FAQ & Drive Tips
Everything you need to know about GearGive Drives and donating sports equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a GearGive Drive?
A GearGive Drive is a simple, free fundraiser where families donate quality, gently used sports equipment.
We evaluate and resell items with value and donate proceeds to the organization or nonprofit you choose.
You can run a short-term drive or set up a year-round permanent bin both work great.
Does it cost anything to host a drive?
No — it is always 100% free. GearGive covers:
- Collection bins
- Flyers, posters & digital materials
- Collection-drive boxes (optional)
- Shipping boxes (if needed)
- Prepaid shipping labels
- Scheduling pickups for packed boxes
- Trailer transport (in select regions)
- Permanent outdoor collection bins (where available)
There are no fees or charges at any point.
What materials does GearGive provide?
Your GearGive Drive Kit includes:
- Collection bins
- Collection-drive boxes (optional)
- Shipping boxes (if needed)
- Prepaid labels
- Flyers, posters, and graphics
- Email & social media templates
- Donation QR code
- Instructions for drive setup and promotion
If you ever need additional boxes, bins, labels, or materials, we’ll send more right away free of charge.
Can we get extra boxes or materials during our drive?
Yes — absolutely. We provide unlimited:
- Collection boxes
- Shipping boxes
- Additional bins
- Extra labels
- Replacement signage
- Updated digital materials
Just reach out and we’ll ship what you need.
Who can run a GearGive Drive?
Almost any group or individual:
- Schools & PTAs
- Youth sports leagues
- Parks & recreation departments
- Fitness facilities
- Sporting goods stores
- Camps & youth programs
- Corporate groups & businesses
- Faith communities
- Neighborhood associations
- Individuals doing mitzvah projects, scout projects, honors society service, senior projects, etc.
If your community plays sports, you’re a great fit.
How long does a drive last?
Most drives run 1–2 weeks, but you choose the timeline.
Do you help promote the drive?
Yes — we provide:
- Flyers (digital + printable)
- Posters
- Email templates
- Social graphics
- Messaging copy
- QR code for quick info access
Should we run a short-term drive or place a permanent bin?
You can do either — but permanent indoor or outdoor bins typically collect far more gear and create significantly greater long-term impact.
Short-term drives are great for:
- Schools, teams, PTAs
- Clubs, student groups
- Seasonal sports programs
- Service projects
Permanent bins are ideal for:
- Parks & recreation centers
- Sportsplexes
- Batting cages
- Fitness facilities
- Tennis/pickleball centers
- Golf courses
- Indoor turf/field facilities
- Sporting goods stores
- Schools with busy athletics
Permanent bins allow families to donate any time, with the highest overall volume.
What if we collect a LOT of gear?
We’re prepared for it. For large drives, we can provide:
- Enclosed trailers (where available)
- On-site pickup
- Multiple collection bins
- Permanent outdoor donation bins (in select areas)
Tell us what you need on your Drive Request Form.
What kind of gear does GearGive accept?
We accept quality, gently used sports equipment, including:
- Hockey Gear
- Baseball & Softball Gear
- Lacrosse Gear
- Football Helmets & Shoulder Pads
- Tennis Rackets (badminton and squash as well)
- Pickleball Paddles
- Field Hockey Sticks
- Golf Clubs
What types of gear are usually considered resellable?
We accept quality, gently used sports equipment. The newer and better condition the better. We are ideally looking for items within 5 years old or with a new retail value of $50 or more. Items include:
- Baseball/softball gloves
- Baseball/Softball Bats
- Catchers Gear (chest, shins and helmets)
- Helmets — including expired helmets (hockey, lacrosse, football and baseball/softball)
- Shoulder pads, elbow pads, shin guards & other protective gear (hockey, lacrosse, football)
- Lacrosse Sticks (including just the head or shaft)
- Tennis Rackets and other racket sport rackets and paddles
- Hockey Skates & Figure Skates
- Golf Clubs (full sets are ideal, but we will take individual clubs)
- Golf Bags
Do you take fitness equipment like treadmills or Pelotons?
Sometimes — yes. We accept large fitness equipment on a case-by-case basis:
- Treadmills
- Peloton / stationary bikes
- Rowing machines
- Dumbbells / weight sets
- Squat racks & benches
- Ellipticals
- Other home gym equipment
Because these require special handling, contact us before shipping. Send information and ideally a picture to info@sportsgear4good.com
What items does GearGive NOT accept?
We do not accept:
- Bikes or bike helmets
- Trophies or plaques
- Broken or unsafe equipment
- Torn/unusable cleats
- Badly damaged pads or gear
- Clothing/apparel (except team warm-ups)
- Moldy or heavily soiled items
- Full-size goals or oversized field structures
- Extremely outdated or non-functional fitness equipment
Does gear need to be clean?
No — items do not have to be cleaned. They simply need to be gently used and functional.
Do we have to pay for shipping?
No — GearGive pays for all shipping and transport.
This includes:
- Prepaid labels
- Shipping boxes
- Scheduling pickups
- Trailer transport for high-volume drives (in select regions)
How do we send collected gear to GearGive?
You can:
- Pack gear into boxes
- We can provide boxes if needed
2. Attach prepaid labels
3. Drop off at a local shipping location
OR
4. Ask us to schedule a pickup OR
5. Load gear into an enclosed trailer (if provided)
Do you offer pickups?
Yes especially for large drives or high-volume locations.
Can we keep a permanent outdoor collection bin year-round?
In many areas, yes. Permanent bins work best at:
- Public parks
- Recreation centers
- Sportsplexes
- Batting cages
- Fitness facilities
- Golf & tennis centers
- Sporting goods stores
- Schools
- Indoor sports facilities
Not recommended for municipal/government offices (low sports traffic)
How does the funding work?
After your gear arrives, we evaluate each item.
Resellable items are assigned an assessed resale value based on their expected listing price.
You receive a monetary donation for each resellable item, based on that assessed resale value.
You choose the beneficiary:
- Your school/team/league/PTA or
- A nonprofit of your choice
Do we get paid per item?
Yes — but only for items with resale value. Each resellable item contributes individually to your donation total.
Will we see which items generated funding?
Yes — full transparency. You receive a line-by-line report showing:
- Each resellable item
- Its assessed resale value
- The donation amount for that item
- Your total donation
How long does it take to receive our donation amount?
Your assessed donation amount is usually finalized within 2 weeks of us receiving your gear.
How and when will we receive our donation?
Donations are sent via e-check within 30 days of receiving your gear.
You’ll receive:
- An e-check
- Your itemized resale-value report
- A summary of your total donation
- Impact notes (when applicable)
What happens to gear that cannot be resold?
- Usable gear → donated to nonprofit partners
- Unusable gear → recycled or responsibly discarded
Are donations tax-deductible?
GearGive is a social enterprise, not a 501(c)(3), so we cannot issue tax receipts.
However:
If your drive supports a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and that nonprofit is willing to issue receipts, your donation may be tax-deductible through that organization.
We recommend checking with your chosen nonprofit.
Top Tips for a Great Gear Drive
- Keep your drive focused (1–2 weeks works best).
- Place bins in the busiest locations.
- Promote early & often.
- Get students and athletes involved.
- Highlight the impact (supporting kids + sustainability).
- Consider a permanent bin for ongoing, year-round collection.
