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Every thrift store has the same daily challenge: How do you stretch limited resources while still making a big impact? Between sorting donations, helping customers, and keeping volunteers energized, it can feel like there’s never enough time — or money — to do it all.
That’s why small, simple ideas can make such a difference. One of the easiest ways to raise more support without adding more work is through roundup donations.
With roundups, customers get the chance to make a small donation at checkout — usually just a few cents — by rounding their total to the nearest dollar. It’s quick, easy, and effective.
In this blog, you’ll learn exactly how roundup donations work, why they matter, and how to set them up in your thrift store.
Let’s get started.
What Are Roundup Donations?
The idea behind roundup donations is straightforward. When a shopper checks out, you — or your point of sale (POS) system — ask if they’d like to round their total up to the nearest dollar and donate the difference to a good cause.
For example:
- If a customer’s total is $12.75, they can round up to $13.00 and donate 25 cents.
- If their total is $27.10, rounding up to $28.00 means donating 90 cents.
Individually, these donations are tiny — but when hundreds or thousands of customers participate every month, the results add up quickly. What feels like pocket change to your shoppers can turn into thousands of dollars for a charity.
Related Read: 5 Reasons To Run a Roundup Donation Program
Why Do Roundup Donations Work Well?
Roundup donations work because they’re easy. Customers don’t have to pull out their wallet a second time or make a big financial decision on the spot. They’re simply asked if they’d like to give a few extra cents.
Psychology plays a big role here.
People like the idea of doing good without much effort. A small donation feels painless but still meaningful — and because it happens in a thrift store, where shopping already supports sustainability and community, the ask feels natural.
Here’s why customers often say “yes” when invited to round up:
- It’s affordable: The donation is always less than a dollar, which feels doable.
- It feels good: Shoppers like knowing they’ve supported something meaningful without being pressured.
- It builds identity: Giving to local causes helps people feel more connected to their community.
- It’s convenient: Customers don’t have to make a separate decision or fill out forms.
For you, that means better customer satisfaction, stronger community ties, and consistent fundraising that supports both your mission and your brand reputation.
How Roundup Donations Benefit Thrift Stores
You already know the challenges of running a thrift store — unpredictable donations, fluctuating sales, and tight budgets. Roundup programs give you a steady stream of support that doesn’t depend on pricing or donations.
With roundups, you can:
- Increase customer loyalty: People return to businesses that reflect their values. A roundup program shows shoppers you care about the same causes they do.
- Boost your brand reputation: When your store partners with a local charity, you become known as a community supporter.
- Generate consistent revenue: Even if individual donations are small, they add up quickly and provide a reliable source of funds.
- Open partnership opportunities: Working with local nonprofits creates chances for joint events, promotions, and positive publicity.
- Strengthen staff engagement: Employees feel proud to work somewhere that actively gives back.
In other words, roundup donations help your chosen charity, and they make your store stronger, too.
How To Choose the Right Cause
The cause you choose for your roundup program matters. Customers are much more likely to participate if they feel emotionally connected to where they’re donating.
Here are some tips for choosing wisely:
- Keep it local: Shoppers love supporting causes close to home — like food banks, shelters, youth programs, and schools.
- Align it with your mission: If your thrift store already supports specific programs, extend that relationship through roundups.
- Be transparent: Post signs and share updates about exactly where the money goes. Transparency builds trust.
- Tell stories: Share real examples of people or programs helped by the donations. Stories stick with customers far more than numbers.
Some stores rotate their cause quarterly or yearly, while others stick with one long-term partner. Either approach works as long as you communicate clearly and show the impact.
How To Launch a Roundup Program in Your Thrift Store
Here’s how you can launch a program that feels natural for customers and easy for your staff.
1. Make It Seamless at Checkout
The most important step is integrating the option directly into your checkout system.
POS systems built for thrift stores make this easy by adding a prompt at the register. When the cashier finishes ringing up an order, the customer sees a quick option to round up. One tap, and it’s done.
2. Train Your Staff
Staff buy-in is crucial. Teach your employees a simple, friendly script so they know exactly how to ask.
For example:
- “Would you like to round up your total to support [charity name] today?”
- “Your total is $22.45 — would you like to round it up to $23.00 and donate the difference?”
Keep it light and pressure-free — customers shouldn’t feel pushed.
3. Add Clear Signage
Use posters at the register and signs in fitting rooms to remind customers about the program. Clear visuals help normalize the request before they even hear it.
4. Share the Impact
Celebrate milestones by posting updates on social media, like: “Thanks to your roundup donations, we raised $1,200 this month for our local shelter!”
Updates keep shoppers engaged and willing to keep giving.
5. Keep the Option Optional
Never guilt customers into donating. A polite “No problem!” when someone declines ensures they still leave with a positive impression.
How To Track & Measure Roundup Success
A successful roundup program is also about tracking and reporting results so everyone can see the impact.
With POS systems made for thrift stores, you can generate reports that show:
- How many transactions included roundups
- How much money was raised over a set period
- Which stores or registers collected the most
Use this data to celebrate achievements, motivate staff, and communicate results to your customers and partner organizations. The more transparent you are, the more likely people are to keep supporting the program.
Related Read: Managing Thrift Store Donations With POS Software
How To Handle Customer Concerns
Even with a strong program, some customers may hesitate.
Here’s how you and your staff can respond:
- “It’s just a few cents — does it really matter?” Yes, it does. Explain that when everyone contributes, small amounts quickly add up to big results.
- “How do I know where the money goes?” Be upfront. Share the name of your partner charity, provide updates, and include signage that shows how donations are used.
- “I’d rather support something else.” If possible, offer customers a choice of causes or rotate organizations throughout the year. That way, they can feel more connected to the program.
How To Make Roundups Sustainable in Your Thrift Store
Roundup donations can start small, but they work best as a long-term part of your store’s culture.
To make sure your program stays strong over time, you can:
- Offer recurring options: Modern POS systems let you set up recurring donations so customers can opt in once and continue supporting automatically.
- Rotate causes: Refreshing the program with new charities keeps customers engaged.
- Highlight stories: Share photos, testimonials, and updates from your partner organization to show real-world results.
- Celebrate donors: Thank your customers in newsletters, on social media, or with an in-store donor wall.
When customers see the impact, they keep participating — and even encourage others to join in.
Make Roundup Donations Effortless With ThriftCart
If you want roundup donations to feel natural for your shoppers and simple for your staff, ThriftCart makes it easy.
Our all-in-one POS system is designed specifically for thrift and nonprofit retail, so roundups, reporting, and other thrift store–specific tools come standard.
Here’s how it helps:
- Round up automatically at checkout: Turn on a one-tap prompt right at the register. You can customize the message, add your branding, and offer fixed-dollar or percentage donation options.
- Track what matters: With clear reporting, you can see exactly how many transactions included a roundup and how much you’ve raised. This makes it easy to share impact updates with your community and keep your team motivated.
- Use tools built for thrift operations: You also get tools for donation pickup scheduling and routing, color-tag discounting, marketing automation for impact updates, and integrated payments — all in one platform.
- Scale as you grow: Running multiple stores? No problem. ThriftCart keeps customer and donor data synced across locations, so your reporting stays clean and simple as your mission expands.
- Launch on day one: Roundup donations are a native ThriftCart feature. This means your staff can start offering them on day one — no complicated setup, no extra apps, just a smooth way to start raising more with every transaction.
Want to find a plan that works for your thrift store? Check out our pricing page to find the perfect fit.
