Donation FAQs

COVID19 Update

Story of Stuff staff are working remotely away from our office for the duration of the COVID19 pandemic. At this moment, we welcome check donations but strongly prefer online donations. Because we are working remote, our ability to respond to phone calls is limited. If you have additional questions that are not answered here, please email us at [email protected] where your question will be answered by one of our staff within a few business days.

How do I make a donation?

We offer a number of ways to donate, and welcome you to choose the way that is easiest for you. Many people like to use our secure, encrypted, and easy-to-use online donation form (note that we accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards). Here you can make a one time donation or sign up to be a monthly donor.

For donations via check, please make your check payable to “The Story of Stuff Project,” and mail to our address below:

The Story of Stuff Project
1442 A Walnut Street, #272
Berkeley, CA 94709 USA

The Story of Stuff Project also accepts donations of stocks and mutual funds. The process is simple and tax-deductible. If you are interested in making a stock donation, please contact our Development Manager, Smruti Aravind at [email protected].

Is my donation tax deductible?

Yes, the donation is tax deductible and you can include it as part of your charitable giving on your tax return. Because every person’s financial situation is different, whether you actually receive a tax deduction from the government depends on your own circumstances and a variety of factors. The Story of Stuff Project is a 501(c)3 organization and the statement we list on our thank you letters [this donation is tax deductible to the extent allowable by law in the United States] is accurate and follows nonprofit best practices.

I need a copy of your IRS determination letter or form W9.

Here is a link to our official IRS determination letter showing our nonprofit status and our form W9. Our federal employment identification number (FEIN) is 46-4334785. If you would like to make a gift via wire transfer, please contact [email protected].

I’d like to become a monthly donor. How do I do that?

Visit use our secure, encrypted, and easy-to-use online donation form to set up a monthly contribution. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards.

I’m already a monthly donor. How do I adjust the amount of my donation, update my address, or cancel my monthly donation?

If you need to adjust the amount, update your address, or cancel your monthly donation, visit this login page (https://action.storyofstuff.org/login/?next=/cms/pledge/update) and enter your username and password. If this is your first time, just click “Never logged in before” and follow the instructions. Feel free to email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or need further assistance.

Can I start a fundraiser for The Story of Stuff Project on Facebook?

Yes, you can! Facebook makes it easy for you, your friends, family, and community to support our work – just click the link to get started.

I’d like to include The Story of Stuff project in my will. What’s the best way to do this?

Thank you for thinking of us! The Story of Stuff Project is small and does not have a formal planned giving program at this time. However, if you would like to include us in your will, the best thing to do is consult with an estate planning professional or attorney. You can also check out this useful resource from Fidelity Charitable on bequests and how to include nonprofits in your will or trust.

Do you accept corporate matching donations?

Yes, we do. We encourage you to check in with your employer about the matching programs available at your specific company.

Do you accept donations through third party platforms like Benevity?

Yes. We accept donations through many third party platforms, including Benevity, YourCause, Fidelity, Schwab Charitable, America’s Charities, PayPal Give, Amazon Smile, Facebook and Network for Good.

Can I make a donation in another currency or do you only accept U.S. dollars?

If you use your credit card, it will automatically convert to dollars. You might want to check with your credit card company about any fees for conversion. Here is a nifty currency calculator so you can see how many dollars you’d like to give (and here’s a second converter!). If you would like to make a large gift ($1000+) we can arrange for wire transfer.

I tried to make a donation but it doesn’t seem to have gone through. What happened?

If you were unable to complete your donation, here are a few things that may have caused the problem:

Using a credit card other than a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. We currently only accept payment made with these three credit cards, or through PayPal.
Not filling out all of your personal information in the online form before submitting it.

If you continue to experience problems with the online form, you can make a donation by calling us at 510-883-1055, or mail a check to:

The Story of Stuff Project
1442 Walnut Street #272
Berkeley, CA 94709

I’d like to see your budget before I donate. Where is this available?

The Story of Stuff Project is a 501(c)3 nonprofit registered in the state of California. We deeply value our donors and operate according to values of transparency, accountability, and impact while following nonprofit management best practices.

One of the best ways to learn more about our finances and operations is to use the leading third party charity database www.Guidestar.org. Please visit our profile page to access our IRS 990 filings, see our financial information, and learn more about our programs.

Are you a faith-based organization?

No, we are a nondenominational/nonsectarian organization. However, people of faith use our resources often (see the faith curriculum on our site) and find it fits well with their beliefs about stewardship of the earth’s natural resources.

We are a U.S based charitable organization, EIN # 46-4334785 registered with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as The Story of Stuff Project. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law in the United States.

Where can I find a tax receipt for my donation?

The “thank you” email you received upon donation is valid as a tax receipt.