How to Collect Postage Stamps for Fundraisers

Even used stamps can be valuable to a cause

Stamps are one of the most common collectibles. Some nonprofit organizations use this to their advantage and turn stamps into a source of revenue for their cause. In order to collect the number of stamps necessary to make the endeavor worthwhile, groups must have many resources for the stamps or access to a large number of mailings.

Things You'll Need

• Stamps

Instructions

1. Decide how you will sell the stamps you collect. There are two basic options: sell them on your own or sell them to a dealer. Each has its merits, although many charities find that working with a reliable dealer comes with the most guarantees. To sort them and sell them on your own requires someone with knowledge of the industry and time to find buyers. Some charities prefer to use a bit of each approach by sorting them and selling the least valuable stamps to a dealer in bulk, while selling the most valuable through auctions. Don't forget that selling internationally is an option as well, and sometimes international stamps are more sought after than local ones.

2. Collect stamps from anywhere possible. When letters come through the mail system, snip the stamps off of them. Encourage community members or supporters of your cause to collect them as well. Put up flyers at local buildings, put a call for stamps on your website and in any newsletters, and accept them at any events that your organization holds. Stamps should be preserved as close to their canceled state as possible. If on paper, the paper should be cut leaving no more than 1/4 inch around the stamp.

3. When stamps are dropped off, try to have someone with a working knowledge of collecting on hand. Sort the stamps if possible as they come in, since you may come across stamps that you want to sell individually to get a better price for them.

4. In order to make stamp collection most profitable, you should have a significant amount of stamps. Figures for valuation are dependent on what types of stamps you have and what country they are from. Foreign stamps tend to have more value. A ballpark figure is that common stamps are worth about $5 for every 2 lbs. That figure can go as high as $20 for foreign stamps.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure that there is no excess paper on the stamps. Dealers will detract from your earnings if they deem that your collection has too much paper weight attached to it.

References

• The Stamp Shop: Kiloware Advice
• Our Community: Postage Stamps and Fundraising