| Quick answer: An in-kind donation is a gift of goods or services instead of cash, food, clothing, supplies, equipment, or professional expertise. To give well: donate what the nonprofit actually needs (check their giving list or ask), give new or good-condition items, keep records for potential tax deductions, and never dump unwanted items. Giving lists make in-kind giving easy by showing exactly what’s needed. Many nonprofits use a free MyRegistry giving list to publish their needs. |
You want to help a cause, and you’d rather give something tangible than write a check. That’s an in-kind donation, and done well, it’s incredibly valuable to nonprofits. Done carelessly, it can actually create work for them. Here’s a clear donor’s guide to giving goods the right way, so your generosity genuinely helps.
What Counts as an In-Kind Donation
An in-kind donation is any non-cash contribution: physical goods (food, clothing, supplies, equipment, furniture) or services and expertise (a lawyer’s pro-bono hours, a designer’s work). The defining feature is that you’re giving the thing itself rather than money to buy it.
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Goods | Food, clothing, supplies, equipment |
| Professional services | Legal, design, accounting hours |
| Big-ticket items | Vehicles, furniture, technology |
| Everyday essentials | Hygiene kits, diapers, blankets |
The Golden Rule: Give What They Need
The single most important principle: donate what the nonprofit actually needs, not what you want to get rid of. Well-meant but unwanted donations, out-of-season clothes, random goods, near-expired food, create sorting work and sometimes cost the organization money to dispose of. The easiest way to give what’s needed is to check the nonprofit’s giving list or simply ask.
Give what the nonprofit needs, not what you’re trying to get rid of.
How Giving Lists Make It Easy
Many nonprofits now publish a giving list, an online list of exactly what they need, from any store. As a donor, this removes all guesswork: you see the specific items, buy what fits your budget, and it ships straight to the organization. It’s the simplest, most useful way to give in-kind, and it guarantees your gift is wanted.
| Feature | MyRegistry Giving List | Single-store list |
|---|---|---|
| Add items from any store | Yes | No, one retailer |
| Cash gift funds | Yes | Rarely |
| Your logo & branding | Yes | Minimal |
| Embed on your website | Yes | Limited |
| Real-time tracking | Yes | Within that store |
| Cost | Free | Free |
| Nonprofits: publish your needs — create a free giving list on MyRegistry . |
The Tax Basics (Know the Essentials)
In-kind donations to qualified nonprofits may be tax-deductible for the donor, but the rules differ from cash gifts, generally you deduct the item’s fair market value, and larger donations have specific documentation requirements. Keep records: an itemized receipt, the item’s value, and the date. This is general information, not tax advice, consult a tax professional for your situation.
Do’s and Don’ts
| ✔ Pros — Giving In-Kind Well | ✘ Cons — Giving In-Kind Well |
|---|---|
| • Give what the nonprofit needs (check their list) | • Don’t dump unwanted or expired items |
| • Donate new or good-condition items | • Don’t assume, confirm what’s needed |
| • Keep records for potential deductions | • Don’t forget documentation for tax purposes |
| • Ask before giving large or unusual items |
A Real-World Scenario
Wanting to help a local shelter, Dana almost dropped off bags of old clothes, the kind of donation shelters often can’t use. Instead, she checked the shelter’s giving list and saw they urgently needed new socks and hygiene kits. She bought exactly those, shipped straight to the shelter, and kept the receipt for her taxes. Her gift was genuinely useful, created zero sorting work, and she had documentation — all because she checked what was needed first.
| ★ Expert recommendation: Before giving in-kind, check the nonprofit’s giving list or ask what they need, give new or good-condition items, and keep records for tax purposes. A giving list removes all the guesswork, many nonprofits publish theirs free on MyRegistry. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an in-kind donation?
A gift of goods or services instead of cash, food, clothing, supplies, equipment, or professional expertise given directly to a nonprofit.
Are in-kind donations tax-deductible?
Often yes for qualified nonprofits, generally at fair market value, but rules and documentation differ from cash gifts. Consult a tax professional.
How do I know what to donate?
Check the nonprofit’s giving list or ask, giving exactly what’s needed is far more helpful than guessing.
What shouldn’t I donate?
Avoid expired, damaged, or unwanted items that create sorting work or disposal costs. When unsure, ask first.
The Bottom Line
In-kind donations are hugely valuable when they match real needs, so check a giving list, give what’s wanted, and keep your records. Find nonprofits’ needs at MyRegistry for Nonprofits.
