Where Can You Donate Furniture?

Why donate furniture?

If your furniture is in relatively good condition, donating it can be a good alternative to recycling or disposing of it. Here are some reasons why donating may be a worthy option:

• Easy donations and pickup: Many charitable organizations accept furniture donations, and some of them may also pick furniture up for you, saving you some hassle.
• Tax benefits: Donations to 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible, which may help you save a little money when you file your taxes if you itemize your deductions.
• Help people who need it: When you donate your furniture, your items may be sold in local thrift stores or used for families in need in your area.

Where to donate furniture

Some popular charities that accept furniture donations include:

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit that provides affordable housing for families. It funds its mission through donations and the proceeds it receives from its thrift store, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. You can donate household items, like furniture and appliances, which may be resold at one of its stores. The organization also offers free donation pickup, which you can schedule online.

Goodwill

Goodwill provides various job training and career counseling programs. Goodwill Industries is a 501(c)(3) organization that sells donated items, like gently used clothes and furniture, in more than 3,000 thrift stores across the U.S. While Goodwill doesn’t offer free donation pickup, it partners with ReSupply, a company that will come get your items for a fee.

Donation Town

Donation Town provides donation pickups for two charitable organizations: the Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans’ Voice of America. Pickup is free and you can schedule online through the Donation Town website. The organization accepts items like small home furnishings, headboards and nightstands.

The Arc

The Arc advocates for the human rights of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The organization operates through a network of local chapters, so you’ll need to check with your chapter for accepted donations.

AMVETS

AMVETS provides various programs and assistance for veterans, their families and survivors. Pickup is limited and only available in some states, so check the organization’s website for more details. Donated items are sold in thrift stores.

PickupPlease

PickupPlease is a donation pickup program available in 15 states. The organization provides free donation pickup, which helps support several different charities: Vietnam Veterans of America, Veterans’ Voice of America, Special Olympics Texas, Teen Challenge of Southern California and Clean International.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army runs several different programs, including disaster recovery and social and prison services. Donation pickup is limited, but you can check the Salvation Army’s website to see if it's available in your area. You may be able to drop off furniture donations at one of its donation centers or thrift stores.

GreenDrop

GreenDrop, a for-profit company, picks up donations on behalf of several nonprofit organizations, including the American Red Cross and Big Brothers Big Sisters. The company then purchases the goods from the nonprofit and resells them in area thrift stores. GreenDrop only accepts small furniture that weighs 50 pounds or less, so check the website for donation details.

Furniture Bank Network

Furniture Bank Network provides a directory of all furniture banks in your area. Donating to a furniture bank gives others in need the opportunity to furnish their homes at little to no cost. Many furniture banks offer free donation pickup.

Foster Youth of America

Foster Youth of America provides support for young people as they transition from foster care into adulthood. You can donate furniture or cash to young adults to use for when they move out on their own.

Other local charitable organizations

There may be several other local organizations in your area that could use furniture donations for families in need. They may also need clothing, linens or other goods, so if you have more that you would like to donate, it could be worth asking organizations what they’re currently looking for.

4 tips for donating furniture

Donating furniture requires some thoughtful planning and consideration. Keep in mind the following tips to ensure a smooth experience.

1. Be mindful of the furniture’s condition

Not all places will take furniture in any condition, so check with charities for donation guidelines. Organizations that resell furniture in thrift stores may be a bit pickier about the items’ condition than those that give items away for free. Either way, clean or vacuum the upholstery and dust any hard surfaces.

» RELATED: How To Dispose of a Mattress

2. Ask for a receipt

If you plan to itemize your deductions on your tax return, request a tax deduction receipt and keep it for filing purposes. Charities won’t be able to assign a dollar value to furniture donations, so check donation guidelines from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or ask your accountant for guidelines. It may also be a good idea to take a few pictures of your furniture from different angles so you have a record of its condition.

3. Consider dropping the donation off rather than scheduling a pickup

Charitable organizations may be short staffed, so dropping the donation off yourself may be faster. Otherwise, it could potentially take weeks to schedule a pickup.

4. Find a charity that’s aligned with your values

Consider donating your items to charities that support causes that are important to you. Not only will donating help further causes you care about and fund organizations’ missions, but it can feel good to help better the lives in your community.

Alternatives to donating furniture

Donating isn’t the only way to get rid of furniture you no longer want or need.

• Sell items: List items on online marketplaces at reasonable prices based on the items’ condition and demand.
• Consign items: Furniture consignment stores will sell your items for a percentage of the sale price. They typically require items to be in good condition. Before choosing this option, review store policies on pricing, time frames and unsold item handling.
• Store them: You can temporarily store furniture you may need again in the future, but factor in monthly storage costs. Avoid storing unwanted pieces long term.
• Upcycle: Refinish, repaint or repurpose old furniture into new functional pieces through do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. You can then keep, sell or donate the items.
• Dispose or recycle: For severely worn items, look into bulk item pickup services or hiring a junk hauling company. Some charities will also recycle or repurpose your items.

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