11 Charities and Organizations That Pick Up Donations For Free (2024)

Donate to Charity

Are you in the process of selling your home? Do you need a donation pick-up? Maybe you are trying to eliminate the clutter that will make your property far more salable?

Could you be trying to downsize, or perhaps try to clear out some room for things that fit your current lifestyle better? Would you like to donate some of your stuff? Maybe you have some furniture nobody wants that you would love to be picked up?

If you are like most people, moving is a prime time for getting rid of many things you don’t want or need anymore.

Either way, you have stuff you need to dispose of, and you want to minimize what you throw away – which means it’s time to find a donation center, ideally one that will pick up your stuff for free.

Over the years, many clients have asked me which companies will pick up your donations for free. Besides finding a local storage unit nearby to house items, you intend to keep, donating what you don’t need is an excellent way to make your place look show-ready.

Real Estate agents talk all the time about the importance of making your place look exceptional to home buyers. Making donations is one of the best ways to do some low-cost staging of your home. In fact, it is FREE!

When you donate to charity, you will be making someone’s day! The charities and organizations that will pick up your donations will be thrilled.

Places That Pick-Up Donations for Free

When you are moving, your time is filled with prepping, packing, loading, driving, and all the other tasks that go into a move. That is why you need a place to pick up your furniture and other donations.

The following list is not exhaustive, but you should be able to find one of these organizations in your area to pick up your donations.

Of course, you can also drop off your things at their locations as well. Doing a Google search for companies that accept donations nearby should do the trick. A popular search is “donation pick up near me.”

Schedule A Donation Pick Up Near Me

Whether you need a donation pick up for a couch, clothing, musical instruments, sports equipment, old furniture, or other household items, the following companies will make a free donation pick up.

A donation pick up near you is easy when calling one of these nonprofit organizations. Let’s have a comprehensive look at who will come by your home.

1. The Salvation Army

One of the best places for donation pick up is The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army can be found throughout the United States and will take most of the things you plan to donate – maybe all of them, if none fall under the following list of restricted items.

Salvation Army furniture donations that cannot be accepted include:

• TV armoires
• Particleboard furniture
• Baby items
• Metal Desks

They can’t take these items because of government regulations on reselling and potential recalls. They will allow everything else you have to offer, though, so you can donate your furniture, clothing, appliances, and even automobiles.

Their website offers online services for many areas, but not all. Some Zip Codes are not available for online services. However, if you can’t find online services, you can find a local number where you can call to arrange a pick-up.

However, the Salvation Army does provide an online form to schedule a donation pick up for a later date. Just plugin your Zip Code to see the availability.

Along with Goodwill, The Salvation Army is probably one of the most recognizable companies that will accept your donations.

Salvation Army Was One of The First Charitable Organizations

The company was one of the first of its kind, starting in 1865 when William and Catherine Booth began work in London. The organization had early beginnings as part of the Christian Church.

They have become one of the largest donation companies globally, located in more than one hundred thirty countries. Throughout the companies existence, there have been millions of members helping others around the globe. Many people donate to Salvation Army.

You can read all about The Salvation Army’s story here. They are one of the most recognizable charities that pick up donations for free. The Salvation Army helps over 25 million people each year. This nonprofit organization does do an exceptional job.

If you want to avoid having them come to your home, you can also visit one of their donation centers.

You can do a Google search for Salvation Army near me, and you should see the closest ones to your location. It might also be worthwhile to ask friends and family if there are any Salvation Army Thrift Stores nearby.

2. Goodwill

Goodwill is another organization found throughout the country, so you should find one to take your donations in your area. They sell your contributions to earn money to support employment opportunities for those in need in the community.

Goodwill will pick up your furniture donations as well as gifts of cars or trucks.

You can find information about pick-up options on their website. And if you have other types of donations, like clothing or appliances, you can drop them off at any Goodwill drop-off in the area.

The local Goodwill accepts clothing, dishes, accessories, boats, RVs, campers, cars, trucks, electronics, other household goods, and furniture. They even take things like lawnmowers – and the vehicles you donate do not have to be in working condition.

Goodwill was started in Boston, Massachusetts, by Reverend Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister. Helms initiated the Goodwill philosophy of “not charity, but a chance” when he gathered used household items and clothing in wealthier areas of the city. He then hired and trained poor people to repair the used goods.

These items were then sold or given to the people who repaired them. More than one hundred fifteen years later, the company remains a household name and a leading nonprofit provider of workforce-related and educational services.

You can find the local organization by doing an online search for Goodwill donation pick up.

If you would rather deliver to Goodwill and not make a donation for pick up, you can also do a Google search for them as well. Goodwill near me should do the trick.

