Lyla Dejesus
Wedding dresses often hold sentimental value, but they can also take up a lot of space. Donating your wedding dress is a great way to help others while also freeing up storage space. There are many charitable organizations that accept wedding dress donations, such as Brides Against Breast Cancer, which resells the dresses to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection. Adorned in Grace is another organization that uses donations to provide other brides with new or gently used items, with proceeds going towards anti-trafficking mentoring for youth. Donating your wedding dress can also help reduce your carbon footprint, as it gives the dress a second life instead of it ending up in a landfill.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reasons to donate | Free up closet space, reduce carbon footprint, help someone in need, receive a tax deduction |
| Where to donate | Charities, thrift stores, community centers, nonprofit organizations |
| Charity examples | Brides Against Breast Cancer, NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown program, Adorned in Grace, Cherie Sustainable Bridal, Brides Across America, Brides for a Cause |
| Charity causes | Cancer research, disaster relief, human rights, environmental protection, support for military and first responders, anti-trafficking, women-focused nonprofits |
| Accepted items | Wedding dresses (usually no more than 3-5 years old), bridal accessories, veils, headpieces, other accessories, bridesmaid dresses, formalwear, mother-of-the-bride dresses, flower girl dresses |
| Donation methods | Mail, drop off at store locations or events, complete donation form on website |
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What You'll Learn
Charities that accept wedding dress donations
There are several charities that accept wedding dress donations. Here are some options:
Brides for a Cause
Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit organization that collects and resells wedding dresses to raise funds for women-focused charities. They accept new and once-worn dresses that are less than five years old and can be mailed or dropped off at one of their locations. Since 2012, Brides for a Cause has collected over 40,000 wedding dresses and donated over $3,000,000 to various charities.
Brides Against Breast Cancer
Brides Against Breast Cancer is a charity that resells gently used wedding gowns to raise money for breast cancer awareness, early detection, research, and legislation efforts. They accept wedding dresses that are no more than four years old, as well as veils, headpieces, and other accessories.
NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown Program
The NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown Program provides custom-made gowns for final photos and burial services for families who have lost a baby in the NICU. They accept wedding dress donations and partner with seamstresses to create the Angel Gowns. The gowns are offered free of charge to hospitals, bereavement centres, funeral homes, and grieving families.
The Brides Project
The Brides Project is a bridal boutique that accepts wedding dress donations from brides and directly from bridal salons. The money raised from the sale of the gowns supports families touched by cancer through the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. They accept gowns that are no more than five years old and offer both in-person and shipping options for donations.
Brides Across America
Brides Across America is a nonprofit organization that supports military and first responder brides by gifting them wedding gowns during their "Operation Wedding Gown Event." They accept wedding dresses that are no more than four years old, as well as veils, tiaras, and accessories. Donations can be shipped according to the guidelines on their website.
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Eco-friendly reasons to donate
Wedding dresses are often only worn once. If you don't plan on wearing your wedding dress again, it will likely just take up space in your closet. By donating your wedding dress, you can help reduce your carbon footprint and live an eco-friendlier lifestyle. Clothing that is thrown away ends up in landfills, releasing carbon dioxide and other toxins into the air. The production of new clothes and textiles also uses hundreds of gallons of water and causes 10% of global carbon emissions. Donating your wedding dress ensures it stays out of the landfill and gives it a second life.
There are many charitable organizations that accept wedding dress donations, such as Brides Against Breast Cancer, which resells gently used wedding gowns to raise money for breast cancer awareness and early detection. The Brides Project is another organization that raises money for programs and services at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. Brides Across America is a nonprofit that provides free wedding dresses to military and first responder brides. The NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown program accepts wedding dresses, which seamstresses remake into gowns for photos and burial services for infants who have passed away.
When deciding where to donate your wedding dress, it's important to do your research and select a reputable organization that aligns with your values. You can also choose to donate to a cause that has significance to you as a couple. By donating your wedding dress, you can help someone in need, support a worthy cause, and reduce waste and pollution. It's a great way to give your dress a new life and bring joy to someone else.
In addition to the environmental benefits, donating your wedding dress can also provide tax benefits. In the United States, you can claim charitable contributions of goods as itemized deductions when filing your taxes. By donating your wedding dress to a federally certified charity, you may receive a tax deduction and a receipt for your contribution. This is yet another incentive to pass on your dress to someone who can experience the same joy you felt on your wedding day.
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Tax benefits of donating
Donating your wedding dress to a charitable organization is a great way to help someone in need and also get a tax deduction. The IRS recognizes a charitable contribution as a gift or donation to or for the use of a qualified organization, such as nonprofits.
