Donating a Deceased Person's Belongings: A Practical Guide

Donating a deceased person's belongings is one of the most common ways families handle possessions that no heir needs or wants. It can also feel meaningful — knowing that clothing, furniture, or household items will help others can bring some comfort amid grief. This guide covers what to donate, where to donate it, and how to handle the tax and practical aspects of the process.

When to Start the Donation Process

There's no hard deadline, but a few practical considerations:

Wait until all heirs have had an opportunity to take items they want — don't donate before the family has reviewed belongings
If the home is being prepared for sale, having a clear timeline helps — typically several weeks after the death for the family review, then donation
Some items (perishables, certain medications) should be handled much sooner

What Can Be Donated

Commonly accepted

Clothing and shoes (clean, in wearable condition)
Furniture (in good condition — most charities cannot accept items needing repair)
Household goods: dishes, cookware, linens, small appliances
Books (current, popular subjects — older textbooks and encyclopedias often not accepted)
Electronics (working condition — many organizations prefer recent-model electronics)
Tools and hardware
Sports and fitness equipment (in working order)
Toys and games (complete, safe condition)

Often not accepted

Mattresses (most organizations don't accept used mattresses for hygiene reasons)
Older CRT televisions
Broken or damaged furniture
Outdated electronics (early 2000s computers, VHS players)
Opened or partial personal care products
Medications — these should NOT be donated. See medication disposal guidance below.

Where to Donate

Goodwill

Goodwill accepts most gently used household goods and clothing. They offer free pickup for larger items in many areas. Their vocational training programs benefit from donation proceeds.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has donation centers across the US and offers free pickup for furniture and larger items. Their proceeds fund social services programs.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

ReStore accepts building materials, appliances, furniture, and home improvement supplies. Proceeds fund Habitat for Humanity housing programs. Particularly good for quality tools, hardware, and appliances.

Local domestic violence shelters and transitional housing programs

These organizations often need complete household setups — furniture, bedding, kitchen supplies — for clients moving into housing. Often highly appreciated and a direct local impact.

Specialized organizations

Books: Better World Books, local libraries, Little Free Libraries
Medical equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds): Salvation Army, local medical equipment loan programs, organizations like Wheels for Humanity
Musical instruments: Local schools, VH1 Save the Music Foundation
Children's items: Ronald McDonald House, local family resource centers

Handling Medications

Do not donate or flush medications. Proper disposal:

DEA-authorized collection sites: Pharmacies and hospitals with take-back programs. Find one at DEA.gov/drug-disposal
National Drug Take-Back Day events: Held twice yearly in locations nationwide
Mail-back programs: Some pharmacies and the DEA offer prepaid mailer programs
Home disposal: Mix medications with coffee grounds or kitty litter in a sealed bag, then discard in household trash — only if no take-back option exists

Controlled substances (opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants) must be disposed of at DEA collection sites — do not put them in the household trash.

Tax Deductions for Donated Items

Donations of personal property to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible at fair market value — not the original purchase price. A few important notes:

Donations are a deduction for the estate's federal income tax return (if filing is required) or for an heir who inherits and then donates items
For donations of items worth more than $500, IRS Form 8283 (Noncash Charitable Contributions) must be attached to the tax return
For items worth more than $5,000, a qualified appraisal is required
Get a written receipt from each organization for any significant donation — this documents the donation and supports the deduction

Estate Sales: When Donating Isn't the Right Path

If there are many items with significant value and no specific heirs to claim them, an estate sale may be more appropriate than donation. See our article on selling a deceased person's possessions for the estate sale process.

For the complete personal belongings guide, see our guide to handling a deceased person's belongings.