How To Organize A Donation Drive

Hosting a donation drive is a wonderful way to give back to the community. It not only helps those in need, but it can also help promote a giving culture amongst a group of people. If your school, church or non-profit is planning on hosting a donation drive, Goodwill would love to partner with you. If you’re just getting started, here are some helpful tips on how to organize a successful donation drive.  

Form A Planning Committee

Donation drives are fun, but planning them can be time-consuming. Forming a planning committee is a great way to get all your volunteers in one room. Go around and assign planning duties so all the responsibility doesn’t fall on one person. It’s a good idea to designate a leader of the committee, so both planners and participants have someone to go to if they have questions. Make sure the committee checks in regularly with each other to talk about the progress of the drive and talk through any issues that may come up. 

Reach Out to An Organization

Before you host a donation drive, reach out to an organization that will benefit from your donation. A Goodwill donation drive is a win-win for everyone. Goodwill donation drives raise money for your organization, while also supporting our mission of fighting unemployment through our no-cost career centers. Plus, it’s fast and easy! When you reach out to us, we’ll assign you a designated donation drive coordinator to help you organize the details of your event, including the donation pick-up.

Set Donation Guidelines and Goals

How much money do you want to raise? Are you looking for specific donations, like clothing or shoes? Consider these types of questions as you begin to outline the goals of your donation drive. When you communicate the donation drive to your participants, it’s helpful to include a flyer that includes these guidelines. One idea is to outline a “dos and don’ts” section, so participants also know what not to do. Include contact information on the flyer as well, in case a question comes up that you don’t cover. Goodwill will provide flyer templates and recommendations for how to spread the word about your drive.

Consider A Company Match

If you’re hosting a donation drive to raise money for a specific charity, many companies or organizations will donate a match of the total funds raised. Many companies choose to do so as a way of promoting a company’s charitable values and reinvigorating their internal culture.  

If you’re planning a donation drive, make it a successful event by partnering with Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona. For more information, contact us directly at 602-535-4218.