Guide to Organizing a Successful Collection or Donation Drive

Running a collection or donation drive sounds easy enough, right? You know what you’re collecting, who it’s for, and where it’s going. That’s it. You’ve got it. We can all go home now… Except not really.

As it turns out, there’s actually a lot more to it, from planning to prepping to actually running your drive. But don’t stress. Young people just like you have collected hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of items for their communities, and they’ve shared what works best. Here’s their advice for organizing a successful drive that makes a real impact.

Build a team! If movies have taught us anything, it’s that teams make the magic happen. In the same way you wouldn’t try to pull off a big project alone, you’ll want a solid group of friends, classmates, or family members to help bring your drive to life.

More hands and more minds mean more ideas, more reach, and more follow-through. If you’re not sure where to start, consider teaming up with a school club, sports team, faith-based group, or other local organization. When asking people to help, make sure you have at least a general idea of what you’re doing and what you’ll need from them.

Member tip: Assign roles early so everyone knows what they’re responsible for.

Helpful roles might include:

• A team leader
• Someone in charge of promotions
• Someone to manage donation bins and set-up
• A point person for questions or partnerships
• Someone who keeps morale high (snacks couldn’t hurt either)

Member tip: Set a goal and timeline.

What’s a team without a plan? Decide what success looks like for your drive. Maybe it’s collecting a certain number of items, filling a set number of bins, or running your drive for a specific amount of time.

Once you know your goal, put together a timeline for prepping and executing your drive. Give yourself enough time — a few weeks is usually a good starting point — and don’t be afraid to ask a teacher, administrator, or community leader for help planning. Work backwards from any hard deadlines so nothing sneaks up on you.

Where you host your drive matters. A LOT. Look for places with lots of foot traffic and people who are likely to care about the cause — like schools, community centers, places of worship, or local businesses.

Once you’ve picked a spot, reach out to the person in charge to ask for permission (that’s an important one). People are usually eager to help when you’re doing something that supports the community.

Pro Tip: Your school is often the easiest place to run a drive — start there if you can. Often, schools have offices that organize student affairs and activities. That team is generally receptive and willing to help!

Gather your supplies! Before your drive kicks off, make sure you have the basics ready:

• Donation boxes or bins
• Posters or signs
• Tape and simple art supplies

Having everything prepared ahead of time makes set-up smoother and less stressful.

Make your donation bins stand out. Your donations need a place to go, and a clearly labeled bin makes all the difference. Large cardboard boxes work great, and you can often find extras at grocery stores, home improvement stores or from friends who shop online a lot (bonus points for giving those boxes a second life).

Once you’ve got your bins, decorate them so people know exactly what they’re for. A creative, eye-catching bin explains the drive and draws people in. Well-decorated bins get noticed and get filled faster.

Be clear and specific about what you’re asking for. Should items be new, unused or gently used? Why do these items matter to the people receiving them?

Sharing the “why” helps donors feel connected to the impact they’re making.

All of your planning and prep won’t go far if nobody knows about your drive. Spread the word early and often using whatever tools you have:

• Social media
• Group chats
• Posters
• School announcements

Every message should clearly say what you’re collecting, where the drive is happening, and how long it will run.

Member Tip: Encourage people to post when they donate — positive peer pressure can be a powerful thing.

Motivate participation! We’d love to believe that goodwill alone is enough, but sometimes a little extra motivation helps. Incentives can make your drive more exciting and remind busy people to get involved.

Some ideas that have worked for DoSomething members include:

• Friendly competition between classes or groups
• Community service hours
• Small prizes or recognition

Just make sure it’s something you can actually follow through on.

Community members and local businesses are often happy to support a good cause. Reach out to see if they can donate prizes, help promote your drive, or offer other support. It’s a great way to build connections and make your impact even greater.

Once your drive is running, check your bins regularly. Empty them when they’re full, fix any damage, and make sure everything stays organized.

Don’t try to do it all yourself — lean on your team and rotate responsibilities.

Pro Tip: Donation items can be heavy. Plan ahead so no one feels like they’re carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders (both literally and figuratively).

If gathering in person isn’t possible, you can still run a successful drive. Try:

• Outdoor or front-yard drop-off bins
• Drive-by collection
• Scheduled pick-ups

Count and organize your haul! When your drive ends, count everything carefully (it helps to double-check with a friend or two). Organizing items by category can make drop-off easier for the organization receiving them.

Be sure to let your organization know you’re coming, especially if you collected a large amount. Coordinate transportation early so there are no last-minute surprises.

Report back and celebrate. Share your results with your community and what you accomplished together!

You can share your results here, too - for example, check out Choose Your Own Service Adventure. There, you can submit what you’ve done to earn community service credit and more.

Let everyone know how much was collected, where it’s going, and thank everyone who helped.

This step matters — it helps people feel proud of what they did and makes it easier for the next person to organize a drive. And who knows? Maybe this is just the start of your next big community project (maybe even the first of many)!