year, she's got potent opinions virtually moving all-time practices. (Just don't e'er pull a Marie Kondo and suggest she whittle downwards her personal library.) She earned a BA and MA in English with a pocket-size in editing.