Guide to Donating
AlchemList makes donating as easy as item, zip search. Or, for those who prefer, AlchemList makes donating as easy as cause, zip search. In either case, AlchemList is dedicated to transforming our community one in-kind donation at a time!
What to donate:Question: Should I donate it?
Answer: Usually, please donate items that are in new or like-new condition. If you are on the fence, one way to think about it is to ask yourself whether you would be embarrassed to give the item to a friend. If the answer is yes, chances are donation is not the answer. There are exceptions to this rule. For example, when the item is being recycled or repurposed in such a way that it doesn't matter how worn out it is. Used fleece can go to Patagonia and used sneakers can go to Nike to be turned into things like track surfaces regardless of how worn they look or how badly they smell. Similarly, while you might hesitate to show, let alone give, your neon 1980's ski gear to a friend, it would be a welcome addition to the Environmental Traveling Companions ski closet. When I interned at Environmental Traveling Companions, we had a closet full of ski gear - style didn't matter or at least was quickly forgotten amidst a day in the snow, the smile on the kids' faces going down the hill, the first laughter bubbling from their young hearts in far too long. So... while stained clothes, chipped mugs, etc. are not generally the best choice to donate, there are exceptions to this rule. Items in good condition can bring a huge smile to a kid's face. If in doubt, please check the website of the organization you are planning to donate to or give the non-profit a call or email the development person there.
Question: What are some frequently requested items?
Answer: While there is a non-profit looking for just about any item you can think of, there are some frequently requested items such as meeting space, office supplies, and toilet paper. The request for mundane essentials such as office supplies and toilet paper make sense. Not only is the economy causing non-profits to try to do more with less, but furthermore, funders expect non-profits to keep a minimum operating budget even in the best of times. This means things like salaries and you guessed it...office supplies and toilet paper! These things are especially crucial now (ladies, when is toilet paper ever not crucial?!) because of the strain the economy is putting on non-profits' budgets.
Benefits of donating items to non-profits:
Question: Why should I donate?
Answer: If you have gotten this far down this page, this is probably a silly question. You already know that donating helps your community by providing non-profits the resources they need to do their thing fulfilling their missions, decreases the strain on our landfills, generates warm and fuzzies and inexplicable feelings of well-being on the part of the donor, and can even put money back in your bank account when claimed as a deduction on your tax returns. One little known benefit to donating besides the benefit that comes from the actual item is that the items you donate can sometimes be used by non-profits to help them win grants so that they can continue to do the amazing, unique work each of them does to make a difference in our community. Grants frequently have what is called a match requirement and sometimes these "in-kind" donations can be used to match a grant. If there is sufficient "match", more grants, the lifeblood of the non-profit are within reach. By donating items to non-profits, you demonstrate your belief in that non-profit and in turn the non-profit is able to demonstrate to the funder that the community has also invested in the non-profit and as a result, the funder is more likely to fund that project!
Tax Deductions for your in-kind (item/stuff donations):
Question: Help! How do I know how to estimate the value of items I'm donating?
Answer: See Publication 561 on IRS.gov.
Question: What do I need to be able to claim a tax deduction for items donated?
Answer: Get a receipt or a letter of acknowledgement from the non-profit. This letter should include the name of the non-profit, a list of donated items, and the date. If you donate something valued at $5,000 or more, you must get an appraisal before you can claim it as a deduction on your taxes.
Question: What else do I need to know about claiming donated items on my taxes?
Answer: If the total value of all the items you are donating is less than $500, report items on lines 16-19 of Schedule A on Form 1040. If the total value of all the non-cash items you are donating is more than $500, file it using Form 8283 ("Noncash Charitable Contributions")
Note to non-profits ~ If you would like to be listed on AlchemList, please contact Jen at jen@alchemlist.org or click on "BE LISTED" and enter your profile so that potential donors can find you. Listing is fast, easy and free! The more non-profits that are AlchemListed, the greater the chance that people with something to donate, whether because of de-cluttering efforts or an itch to go shopping for a worthy cause, will be able to find a non-profit near them in need of a particular item and the more wish lists that will come true. Thanks!