Housing Works, established in 1990 in the wake of the growing AIDS epidemic, is a not-for-profit organization aimed at assisting individuals in New York living with HIV and AIDS, especially those who are homeless. Where your money goes: Charitable programs and services focused on AIDS assistance, as well as the stores' operating expenses (NYC rent, staffing, etc) "Most of our stores have a different local charity to receive donations every day of the week," Lew said.īuffalo Exchange also has a program called Tokens for Bags, in which customers are offered a token worth 5 cents, instead of disposable bags, at the time of purchase to donate to one of three local charities a $1 Earth Day Sale a fur-repurposing program called Coats for Cubs and partnerships with other charitable organizations. Unsold merchandise is shipped and sold at further discounted prices, while the rest is donated to charities. With only 48 stores, Buffalo Exchange focuses on trendy clothing and accessories, including designer and vintage customers trade in their gently worn items for cash or credit. Where your money goes: To the owner's pockets, but also to various charitiesīuffalo Exchange was founded by Kerstin and Spencer Block in 1974 with the aim of creating a "used clothing store that preserved the adventure and affordability of thrift-store shopping, but without all the hassles," Stephanie Lew, Buffalo Exchange's marketing director said in an email.
Money spent on store items goes back to maintenance of the store (12%) as well as community initiatives, according to its website. In addition to addiction rehabilitation and housing, Salvation Army offers Christmas assistance (dinners, gifts and community events for families in need), prison ministries, hunger and homeless relief and work against human trafficking. There are currently 7,546 centers nationwide stocked with clothes, furniture, decorations and, of course, unlimited odds and ends. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination." Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. "The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church," its mission statement read. The company statement makes no bones about its affiliation. Salvation Army, founded in England in 1865, is a nonprofit with an explicitly religious mission. Where your money goes: Right back to the store and its mission, which is religious in nature Without further ado, here are the thrift store heavy-hitters and where they send your money. As for for-profit stores, "their primary responsibilities are to their shareholders," she said. "Most nonprofits are pretty proud of their mission, and their financial data is generally pretty transparent too," Kristen McCormack, director of Boston University's nonprofit management program and the creator of not-for-profit organizations including the Boston Food Bank, told Mic in an interview. Read more: We Got People to Tell Us Their Dirty Money Saving Secrets, aka What They StealĪ nonprofit organization is one whose commercial revenue goes right back into the mission - paying employees, renting retail spaces, hosting events, etc. Newsflash: Some thrift stories are nonprofit, but a lot aren't. What is the cause that your favorite bargain basement cares about most? Is the company religious? Is the business, in fact, profiting from your purchase, or are those dollars going back into a mission? Where do unsold clothes end up?
While the experience is a thrill, where exactly your dollars go when you thrift isn't always so clear. Thanks to donation bins and buying counters, you can declutter your closet while escaping the thrall of fast fashion and doing good for the community (and maybe even walking away with some extra cash). The advantages of thrifting are many: low prices, unique finds and sustainable goods. For today's sartorially minded youth, the act of thrift-shopping can resemble something of a competitive sport.
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