How to Donate Office Furniture: A Short Guide

Are we all agreed? Clearing out any space, moving and lifting furniture, plus scheduling a trash pickup for your curbside waste stinks.

Whether you're closing down your office and needing to do a full liquidation or just doing a quick update and remodel on your existing company, you know that the cost of office furniture isn't for the faint of heart (or wallet).

That being said, donating rather than selling your used office furniture can be a great way to help offset the costs for people you may never meet but who are just getting started on their business dreams.

In this quick guide, we'll explain everything you need to know about donating your office furniture, including the places that accept these types of items, ways to prepare your furniture for donation, and other, often forgotten, considerations.

The Benefits of Donating Office Furniture

It may go without saying, but donating office furniture is more than just the simplest way to get it off your hands. For one thing, donating supports local community organizations and charities. These nonprofit organizations typically run on donations, whether financial, material, or even volunteer time, and there's no way they'd be able to do what they do and keep the doors open without the support of viewers like you (anyone else love public television?).

If you're concerned about the environment, then another of the world-altering benefits of donating your office furniture is that it helps reduce waste and minimize environmental impact. Around 17 billion pounds of office furniture end up in landfills year after year. Like it or not, damaged products and trash will need to go into landfills, but donating could help reduce what's thrown away because it connects people who need to those who have.

Donating can be good for your pockets. Oftentimes, donating anything provides a tax write-off for yourself or your businesses. This is something most people forget until it comes tax time and they begin the search (albeit far too late) for tax write-offs.

Similar to the environmental benefit, donating office furniture also supports the local economy by keeping usable products in circulation. One way is that non-profit organizations usually serve and employ those in the local economy.

Not afraid to toot your own horn? Donating your office furniture enhances your company’s reputation and social responsibility. If you make it a habit, seek out the best and most impactful organizations, and maybe even donate employee time to non-profit efforts. Clients of your business will see that you go above and beyond to serve, and isn't a commitment to service the best advertisement? (*sad puppy eyes*)

Eligible Recipients of Office Furniture Donations

So you're all in on donating. Great! But who do you give your donations to? Below is a list of both organization types and specific names of organizations, probably in your local community, that will accept your used office furniture.

• Non-profit organizations, such as food banks and girls' clubs that focus on setting people up in homes or businesses, will usually take office furniture.

• Community organizations, like schools and libraries, which incur loads of wear and tear, can use them to save money on buying new.

• Charitable organizations, such as The Salvation Army and Habitat for Humanity, will resell the items for lower prices and may even do a pick-up or delivery.

• Local businesses and startups, which can be found through Facebook and Craigslist, need affordable office furnishings.

  

Organizations That Accept Used Office Furniture

A. The Salvation Army

B. Habitat for Humanity Restore

C. Goodwill

D. The Furniture Trust

E. Local non-profit organizations and charities

F. The Urban League

G. Madison Liquidators

Remember to review their policies on their website or give them a call to ensure they understand the types of items you're offering.

How to Donate Office Furniture

There are a few simple steps you need to take to get your items out the door.

1. Contact a charitable organization directly to inquire about their donation process and to ensure they accept the type of items you want to give away.

2. Schedule a pickup or drop-off for your used office furniture around your and the organization's available times.

3. Ensure that your furniture is in good condition and meets the charity’s acceptance criteria by carefully cleaning older items and reviewing them for damage or pests.

4. Receive a receipt for your donation, which may be eligible for a tax write-off.

What Types of Office Furniture Are Accepted

Depending on the nonprofit organization and their policies, the following items may be accepted for donation:

• Office chairs and desks

• Filing cabinets and bookshelves

• Conference tables and chairs

• Cubicles and partitions

• Used office equipment, such as computers and printers

  As previously stated, the types of items may vary by organization, but by and large, most of the standard office furniture and electronics are accepted.

Preparing Your Office Furniture for Donation

You may be donating office furniture because you want to make it easy to get rid of, but being that most organizations give it out as they take it, it may be good to do a little prep work on the items you are donating.

Firstly, cleaning and inspecting your furniture will ensure that it is in good condition and suitable for a second home. It will also arrive in the best shape possible, which means that someone cares about the person on the receiving end.

It may also be a good idea to disassemble furniture, if necessary, to facilitate transportation. Many organizations that take large items will also take them already put together, but if you are transporting yourself, this might be a simple solution.

Lastly, removing any personal or confidential items from the furniture with a quick opening and closing of all the drawers and compartments will ensure any of your sensitive information doesn't get donated.

Alternatives to Donating Office Furniture

If you're in the other group (the one after a read of the beautiful intro wasn't sold on donating), here are a few other ideas for getting rid of your office furniture:

• Selling or auctioning off used office furniture on sites like Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. This is a good way to get some quick cash for new furniture items.

• Recycling or repurposing furniture materials is a last resort, but in cases of extreme damage or pests, it is necessary to dispose of them. It may also be possible to use them in a new way within the current space.

• Storing furniture for future use or reuse. Not quite sure if it needs to go? Keep it in storage in case your business expands or you need to access it quickly.

• Partnering with an office furniture liquidation company is a great way to get rid of a large number of items quickly and make money without doing any of the legwork.

Conclusion

Donating your office furniture is an easy win-win. It has numerous benefits for businesses and the local community, while also helping to clear out your own space. And by choosing a reputable charity and following the proper donation process, you can positively impact and support a good cause.

Looking to donate? Check out this page!