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

Christa Baxter
Feb 04, 2022
bullet8 min read

One of the easiest ways to donate your belongings is to reach 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 be of use to others. There are other options too. We’ll walk you through possibilities like selling your old belongings and claiming tax deductions. You can also consult our list of donation centers to see 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 item into consideration. Only 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 you can't use the item in its current state, neither can a charity.

Consider selling and then donating the money

Donating cash to your charity of choice helps you 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 shop are good 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 cover valuation next).

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

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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, you 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 you receive from the charity. Retain the receipt for your taxes. If you are audited by the IRS, you don't have any way to prove you donated the items if you 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 determine the valuation. Items must be in good 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 better understand 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 can check a charity's tax status on the IRS's website. You can also perform a background check on a charity at sites such as Charitynavigator.org and Charitywatch.org.

Cars

Use Kelley Blue Book to get an estimate of your car's worth, but keep in mind that you may not deduct the full blue-book value of your car if it's in poor condition. The IRS also requires an independent appraisal when the value of an item is more than $5,000. Find 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 clothing 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 accept clothing, furniture, and other household goods. 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 US.

Clothing, shoes, and accessories

Alliance of Career Development Nonprofits

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

Dress for Success

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

Indigo Rescue

Animal rescue organization that accepts donations of jewelry only. 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 clothing for their domestic thrift shops located throughout the US and sells clothing to overseas customers where they can be resold, creating jobs and providing a source of affordable 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 drop-off location or ship them by purchasing a shipping label directly 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's or family shelter.

Project Night Night

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

Ronald McDonald House

Houses families of sick children who are hospitalized. They accept 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.

SAFE (Stuffed 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, neglect, abuse, homelessness, and weather emergencies. Donations are accepted at their chapter 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 them to the organization.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Provides services to assist survivors of domestic abuse. Donate cell phones, laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, and video game systems. Most items are refurbished and resold; proceeds support the organization’s services.

National Cristina Foundation

Provides organizations with technology to help low-income individuals, those with disabilities, and at-risk students. Accepts computers, software, printers, and other technology. Use the Non-Profit Locator on their site to find 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 collection events. The organization also asks for a $10 donation to help get your bike overseas.

One World Running

International program promotes health and fitness by providing running shoes and athletic equipment to those in need in the United States and throughout the world. You can donate at drop-off locations throughout the US or mail shoes to their main location.

Peace Passers

Provides soccer supplies to communities in need. 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 only accept specific types of books, particularly those most relevant to the organizations to which they donate. Always check their website first for guidelines before sending books.

Better World Books

Sells books through its website and uses the funds to support literacy programs. You can ship your book donation prepaid or drop them off at one of the organization's Book 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 50 cents per book to cover shipping costs.

Donate Your Unwanted Books

Operation Paperback

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

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Find more places to donate books

The Book Donation Map of America has an interactive map that shows you all the places in your community that accept books. 

Furniture

Donation Town

Offers a database of local charities that pick 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 way to give to someone who may not be able to afford them otherwise.

Goodwill

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

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 Salvation Army

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

Homeless shelters

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

Local women's and family shelters

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

Appliances

Goodwill Industries, The Salvation Army, and other charities

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

Matter of Trust

Donation website where you can post your available items, including appliances, and you are connected with nonprofits and charities seeking the items you are offering. The organization also accepts hair, fur, wool, and fleece clippings to create special mats to combat 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 disease. 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 as Jet Skis), and farm equipment, including tractors with a serial number.

Purple Heart

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

The Salvation Army

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

Your local high school or vocational college

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

Whether you want to clear your clutter or prepare for your next move, there's no better time than the present moment to start sorting your unused and unwanted things. After making a few phone calls or visiting a few websites, you can have a plan in place. When you donate your used items to do-good organizations like those listed, you'll clear your space while contributing to charitable organizations and doing your part to leave the world a better place

Christa Baxter
Written by
Christa Baxter
Christa Baxter has worked as an editor for more than eight years and specialized in moving content for the last three. 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 strong opinions about moving best practices. (Just 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 minor in editing.