Where to Donate Furniture and How to Make Furniture Donations

Whether you’re downsizing or in need of a home refresh, it may be time to say “goodbye” to your old furniture. From outdated college futons to hand-me-down decor, not all furnishings are meant to stay in your house forever. Fortunately, there are a number of nonprofit organizations and charities that will gladly take furniture donations. If you’re wondering where to donate furniture, take a look at these five suggestions below.

5 Furniture Donation Companies

DonationTown

Not sure which charity will accept your donation? DonationTown will take care of it for you. All you have to do is enter your zip code and DonationTown will provide a list of availabl e charities in your area. From there, you’ll schedule a free donation pickup. DonationTown is available in major cities throughout the U.S. According to their website, you can donate furniture items that include small chairs, nightstands, end tables, small bookshelves and small rugs.

Goodwill

Goodwill Industries International is one of the most (if not, the most) well-known charities in the country. And with 3,200 stores nationwide, finding a Goodwill location near you shouldn’t be a problem. The charity organization provides job training, employment placement services and other community programs for the underprivileged. The organization accepts new and gently-used clothing and household items to sell in their stores and on their online auction site. When someone buys your furniture from Goodwill, the money will go directly to furthering the charity’s cause. To donate your furniture before moving, simply drop everything off at a local Goodwill Donation Center. Many Goodwill locations also offer pickup services. If your furniture is heavy, I recommend calling a nearby Goodwill to ask if they offer this particular service.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Need someone to pick up your furniture in a hurry? Call your local Habitat for Humanity Restore. This nonprofit organization is many people’s first choice for donating large pieces of furniture, such as gently-used couches, dining tables, consoles, desks, chairs and beds. Habitat for Humanity ReStores are operated by Habitat for Humanity organizations. The nonprofit stores sell used items for a fraction of the retail price. Proceeds from the ReStores go towards building homes and shelters in local communities and around the world. To donate your furniture to a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, call and schedule a pickup time before moving. The pickup is free of charge.

Pickup Please

If you’re looking to get rid of small furniture and household items, I recommend contacting Pickup Please to donate your items to the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). This organization sells various gently-used items to generate funding for local, state, and national programs of the VVA. As far as furniture goes, the organization accepts only small items, including mirrors, nightstands, headboards and office chairs. All donors have to do is schedule their pickup online and leave the labeled boxes outside their door. A Pickup Please driver can pick up your donations within 24 hours.

The Salvation Army

Another popular way to donate used furniture before or after moving is to give it to one of The Salvation Army’s Family Stores. All proceeds from the Family Stores fund The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers. These centers help over 60,000 people work through various life issues each year and assist them in rejoining their communities as productive members, according to The Salvation Army. With nearly 1,500 Family Stores located throughout the U.S., finding a Salvation Army Store shouldn’t be hard. Those donating furniture can either bring it to a drop-off location or schedule a Salvation Army furniture pickup.

What to keep in mind when donating furniture

• Tax write-offs – Don’t forget that your donations are tax deductible. Once you drop off the furniture, the organization should be able to provide you with a tax receipt that day. Come tax season, these receipts will help you save a bundle.
• The condition of your items – We hate to break it to you, but charity organizations won’t accept just anything . Your items will need to be in somewhat good shape. If you’re unsure about whether your item is in good enough shape to donate, I recommend contacting the charity directly to ask. Most donation sites provide a list of items they do and do not accept on their website. A few examples of items that most likely won’t be accepted anywhere include: Upholstered items with rips, stains, tears, and/or pet odors; hazardous materials/chemicals; unframed mirrors or glass; broken glass; storm windows and single pane windows; metal blinds; corner tubs; cultured marble tubs; broken flooring; lighting that doesn’t work; encyclopedias and textbooks; and electronics that are out of date.

Other ways to get rid of furniture

• Sell – Think your furniture is worth selling? In addition to donating, you can try selling your furniture via an online marketplace, mobile app or garage sale. Several online marketplaces to consider include Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist and Nextdoor.com. Mobile apps include: LetGo, 5miles, OfferUp, Mercari and Gone.
• Consign – Don’t have time to sell the furniture yourself? Have your local consignment store do it for you. If the furniture item is vintage or valuable in some way, I suggest bringing it to a local furniture consignment store to have them list it. Typically when you sell through a consignment store, the store will take the majority of the cut and will give you the remainder. Before consigning, be sure to ask what percentage of the sale you’ll receive.
• Storage – Not quite ready to say “goodbye” to that chaise lounge? Try storing your furniture in a safe and secure storage unit. To find storage in your area, use Moving.com’s Storage Center . Just type in your zip code and click the ‘find storage’ button. Moving.com will pull quotes from the closest storage unit facilities near your new home to compare. A few popular self-storage facilities to consider include U-Haul, Public Storage, Extra Space Storage, and CubeSmart.

Finished donating your furniture? If so, it’s time to find the best moving company to handle your upcoming move, check Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers . All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Good luck and happy moving!