How to make your San Francisco furniture donation count

Where should you take your furniture donation in San Francisco? If you aren’t sure which charity to select, read our list.

Editorial Team

By Editorial Team

Area of furniture donation

Before taking your used furniture to the dump, consider donating it to a charity of your choice. There are several organizations that can take your furniture donation in San Francisco. Many of these organizations offer free pick-up service and provide an itemized listing for your tax write-off. But, what if you want to donate more than a few pieces? Maybe you’re ready to become a little less tied down and thus decide to donate most of your household goods. This choice can free you up when it’s time to move.

By living in a furnished apartment you won’t have your own furniture to lug around each time you move. Companies, like Blueground, list high-end apartments in prime locations throughout San Francisco. You’ll have plenty of conveniences inside your apartment and several building amenities. And when it’s time to move to a new neighborhood or out of state, the move will be easy. While considering that option, take a look at the organizations that accept furniture donations in San Francisco.

Community Thrift Store

Neighborhood: Mission

Community Thrift Store first opened its doors in 1982. As a non-profit organization, they have worked with more than 200 charities in the Bay Area. When you donate items such as furniture, you can select a charity in which the donation will benefit. Then, after the items get sold at the Community Thrift Store, the proceeds go to the designated charity.

Some of the items that you’ll find in their storefront include antique furniture, collectibles, modern and mid-century pieces, and lots of household necessities. So, if you want to add to their selection, think about donating your furniture and used goods here. Your donation can help the cause you care about.

Accepted donation items

  • Clean, gently used clothing and shoes
  • Jewelry and accessories
  • Art and collectibles
  • Household furniture
  • Household goods
  • DVD movies and CDs
  • Electronic devices
  • Books

Furniture donation in San Francisco is convenient due to the pick-up service offered from Sunday to Thursday. If you have furniture to donate and live in San Francisco you should book an appointment three to four weeks in advance. To make your appointment with Community Thrift Store, call them at (415) 861-4910.

The proceeds from your donation can go to any of the listed charities on their site. Some charities include the Boys and Girls Clubs of SF, Project Open Hand, Planned Parenthood and SF SPCA.

Homeless Youth Alliance

Neighborhood: Haight Ashbury

During the early 1990s, studies were being commissioned around youth homelessness in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury. Those studies revealed a high incidence of health and psychological problems among teens who were homeless. Due to the lack of services available to this population, a woman by the name of Mary Howe, started working with these youth. She understood what they were going through because she too was homeless in her youth. So, she began supporting these homeless teens the best way she could. Later in 1992, she founded the Homeless Youth Alliance.

The mission of the Homeless Youth Alliance is to meet homeless youth right where they are. And the ultimate goal is to help them achieve healthy and fulfilling lives. To accomplish this goal, youth have access to one-on-one counseling, medical care, mental health care, educational workshops, and more. By empowering, educating and guiding these homeless youth, they have a greater chance of transitioning off the streets. 

Not only does the Homeless Youth Alliance accept items with a direct impact on homeless youth, but other pieces of auxiliary support such as office furniture donations and donations for pet care.

Accepted donation items

  • Clothing
  • Food
  • Hygiene supplies
  • Sleeping bags
  • Tents and tarps
  • Blankets
  • Office furniture and supplies
  • Dog food and pet care supplies
  • Medical supplies

furniture donation in San Francisco box with various foods being donated to charity

The Arc of San Francisco

Neighborhood: SoMa (Howard St)

This charity in San Francisco supports children and adults who have developmental disabilities. In the early days of the organization, there were no other programs or community centers offering support to this demographic. So, many parents and other concerned individuals took it upon themselves to create this needed space. The founders of The Arc wanted to create opportunities for their children to grow, learn and socialize with others. The Arc’s mission is “to transform the lives of adults with developmental disabilities by advancing lifelong learning, personal achievement, and independence.”

Because The Arc of San Francisco is a charity supported by the Community Thrift Store, you can use their furniture pick-up service. Again, it’s suggested to book an appointment about three to four weeks in advance. To book your appointment call (415) 861-4910 and prepare your furniture in advance.

Goodwill

Neighborhood: several locations throughout San Francisco

The nonprofit organization, Goodwill is another option for furniture donation in San Francisco. The mission of Goodwill is to break the cycle of poverty for thousands of people. To help break the cycle, there are many programs that help people emerge from poverty. Some of their offerings include training and work placement programs. If someone is willing to work, but has been out of a job for a while, Goodwill is there to serve them. Those people include the incarcerated, homeless, military veterans, and many more.

vintage armchair dresser

Most noteworthy, the Goodwill’s of San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin placed 636 participants in employment opportunities last year. Even more, a total of 3,200 people received education, job training, and employment services.

Accepted donation items

  • Clothing, shoes, and boots
  • Jewelry and accessories
  • Hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves
  • Books, records, compact disks, videotapes, and DVDs
  • Games, toys and sports equipment
  • Dishes, glassware, kitchen utensils, cookware, and small appliances
  • Collectibles, antiques, and other giftware
  • Hand tools and small power tools
  • Blankets, towels, sheets, curtains, etc.
  • Stereos, radios, VCRs, DVD players, flat-screen TVs
  • Dressers, tables, couches, bed frames, etc.

If you’d like to donate your furniture to one of the Goodwill’s in San Francisco, you can schedule a pick-up online.

Editorial Team

Editorial Team

The Blueground editorial team covers the best things to see, do, and experience in our cities around the world.