Goodwill is one of the most recognizable organizations in North America for charitable donations. They offer a great way to help those in need in local communities.Click To Tweet

3. Furniture Bank

Furniture Bank is another excellent company for a donation pick-up. There are 34 states with Furniture Banks, so there is a good chance you can find a Furniture Bank location to pick up your furniture donations.

As the name implies, the main focus of Furniture Bank is furniture donation pick up. However, they also accept recreational vehicles and automobiles in any condition and pick up and tow your cars if necessary.

The Furniture Bank will sell your donations and use the money to support battered women, children, immigrants, the working poor, the previously homeless, and the unemployed. Rather than having a junk removal company like 1-800-Got-Junk remove things from your home, you can donate your furniture to a company like Furniture Bank.

Those less fortunate families will appreciate getting donations from a charity that can supply a bed for their child to sleep in. Furniture donation with pick-up can happen effortlessly if a Furniture Bank is near your location.

You can also try the Furniture Bank Network as well. Here is the website address.

4. Amvets

Amvets uses gifts to support local veterans. Donations are often given to veterans in need, so Amvet has an ongoing need for clothing and small appliances, curtains and drapes, computers, televisions, small devices, kitchenware, books, beddings, bicycles, and other donations.

You can take your donations to specific locations for Amvets, and you can schedule a pick-up for your donations if you prefer. If you plan a pick-up, you will need to box up your gifts, label them for Amvet, and put them outside your door by 7:30 am on the day you schedule the pick-up.

If you are donating furniture or other large items and have them picked up, contact your local Amvet organization and ask them how they would like to arrange the pick-up.

AMVETS (American Veterans) is the countries most inclusive Congressionally-chartered veterans service organization, representing twenty million veterans’ interests. AMVETS provides services to all who have served in the United States military, including the Reserve and Guard.

With more than two-hundred-fifty thousand members in the US, they are veterans serving veterans. When you donate to charity through AMVETS, you are helping those that could use the help who have served our country. AMVETS is known for donations to veterans pick up.

5. GreenDrop

If you are on the east coast, GreenDrop is probably available in your area. It is a program used by multiple charitable organizations, including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Philadelphia, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the American Red Cross, and the National Federation of the Blind.

These organizations utilize GreenDrop to help raise funds for their work by collecting donations.

In addition to standard donation pick-up, GreenDrop also offers a Home Clean-Out service that will help you go through your home to identify and donate large amounts of household items and clothing.

You can have them come over before you move and go through your home to find what you want to donate and what they will accept.

Once a plan is in place, they will help pack and remove the items you wish to donate. It should be noted that GreenDrop will also gladly accept monetary donations.

GreenDrop also has partnered with the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross is well-known for its assistance with disaster relief. When natural disasters occur, The American Red Cross is there to help.

Natural disaster victims can get help with food, shelter, and clothing through donations.

GreenDrop is an excellent company to consider for a donation pick-up.

6. Habitat For Humanity

The Habitat For Humanity is yet another nonprofit organization that makes donation pick-ups.

Habitat for Humanity focuses its efforts on building homes for those in need and repairing homes for those in need. The charity provides affordable housing around North America for the less fortunate.

They will accept furniture donations as well as building materials, appliances, and the majority of vehicles, such as trucks, cars, recreational vehicles, boats, farm equipment, construction equipment, motorcycles, and airplanes.

Once they sell your donations, they use the money to support their home-building efforts.

They will pick up your donations for free once a week. Search online to find the nearest Habitat For Humanity to pick up your donations.

Go with Habitat For Humanity donation pick up.

You can also check out Habitat Restore, which Habitat For Humanity owns. Habitat Restore accepts charitable donations sold to the public at a minimal price.

Before moving to your new home, it will be a great time to take unwanted items in good condition to a local Habitat Restore nearby. It’s an excellent option for those last few things you don’t need. Your charitable contributions will help a family in need.

7. Pick Up Please

Pickup Please is yet another non-profit organization that does donation pickups. The Vietnam Veterans of America organization is responsible for Pick Up Please. You can schedule a free pick-up for your donations online through Pick Up Please, and they will often be removed within 24 hours.

You only have to box up the items and label them for the organization – VVA Donation Pickup – and they will come to your home, take the boxes and leave you a receipt for your donation. You do not have to be there for them to pick up the gift, either.

They offer free pickup for numerous acceptable items, including small furniture, clothing, electronics, toys, books, small furnishings, and other household items.

Please keep in mind that Pickup Please only accepts charitable donations light enough for one person to lift and carry. Unfortunately, this eliminates some things such as large appliances and some types of furniture.

Large donations would be better suited to other charities.

Pick Up Please is currently available in Virginia, Louisiana, New Jersey, Colorado, Delaware, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Connecticut, Michigan, and Oregon.

