Most hospitals and children’s hospitals have child life programs that welcome donations of trading cards to entertain and distract kids who are patients. Baseball cards are often a hit with young patients as they allow kids to focus on something fun and engaging while they’re receiving medical treatment. Reach out to your local children’s hospital foundation or fundraising office to inquire about donating your baseball card collection. Provide a detailed inventory of what you have so they can best utilize them for their patients.
Schools and youth organizations are another good place to donate cards. Physical education teachers and after school programs frequently need supplies for activities and games. Donating your collection allows these groups to use the cards for contests, trading sessions at recess, or incorporating them into baseball-themed lessons. Contact your local elementary school, boys and girls club, or big brother big sister program to see if they’d like your donation.
Local charities and non-profits focused on kids’ activities and education are always appreciative of donations that can help enrich children’s programs. Consider donating to the Salvation Army, YMCA, scouting troops, homeless shelters, family resource centers, and Boys and Girls Clubs in your area which may be able to incorporate baseball cards into their programming for kids and teens. Giving them a collection allows these organizations to add a fun new component at little to no cost.
Fire stations, police stations, and military bases often entertain visits from young children. Donating cards provides them with a supply to keep youngsters occupied if they happen to visit the station for a show-and-tell tour or open house event. Cards can also be included in care packages assembled for troops overseas or first responders working long shifts far from home. Contact your local stations to see if they’d find your donation useful.
While donating online or in-person to charities and organizations is ideal to directly impact children, another great option is eBay’s Gifting Program. Through this program, you can donate the monetary proceeds of selling your cards on eBay to any of over one million charities registered with the IRS. The donation is then sent directly from eBay to the charity of your choice. This allows your cards to raise funds while eliminating the legwork of trying to coordinate a direct physical donation.
Of course, donating to a local library is also a thoughtful way to share your collection. School and public libraries welcome material that sparks children’s interest in reading, hobbies, history and more. Cards make a fun addition to their shelves while exposing more kids to the joy of building collections. Provide detailed information about any particularly rare or valuable cards so the library can properly store and circulate them.
For collectors looking to obtain a potential tax write-off, donating baseball cards to a qualified nonprofit auction house can benefit both charity and your taxes. Huge auction companies like Heritage Auctions have donation programs where collectors can get an estimate of fair market value for their cards to claim as a charitable tax deduction. The house then auctions items with proceeds benefitting charities. Just be sure to follow all IRS guidelines regarding appraisals and documentation.
No matter where you choose to donate your baseball card collection, taking the time to detail the included players, years, conditions etc. adds valuable context for the recipient. Properly cataloging and organizing the cards beforehand also makes it easier for the charity to utilize them effectively in their programs. With some planning, your donation is sure to delight both young fans and worthwhile causes for many seasons to come.
Donating your baseball cards allows them to continue bringing joy while supporting great causes. Consider children’s hospitals, schools, libraries, charities and more – all of which would appreciate your collection. With just a little effort, a donation has the power to impact many lives for years to come. I hope these ideas provide you with some good options for finding your cards a deserving new home.
