We work hard to make your donation process as simple as possible. We’re available to answer any questions you may have and to work with you to make your donation process easy. Call Donna Charles if you have any questions at 212-279-5493 or email us at dcharles@kidsdonations.org.
Q. What kind of products do you accept? Do you only take children’s products?
A. If you make or sell products that you think can help a child or family in need we’d welcome your donation. Most of the products distributed to children include: clothes, outerwear, shoes/sneakers/boots, toys, juvenile furniture or products, books, educational products, personal care products, etc. Many of our programs reach young adults as well, and our partner Fashion Delivers, provides adult clothing to families in need.
But if you have other ideas about products that can help young people (software, personal electronics, etc.), we’d love to hear from you.
Q. I see the online and fax donation form on your site. But is there someone I can call if I have any questions?
A. The online forms are designed to make your donation process easy and simple. But certainly, if you have any questions you can call or email Donna Charles at 212-279-5493, or email your questions to dcharles@kidsdonations.org.
Q. Is there a minimum amount of merchandise that you'll accept? Can you accept individual items? Do you accept sample lots?
A. We appreciate all donations and will take small sample lots and other merchandise, but we cannot take a donation of an individual item.
Q. Do you accept slightly used products?
A. No. Children receiving donations from K.I.D.S. find pride, self-esteem and a sense of caring from the gift of new products.
Q. Do you accept product donations from individuals?
A. As generous as that would be, because of our distribution model, we only accept donations in quantity from manufacturing or retail companies. We do accept and appreciate financial donations from individuals.
Q. Does K.I.D.S. distribute these products to children or families directly?
A. No. Over the past twenty years we’ve built relationships with more than one thousand social service agencies in every U.S. state, in Canada, and for disaster relief around the world. These agencies best understand the needs of their communities and are our “feet on the street,” distributing our products directly and efficiently to families and children throughout the year and during times of natural disaster.
Q. Can I select where our products go… for example to a school or to a particular city or part of the country?
A. Yes, we will work with you to direct your donations to a particular location of your choice or direct the donation to an agency with the best match.
Q. How do you handle shipments? Will someone take care of the shipping or pick up the products, or do we need to make those arrangements?
A. We pick up from your facility and deliver directly to K.I.D.S. partner agencies that we work with or that you have chosen which meets our criteria. All agencies must be 501(c)(3) and must be vetted by K.I.D.S. There are no service charges, we use no middlemen and, to the extent possible, we distribute to nearby agencies.
Q. Who pays for the shipping?
A. Many of our donor companies pay for the shipping as part of their donation but we do have funds from financial contributors that can be used to pay for these shipments.
Q. Do we have to do any special preparation to the products for pick-up?
A. Just call or email to make arrangements and we’ll handle it from there. However, please make sure your donations are boxed for shipment.
Q. From the time I complete the donation form, how quickly do you arrange for pickup?
A. Within a week.
Q. Do we have to sort or segment our products (by size or amount for example) or will you take the entire lot as is?
A. We want to make it easy for you. We’ll pick up your entire lot and handle the sorting and distribution needs according to what our agencies require.
Q. How do you ensure that donated products won’t be resold in any retail or off-market channel, or taken and returned to one of our local retailers?
A. Before receiving products, an agency must sign a form which requires it, among other things, to remove all retail and merchandise tags to prevent the resale or diversion of any product. Agencies that do not comply with this requirement are taken off our donor agency lists and are reported to the appropriate state agency for mishandling of property.
Q. How can I find out where my products are being shipped, or which agencies are receiving our donations. Will K.I.D.S. send me a confirmation?
A. You will receive a letter for Internal Revenue Service purposes and for your records acknowledging the donation and its value and indicating where the product has gone and how it will be used.
Q. What kind of tax deduction can I have by donating new products?
A. Section 170(e)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code permits regular ("C") corporations to deduct the lower of: 1) the cost of the products, plus one-half of the difference between the cost and the fair market selling price, or 2) twice the cost.Section 170(e)(3) also permits "S" corporations or a partnership company to earn a straight cost deduction. K.I.D.S. does not dispense tax advice. Be sure to consult your tax advisor for professional guidance. |
