How to Solicit Donations for a Thrift Store

Thrift stores offer communities a win-win opportunity to support charities while getting in on great deals. Donations come to many of the larger nonprofit thrift stores unsolicited. But many donors are unaware of all the possible alternatives in a community. Actively soliciting donations for a thrift store can take many different forms, all of them reaping rewards for all involved. Try these tips to improve your inventory.

Instructions

1. Create a team of telemarketers to call households to solicit donations for your thrift store. Often people just need to be educated about your operation. Volunteers from your organization can divide the lists of numbers and make the calls from home.

2. Place free ads in the community calendars of your local newspapers. Most papers offer nonprofit thrift stores a small space to advertise times and places when donations are received.

3. Request time from local civic organizations to speak at their meetings and luncheons. Most of these community groups offer time on their programs to area nonprofits. You can tell the group about the work you will accomplish from the sale of donations at your thrift store as well as the means by which you collect donations.

4. Set up special collection times and places throughout the community. Ask permission from local churches for their assistance. Bring large bins and staff to make these sponsored donations days a success.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be aggressive with telemarketing. Use the opportunity to educate people about your needs.

• Don't overstep your bounds when speaking in public. Stick within the group's time limits and respect their giving requirements.

• Don't act picky when receiving donations. If you can't sell some items, then make arrangements to get rid of them at a later time.