To claim your tax deduction, you need to document your donations with receipts. A 501(c)(3) receipt is given when a federally certified charity receives a charitable contribution of $250 or more. Once you get your receipt, you can claim your contribution while filing your taxes and get a tax deduction.
You can deduct the fair market value of property donated to a qualified charitable organization. When it comes to clothing, the clothing must be in good used condition or better. The deductible amount may be considerably less than the price you paid, as it is based on the condition of the donated items at the time of donation.
If you are in a 35% tax bracket, you can save 35% of the value of the dress. For example, if your dress is worth $2000, you can save $700 in taxes.
Remember that the facility must be a nonprofit for you to get a tax deduction.
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Charities that support a good cause
Donating your wedding dress is a great way to help others while also freeing up closet space and reducing your carbon footprint. Many charitable organizations accept wedding dress donations, and some even offer tax deductions for your contribution. Here are some reputable charities that support various worthy causes:
Brides Against Breast Cancer
This nonprofit organization resells gently used wedding gowns and accessories to raise funds for breast cancer awareness, early detection, research, and legislation efforts. They accept wedding dresses up to five years old in excellent condition. You can use their website to donate, or contact them via email or phone for shipping instructions.
Adorned in Grace
Adorned in Grace is a faith-based organization with a mission to unite churches in the fight against human trafficking through awareness, prevention, and restoration. They accept wedding dresses, formal attire, mother-of-the-bride dresses, flower girl attire, and accessories. Their profits support anti-trafficking efforts and other programs. You can drop off donations at their locations in Oregon and Arizona or ship them following their online instructions.
The Brides Project
Based in Michigan, The Brides Project raises funds for programs and services at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. They accept donated wedding dresses from across the country, including gently used and new dresses. The funds raised through the resale of these dresses support various programs, including support groups, counseling services, and nutrition workshops.
Brides for a Cause
Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit that collects and resells wedding dresses to raise funds for various local and national nonprofits that support women. They accept wedding dresses that are five years old or newer and have multiple locations where you can drop off your donation.
NICU Helping Hands Angel Gown Program
This organization accepts wedding dresses and bridesmaids' dresses in light colors, which seamstresses transform into gowns for bereaved parents' infants for photos and burial services. They maintain a waitlist and connect seamstresses with nearby donations as needed.
These charities are all doing incredible work and are great options for donating your wedding dress to support a good cause. Remember to research and choose an organization that aligns with your values and interests.
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How to donate
Donating your wedding dress is a great way to help someone in need, honour your dress, and free up closet space. Here is how you can donate your wedding dress:
Brides Against Breast Cancer
Brides Against Breast Cancer is a non-profit organisation that resells gently used wedding gowns to raise funds for breast cancer awareness, early detection, research, and legislation efforts. They accept wedding dresses up to five years old that are in excellent condition, as well as bridal accessories. You can donate by completing the donation form on their website, emailing them, or contacting their client service to receive shipping instructions.
Adorned in Grace
Adorned in Grace is a faith-based organisation that works to fight human trafficking through awareness, prevention, and restoration. They accept wedding dresses no more than five years old, formalwear, mother-of-the-bride dresses, flower girl dresses, and wedding accessories. You can drop off your donation in person at one of their locations or ship it to them following their online instructions.
Brides for a Cause
Brides for a Cause is a nonprofit organisation that collects and resells wedding dresses up to five years old to raise funds for various local and national nonprofits that support women. You can mail your wedding dress or drop it off at one of their locations.
The Emma and Evan Foundation
The Emma and Evan Foundation transforms donated wedding dresses into infant burial gowns, also known as Angel Gowns, which are offered to hospitals, birthing centres, funeral homes, and grieving families free of charge. They accept wedding dresses of any age. You can ship your wedding dress donation according to the guidelines on their website.
Goodwill Industries
Goodwill Industries is an organisation that provides supportive services to help people train for careers and find jobs. They accept wedding dresses and other clothing and accessories. You can donate by finding a donation centre or local drop-off bin.
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Frequently asked questions
Donating your wedding dress is a great way to free up closet space and help someone in need. It can also help reduce your carbon footprint and provide a dress for a bride experiencing financial hardship.
There are many charitable organizations that accept wedding dress donations, including Brides Against Breast Cancer, Adorned in Grace, Brides Across America, and Brides for a Cause.
In addition to wedding dresses, many organizations accept bridal accessories such as veils, headpieces, and jewellery. Other items such as formalwear, mother-of-the-bride dresses, and flower girl dresses may also be accepted.
