It depends on the individual Goodwill location, but in many cases Goodwill will accept donations of old baseball cards. Goodwill is a nonprofit organization that operates over 3,300 stores across the United States and Canada. Their goal is to provide job training and employment services while also raising funds through the sale of donated goods. With regards to baseball cards specifically, here are some more details on Goodwill’s policies:
While Goodwill will generally accept most types of donations as long as they are in reasonably good condition, individual stores have discretion over what items they will accept based on their ability to sell the items. Old baseball cards fall into a gray area because while they may hold nostalgic value for some, they can be difficult to sell and do not necessarily appeal to Goodwill’s broad customer base. That said, if the cards are organized and in protective sleeves or books, they have a better chance of being accepted. Loose unsorted bulk cards may be turned away.
It’s always best to call the local Goodwill store location in advance to ask about their policy on baseball card donations before making the trip. Staff can give you an assessment of their ability to handle and merchandise cards based on current space, supplier demand, and past sales history. Goodwill also prefers donations be dropped off during store hours as opposed to leaving boxes outside when the store is closed. This allows an associate to inspect the cards and ensure they meet donation guidelines.
Some Goodwill locations may only accept baseball card donations from recognized dealers and resellers who supply on a bigger scale. Individual casual collectors are less likely to have large enough quantities of pre-sorted cards to interest these stores. Other Goodwill locations are open to smaller donations from community members. Again, the policy varies by individual thrift store.
If accepted, the baseball cards would be processed, priced, and sold just like any other donated collectible item. Some Goodwill stores have a dedicated “collectibles” section, while others may mix higher value donations like cards in with general merchandise. Most cards would be priced individually but bulk lots may be sold at a flat rate per box or binder as well. Proceeds from card and other collectible sales help fund Goodwill’s charitable mission.
Other donation tips that can help increase the chances of Goodwill accepting old baseball cards include: keeping cards in protective plastic sleeves or pages rather than loose; sorting by player, year, team or other categories; and focusing donations on more valuable vintage years versus large quantities of common modern cards. Also, donating cards to Goodwill during peak leisure season like summer when more shoppers browse the thrift stores can boost sales potential.
While policies vary by individual location, many Goodwill stores are open to receiving baseball card collections as donations depending on factors like quantity, condition, organization level and the local store’s ability to sell. Calling ahead is advised to check the specific guidelines, but for organized vintage card donations, Goodwill may provide an appreciated second life helping their job training programs. With over 16,000 retail stores across both countries, Goodwill offers a widespread donation network to responsibly recycle old collections back into the marketplace.
