5 Tips to Ensure your Nonprofit Donations are Appreciated
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Food banks, shelters, and other nonprofits supply important resources to those in need; however, many operate on a tight budget. They have compact physical locations and small full-time teams supported by a plethora of volunteers.
For the past 25 years, Give To Get has supported nonprofits by helping them determine their needs and matching them with our corporate clients who want to contribute to their mission. Sounds easy, right? It’s not.
The cost of sorting and disposing of unwanted donations can cost nonprofits hundreds or thousands of dollars annually. Many also don’t have the bandwidth to design and plan impactful events, purchase supplies, and host a corporate group — especially when volunteer numbers fluctuate.
If this is the first time you've realized that in-kind donations are not always helpful, you’re not alone. However, it’s not uncommon.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, blood donations surged. The country's blood supply was replenished. Eventually, though, there was more blood than needed, and almost a fifth of donations were discarded before they could be used.
Before you make your next trip to donate to your local nonprofit, check out our 5 tips to ensure your donation will be welcomed. Our social impact project managers use many of these tips when they help clients plan events, too — just at a much (much!) larger scale.
Seasonality of Donations: At the end of summer, you may want to drop off all of your child’s too-small tank tops and shorts. However, most nonprofits cannot store them. Instead, donate the fall or winter items that you discover no longer fit and donate summer items to Goodwill, one of America’s largest textile recyclers.
Condition of the Donation. Dirty, stained, or damaged items cannot be cleaned by nonprofit staff or given to clients. Items that are missing pieces, such as puzzles and toys, are not able to be distributed either. When in doubt, consider whether you would give the item to a family member or friend. If not, please dispose of it.
Choosing the Right Nonprofit: We work with emergency and long-term shelters. Both serve individuals who are, or were recently, unhoused; however, they have very different needs. One prefers full-sized hygiene items; the other travel-sized. One prefers individually wrapped toothbrushes; the other accepts multi-pack options. Similarly, shelters that serve men do not need items for women or children.
If you’re unsure of the nonprofit’s clientele, check their website or call them to determine if they are the right nonprofit for your donation. Even new and like-new donations are discarded if the nonprofit cannot distribute them to their clients.
Donation Times: Donation times vary according to a nonprofit's staff, schedule, and other criteria. Well-meaning individuals may want to donate items on the weekends, only to discover that a nonprofit is closed. Other nonprofits, especially those that are education-based, may not have staff members available to accept items or fill out receipts during afternoon hours. Large donations may need to be made by appointment, too.
Busy seasons. At the end of the year, many individuals choose to donate items to nonprofits. The nonprofit staff, often overwhelmed by donations, may not be able to sort them right away, especially if donations aren’t labeled. Choose labels that convey the most important information such as whether clothes are for men, women, or children; any size information; and the like. Also, when you donate your items, be sure to let the staff know whether the contents are seasonal (gloves) or perishable. Expiration dates on food (even boxes of macaroni) should be checked.
If you’re still unsure whether your donations are appropriate for your favorite nonprofit, consider heading to the nonprofit's Amazon Wish List. These lists show you exactly what the nonprofit needs — from office supplies to items that will go directly to clients. You can purchase items from the list and the item will be sent to the nonprofit contact and address on file, so you don't have to search for that information!