If you run a thrift store, you know one thing for certain — donations are everything.
When they slow down, everything else follows: Your racks get picked over, customers stop finding what they’re looking for, and suddenly the whole operation feels like it’s running on fumes.
Luckily, there are plenty of straightforward ways to keep donations coming in steadily throughout the year. Some of it means getting out into the community. Some of it focuses on making things easier for donors. And some of it comes down to using the right tools.
Let’s dig into the six pro tips that can help you increase thrift store donations.
1. Strengthen Community Relationships
Thrift stores and communities go hand in hand. The stronger your local connections, the more donations you’ll receive.
When people see your store as part of their neighborhood, they’re much more likely to think of you when they’re cleaning out their closets, moving, or downsizing.
Here are a few ways to make those community ties stronger:
- Partner with local businesses: Offices often upgrade furniture and computer equipment, and stores may have leftover seasonal displays or merchandise they don’t want to toss. When you build relationships with local owners, your thrift store might be their first call.
- Reach out to schools and universities: At the end of a semester, dorms get emptied out. Schools often cycle through desks, chairs, sports uniforms, and supplies. If you position your thrift store as an outlet, you may get a steady stream of useful items.
- Show up at community events: Don’t just sit back and wait for people to come to you. Attend local street fairs, church gatherings, and city-sponsored events. Better yet, sponsor a booth. This raises awareness and reminds people your store is an option when they have items to donate.
- Highlight the bigger picture: Share stories of how donations help. Maybe sales fund job training, support recovery programs, or just keep good items out of landfills. When donors understand the impact, they feel good about giving more often.
Nurture these relationships, and they grow into long-term donor support.
Related Read: How To Increase Foot Traffic in Retail: 13 Tips for Thrift Stores
2. Market Your Donation Program Consistently
One common reason thrift stores don’t get enough donations is pretty simple — people forget they exist. Shoppers might love your store, but unless they’re reminded, they toss their extras into the trash or donate somewhere else.
That’s where marketing comes in.
Here are some donation marketing tips:
- Run seasonal campaigns. A few examples include:
- Spring cleaning: Launch a “Clear Out and Give Back” drive every April or May.
- Back to school: Ask families to donate gently used clothing and supplies in late summer.
- Holiday season: Many people declutter in November and December to make room for gifts.
- Use social media. Post photos of interesting donations, stories about your mission, and reminders that you’re accepting items.
- Send SMS reminders. A short text like “Doing spring cleaning this weekend? Drop off donations at [your store name]! Free pickup available.” works wonders.
- Schedule email campaigns. Monthly emails that share impact stories and donation reminders help keep you top of mind.
- Spread the word on local press and radio. Community radio and neighborhood newsletters love feel-good stories — announce your donation drives there.
Always make sure your marketing includes your address, phone number, donation hours, and pickup options. That way, people who want to donate can easily find the details.
3. Make the Donation Process Simple & Convenient
If donating is a hassle, people skip it. If it’s easy, they come back again and again.
Here are a few ways to simplify the process:
- Create a dedicated donation dropoff area: Make sure your dropoff space is well marked, easy to access, and safe to use.
- Offer curbside service: Train staff and volunteers to meet donors at their cars, unload items, and provide receipts.
- Provide pickup services for large items: Help people donate furniture, appliances, and bulk items they can’t transport themselves.
- Run donation drive days: Extend hours on specific weekends or host “Stuff Swap Saturdays,” where donors get a coupon for bringing items.
- Be clear about what you accept: Post guidelines online and on signage. This saves time, avoids awkward situations, and keeps your storage space manageable.
- Make tax receipts fast: Pre-fill standard receipts so donors can get in and out quickly.
Convenience can make the difference between “I’ll donate it” and “I’ll just toss it.”
4. Show Donors Appreciation Every Time
Think about the last time you gave something away. Didn’t it feel good when the recipient showed genuine gratitude? Donors are the same way. When they feel valued, they’re more likely to give again.
Here are some ideas to express appreciation:
- Say “thank you” — sincerely, every time.
- Share gratitude posts on social media.
- Send a quick text or email follow-up for large donations.
- Recognize a “Donor of the Month” on your website or in store.
- Mail handwritten notes for big or repeat donors.
A little recognition creates an emotional connection that keeps people coming back.
5. Bring Volunteers Into the Mix
Volunteers are the key to successful thrift stores. They help sort, organize, and manage donations — and they may even become donors themselves.
Here are a few ways to maximize volunteer engagement:
- Train them well so they feel comfortable and valuable.
- Offer small perks like store discounts, free coffee, and recognition events.
- Encourage them to invite friends and family to volunteer and donate.
- Involve them in donation drives and let them spread the word through their own networks.
The more your volunteers feel like part of your mission, the more energy they bring to helping increase thrift store donations.
Related Read: 8 Volunteer Retention Strategies for Thrift Stores
6. Build Donor Loyalty Like You Do Customer Loyalty
Donors don’t have to be one-and-done. They can become just as loyal as your regular shoppers if you nurture the relationship.
Try these practical donor loyalty strategies:
- Launch a donor rewards program: Offer small store credits, coupons, and perks for repeat donations.
- Send reminders a few times per year: A friendly email that says, “Have extra clothes or books? We’d love to take them off your hands.” keeps you top of mind.
- Celebrate milestones together: Share stats like, “Thanks to your donations, we diverted 50,000 pounds from the landfill this year.”
- Invite donors to special events: Host appreciation nights or early shopping hours for regular donors.
Donor loyalty builds a steady flow of donations that keeps your store stocked year after year.
Use ThriftCart To Increase Thrift Store Donations
Managing donations manually can be tough and inefficient. That’s where a point of sale (POS) system made specifically for thrift stores, like ThriftCart, can give you a serious edge.
Here’s how ThriftCart helps increase thrift store donations:
- Self-serve donation pickups with smart routing: Donors can choose a pickup time online, while your team uses the POS system to plan the most efficient routes. This saves gas, reduces no-shows, and works seamlessly whether you have one store or multiple locations.
- Fast intake with barcodes and consistent pricing: Quickly categorize items, print custom barcode labels, and keep pricing standardized. This way, inventory moves faster and is easy to track.
- Donor tracking and built-in marketing: Collect donor info at dropoff or pickup, then send timely thank-you notes, reminders, and campaigns via email or SMS.
- Roundup giving at checkout: Let shoppers round up their totals to support your mission.
- Clear, accurate reporting: See what’s donated, what’s selling, slow-moving items, and how each location performs. You can prove impact and adjust pricing where needed.
- Easy for volunteers and staff: Training is quick and simple, so your team can get up to speed in minutes. Plus, support and integrated payments come from the same team that sets you up.
Ready to find the perfect plan for your thrift store? Check out ThriftCart’s Build and Price tool to create a custom solution today.