Some of the benefits of Pick Up Please include:

8. The Arc

Another charitable organization that can be found in most locations in the country is The Arc. The Arc has over 1,000 programs across the country and 600 local chapters.

They focus on helping those with developmental or intellectual disabilities. You can find information about their pick-up options on their website.

They will accept clothing, furniture, and other donations.

9. Out of The Closet Thrift Stores

Out of The Closet Thrift Stores is another charitable company that will pick up your donations. By shopping at Out of the Closet Thrift Stores, you help those with HIV. 96¢ of every dollar collected by their stores will directly fund AIDS Healthcare Foundation’s HIV/AIDS programs and services in the U.S. and abroad.

They provide cutting-edge HIV medical care, regardless of a person’s ability to pay.

10. Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Last but not least is the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. For the last one hundred years, their motto has been that every child’s inherent ability to succeed and thrive in life. Here is all the information on how to contact them to pick up your donations. They will take donations for the following items:

• Household items
• Clothes
• Office Supplies
• Exercise equipment
• Kitchenware
• Furniture

11. Donation Town

Another option for donation pickup services is Donation Town. Donation Town is a directory of charities that provide donation pickups. When you are looking for a free donation pick-up, you can use their site to find who is doing donation pick-ups nearby.

The nonprofit organizations on Donation Town will provide a tax receipt for your generous donations. Yes, your donated items are tax-deductible! You can use a donation value guide supplied by the charity you use.

Donations Near Me

One of the best ways of finding companies that will collect donations is to do an online search. Searching Google for something like donation pickup near me or companies that pick up donations for free nearby should do the trick.

It is worth noting that many of the companies mentioned have not been doing donation pick-ups during Covid-19. When you do an online search for a donation pick up, you might want to try a lesser-known local charity. You might have better luck.

Hopefully, donation pick-ups will be resuming shortly for many charitable organizations.

Donation Centers Near Me

If you would rather not have a charity visit your home to pick up donations, you can always visit a local donation center nearby. When you are not sure where to find them do an online search. You should get beneficial results if you use a search term such as donation centers near me.

You can also try donation bins near me if you have smaller items to donate.

Making Donations – What You Need to Know

Most Charities Will Pick up Your Donations Free of Charge.

You can expect most charities to pick up your donations without charging you for the service. All of these charities listed here will do it for free.

However, it never hurts to look at their website and contact the local branch near you to verify that the service is free and determine the rules.

Your Donations Should be Tax-Deductible.

It is a good idea to take advantage of your tax deductions when you can. These charities make it easy to do so by providing you with a tax receipt upon request for your donations.

Ensure you put your documents in a safe place to remember to take the deductions allowed.

See what you need to know about tax-deductible donations in this excellent resource at Nerd Wallet.

You can also learn a complete list of what is tax-deductible when selling a house.

Your Donations Should Ideally be “Gently Used.”

Since they are trying to resell the items, it helps if they are still desirable – which means they should not be completely worn out when you donate them. Make sure you only provide things that others can use.

Why Donate Your Stuff to Charity When Selling a Home

One of the most significant benefits of donating your stuff to charity besides helping someone in need is de-cluttering your home.

It is a fact that homes that look their best will sell for the most money. Real Estate agents always preach to their clients the need to declutter if they want top-dollar for their property. By making donations to a charity, you’ll clear a significant amount of excess stuff you don’t need.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a company come to your home and pick up the furniture you don’t want? Furniture donation pick-up services are easy with these companies.

All of the rooms in your house will become far more spacious looking to a buyer. Your closets will seem far less cramped, and your basem*nt will be able to be seen freely without encumbrances. There are tremendous advantages to making your property look more spacious and inviting.

Final Thoughts on Companies That Have Free Donation Pick-Up

Understanding where you can donate items you don’t need to move from one house to another is excellent knowledge to have. Not only will you be making your home look a whole lot better, but you’ll also be helping out others who are in need. Something you can certainly feel great about doing.

When you donate to charity, people less fortunate get things you and I take for granted. It is well worth doing and will make you feel great. Hopefully, you can get great use out of the list of charities provided here.

Other Helpful Moving Resources

• Tips for downsizing your home – see actionable guidance on how to downsize your home. Do you know when you should downsize? Find some information on that as well.
• Who you should let know your address is changing – when moving, one of the most critical things to do is notify all the people and organizations that should be made aware you’re going elsewhere. See who should know about your address change.
• How to save money on your move – who doesn’t want to save money when moving? Get some great tips on how you can bring down the expense of moving.

Use these additional moving articles to help prepare for selling your property and eventual move.

About the author: The above Real Estate information on companies that pick up donations for free was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for 35+ years.

Are you thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!

I service Real Estate Sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Natick, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton, and Uxbridge MA.