Have you ever wondered why your library collects donations of used stamps? Or maybe you\u2019ve seen a charity\u2019s name on a stamp attached to a mailed holiday card? This is very common across the world, which leaves many wondering how charities make money from stamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charities make money from stamps by collecting donations of used stamps and selling them on to dealers. As well as this, many charities have historically released their own stamp designs, with profits of the sales going to their cause.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The amount of money to be made this way depends on many factors, and changes in the usage of traditional postage raise doubts over whether this is still a worthwhile fundraising option. Below, we discuss where the funds come from, and how stamps can be used to spread awareness for charities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The collection of used postage stamps is a profitable and simple method of fundraising <\/strong>which many charities use each year, to raise all-important money to support their cause. From common, everyday definitives to rarer collectibles, both domestic and international, all stamps are usually donatable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, once the charities receive these generous donations from <\/strong>the public, how are they used to make money?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once a charity accumulates a sizeable amount of donated postage stamps, they can sell them on to either dealers <\/strong>-who look to purchase these kinds of lots for various purposes which we will look at later – or directly to stamp collectors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is done by selling in bulk as a kiloware<\/strong> \u2013 a term for lot packages of stamps sold for a price based on weight, rather than by quantity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Across the world, millions of dollars have been made from the sales of stamps, by charities all across the world. As one of the biggest charities known for stamp collecting in the UK, the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)raises between \u00a310,000 and \u00a320,000 per year<\/strong> by using this means of fundraising \u2013 an impressive amount by any means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all charities are as forthcoming in publishing figures related to specific lines on fundraising income. However, it is safe to say that stamps do, in fact, have the potential to raise a modest sum for charities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On average, a kiloware of stamps fetches between \u00a35 and \u00a315 <\/strong>in the UK, or around $7 to $20<\/strong>, depending on the assortment it contains, and the dealer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it is difficult to quantify exactly how much money is to be made from this kind of fundraising, as there are many variables to consider<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For instance, different dealers will offer different prices and have varying regulations on what they accept and, of course, all stamps have different values to different collectors<\/strong>. Some may say that postmarks and stamp cancellations add value to a stamp, however this depends on what a collector is specifically looking for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another point to consider is that some dealers may value more modern stamps highly<\/strong>, since they would likely be in higher demand at the time. However, other collectors may prefer older, rarer stamps to add to their albums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These differences in preference highlight why it is most efficient, cost-effective and easier <\/strong>for charities to opt to sell their donations as a kiloware,rather than sorting through the stamps and having each one valued individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, the possibility of raising funds through stamp collecting is wholly dependent on having enough stamps donated to sell. In 1962, the BBC UK children\u2019s television show Blue Peter <\/strong>hosted a stamp appeal to help the homeless, and more than 928 million stamps <\/strong>were sent in. This goal may be slightly less achievable today, but the figure offers encouragement that high targets can be reached!<\/p>\n\n\n\n One would be forgiven for assuming that a large assortment of duplicated, domestic definitive stamps may not attract a lot of interest among dealers. Yet, it is true that a bulk of these can actually fetch a worthwhile sum for charities<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if dealers are unable to sell common or lesser-quality stamps to philatelic collectors, a demand for them can still be found in other circles, such as manufacturing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The arts and crafts business <\/strong>is also one which dealers may sell stamp donations on to, to be used for limitless creative possibilities. For instance, large canvas images can be created using lots of repurposed stamps arranged as pixels. Hundreds, if not thousands, of stamps would be needed to complete a project like this, and the final results are always impressive!<\/p>\n\n\n\n One significant drawback to this kind of fundraising is that the usage of stamps for postage has decreased <\/strong>over recent years, with many people opting for electronic means of correspondence over the traditional option of snail-mail. This, of course, is a factor which affects all areas of philatelic activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a way to combat this and still ensure sufficient funds are raised, charities may supplement their stamp collection efforts by also requesting donations of other collectible items, such as foreign currency, postcards, or cigarette cards<\/strong>.These would be sold on to dealers in a similar way to stamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Although the rise of text messaging and email <\/strong>may mean that stamp collections take longer to build up, these efforts remain worthwhile for charities, and we hope to see this unique method of fundraising last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It couldn\u2019t be easier to send used stamps to charity, and make a worthwhile donation that will cost you virtually nothing<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n First of all, pick out the charity you would like to support. There are lots to choose from, supporting great causes such as child welfare, medical research, hospice care, wildlife preservation<\/strong>, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next step is to prepare your stamps for donating. It is always worth checking with your chosen charity for any specific requirements <\/strong>they may have before you begin. For instance, some charities may require the stamps to already have been sorted by type, whilst others may not be able to accept certain stamps in their donations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most charities require any donated stamps to be trimmed<\/strong>,usually between 5mm to 10mm (but again, this is worth checking).A larger margin may add weight to a bulk collection of donations,so charities could run the risk of their lot being refused for sale <\/strong>by the dealer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because stamps are valued in bulk, some dealers may even be particularly attentive in looking for instances where both sides of an envelope may be left attached to the stamp, effectively doubling its weight<\/strong>. You may even find it can be surprisingly therapeutic <\/strong>to trim stamps from their envelopes, and it will save charity volunteers lots of precious time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, collectors may soak used stamps off their envelopes<\/strong>. Although this may make the stamps look more aesthetically pleasing in albums, it is absolutely not necessary to do this when making charity donations, as it may run the risk of damaging the stamp<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once your stamps are trimmed and ready to go, package them up and send them off! Most charities will have a specific address to post stamp donations to, usually at a cost to the sender<\/strong>. However, some charities will send out prepaid envelopes<\/strong> for larger donations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many charities can offer downloadable posters or even stamp donation boxes<\/strong> to help display supporters\u2019 collection efforts. If you work in a busy office or a public space such as a school or library, have a look online or reach out to charities directly for supplies available to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help with collecting, why not host a stamp drive<\/strong>? A good idea would be to host this during the period from December to January, when people will likely have a good collection of stamps from their Christmas cards. Alternatively, try reaching out to local businesses who are likely to receive a lot of international mail, to increase variation amongst your collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another suggestion for a stamp drive would be to host it during the summer vacation season<\/strong>, when supporters can collect stamps when visiting friends and family abroad, or even by sending postcards back home from their travels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Occasionally, charities may receive very generous donations of completed stamp albums or collections <\/strong>from philatelists, or from their families as alegacy donation. Rather than disassembling the albums and packaging the stamps up as a kiloware, it is more likely for charities to opt to sell this kind of collection as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As well as having physical charity shops, a lot of charities may also have online stores<\/strong> to resell retail donations. Many charities also utilize online marketplace sites such as eBay, which would help bring in the best profits for valuable collectables such as stamp albums, as they would be searchable by collectors directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It isn\u2019t just the reselling of used stamps which helps raise vital funds for charities. Often, bespoke stamps are created either by charities or with causes in mind<\/strong>,with a portion of all sales going straight to the cause. You may have seen charity stamps or charity labels adorning mail around holiday seasons, but are they also an effective and profitable means of fundraising for charities?<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow Charities Raise Money From Stamp Donations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Post To Pennies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Much Money Can Be Made?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Potential Drawbacks To Consider<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Trash To Treasure?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
But Are Stamps The Best Way To Fundraise?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How To Donate Your Used Stamps To Charity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Preparing Stamp Donations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Community Collecting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Donations Of Collections Or Albums<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How Charities Make Money From Charity Stamps And Labels<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Charity Stamps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n