GiveNKind: The quiet supply chain powering Chicagoland nonprofits

Volunteers at GiveNKind

A school social worker called: dozens of kids in unstable housing needed lice treatment kits—fast. Within days, boxes landed where they were needed most. That’s GiveNKind in action: a tiny team turning business surplus into community outcomes so nonprofits can spend budgets on people, not purchases.

I spend a lot of time helping organizations stretch dollars and deepen impact. GiveNKind is a true force multiplier! Last year this team of four placed $16.7M in new goods with local nonprofits on a budget under $600k—about $28 of impact for every $1 to run the operation.

How GiveNKind works

Source

They partner with brands/retailers to rescue new, non-expired inventory (overstock, returns, seasonals) that might otherwise be liquidated or landfilled.

Distribute

Vetted nonprofits “shop” an online catalog and pick up at Buffalo Grove (with a Bridgeport pickup pilot to reduce travel).

Multiply

 The right goods, at the right time—bedding, hygiene items, housewares, seasonal gear, and more—freeing partners from retail spend and getting essentials to people faster.

Why it matters

Behind-the-scenes logistics rarely make headlines, but they determine whether frontline teams have what they need this week. GiveNKind fills that gap with speed, budget relief, and dignity! They move exactly what agencies would otherwise buy at retail and keep good products out of landfills.

Nonprofits

• Register once, then order what your programs need.

• Pro tip: inventory turns quickly—check the catalog often and choose the easiest pickup.

Brands / Retailers / 3PLs / Distributors

• Donate products. It’s greener than liquidation and donation-friendly for taxes.

• Truckload-friendly process; built for e-commerce.

Donors / Corporate Citizens

• Fund the engine. Dollars pay for warehousing, trucking, and the people who move millions in goods to hundreds of local nonprofits. Few models deliver this kind of ROI-for-good.

If you can register your nonprofit, route surplus inventory, or donate, jump in—the ripple effects are real and immediate. Learn more at givenkind.org.

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I help nonprofits raise more money through education, coaching, and strategic planning. If your organization is ready to strengthen its fundraising strategy, create board advocates, or develop a comprehensive legacy giving program, I'd love to discuss how we can work together.