A shared responsibility, supporting program sustainability and dignity access.
How Shared Program Cost Works
Together, We Make Dignity Possible
At The Undie Chest, our mission is simple: to ensure everyone has access to something many of us take for granted — new, clean underwear.
To continue meeting that need and expanding our impact, we’ve introduced a Shared Program Cost model. This approach ensures our program remains sustainable, equitable, and accessible to every organization that partners with us.
The Why
A Letter from Our Founder and Executive Director — Elaine Birks-Mitchell
Since 2021, The Undie Chest has partnered with schools, shelters, and community organizations to provide new underwear to individuals and families in need.
We’re a relatively young nonprofit, but our foundation is built on more than 15 years of giving through The Bra Recyclers, which I founded in 2009. Through that work, we’ve collaborated with retailers to responsibly recycle overstock and returned bras — helping support families in need around the world.
Over the years, I’ve witnessed how one simple item — clean underwear — can impact confidence, health, and dignity. I’ve also seen how difficult it is for nonprofits to secure consistent funding and reliable access to essential items.
To meet those needs — and to serve even more organizations — we’re introducing a Shared Program Cost model that promotes sustainability, collaboration, and growth.
— Elaine Birks-Mitchell
Founder & Executive Director, The Undie Chest
What People Are Saying
“I can’t descibe how much I appreciate having fresh, clean underwear. When you’re homeless, you often don’t have access to laundry or ways to get new underwear.”
— Anonymous Client, New Beginnings
“I don’t have to make excuses to skip school anymore. I feel like I can focus on my classes and my future.”
— Jasmine, Client at Kabod House International
What Is a Shared Program Cost?
A Shared Program Cost is a small contribution from each participating nonprofit whenever they request an underwear donation.
This isn’t a fee or purchase — it’s a shared investment in keeping the program strong and accessible for all.
How It Works
Each time a partner requests an underwear donation, a Shared Program Cost is applied.
This contribution helps us continue delivering new underwear to those who need it most — reliably, fairly, and with dignity.
Your Shared Program Cost Helps To:
-
🧺 Keep Operations Flowing
Supports the behind-the-scenes work of processing, packaging, and distributing new underwear to our partners.
-
📦 Expand Our Reach
Allows us to grow our inventory and increase the number of nonprofits we can serve each year.
-
⚖️ Promote Fair Access
Ensures the program remains equitable, so all organizations — large and small — can continue benefiting from donations.
Shipping Costs Remain Separate:
-
🚗 Local Pickups:
Partners who pick up their donations directly won’t have any shipping costs. We’re always happy to coordinate an easy pickup time at our location.
-
📦 Shipped Donations:
For partners requesting shipment, we kindly ask that you cover the shipping cost. This helps us keep the program fair and sustainable for everyone.
-
💌 Using a Give Back Box Label:
If you have a Give Back Box account, you can purchase a label (good for up to 50 lbs) and email it to us. We’ll place it on your package to make shipping quick and affordable.
Why This Benefits Everyone
This shift isn’t about adding a financial barrier — it’s about building a sustainable partnership that keeps dignity essentials flowing year after year.
By sharing in the program cost, our partners gain a reliable, consistent source of new underwear for their communities.
In turn, The Undie Chest can operate efficiently, reach more nonprofits, and remain resilient through changing funding cycles.
Together, we’re creating a shared-impact system — one where we help each other help others.
Talking to Your Leadership or Board
If you need to present this new model to your team, here are a few ways to frame it:
A. Mission-Aligned Partnership:
“This isn’t a purchase — it’s a Shared Program Cost that sustains the underwear donation program we rely on to meet our clients’ essential needs.”
C. Connect It to Outcomes:
“For a modest shared program cost, we can offer our clients high-quality, new underwear — something most nonprofits can’t easily source or store on their own.”
E. Reinforce Collective Impact:
“This partnership allows us to help each other help others — creating a community of care that extends far beyond our walls.”
B. Emphasize Sustainability:
“By sharing this cost, we’re ensuring The Undie Chest can continue providing new underwear to our organization — and others — for years to come.”
D. Add It to the Budget:
“Let’s include this as a Program Support Expense or Shared Program Cost in our annual budget — a predictable, mission-aligned investment tied directly to client dignity.”
FAQs
-
-The following organizations qualify to receive donations:
-If you are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and have completed our application form and been approved
-Your organization cannot be:
Individual, including crowdfunding or GoFundMe pages
Political organizations
Religion/religiously affiliated organizations
-
You must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
You must have completed the donation request application.
We must receive your IRA 501 (c) (3) letter.
After the application is approved, you can let us know how many boxes you would like to request. On average the boxes weigh about 20-25 lbs.
A pledge/invoice will be sent to you.
Once payment is received and shipping has been arranged, the donation box will be sent. Please allow 10 business days, depending on order volume and inventory availability.
**Please note: We cannot reserve items It is a first-come, first-served based on available inventory.
-
No. The Shared Program Cost is applied only when your organization requests a donation of new underwear.
-
It reflects the administrative and logistical expenses associated with fulfilling your request.
Each participating nonprofit will contribute a Shared Program Cost each time they request an underwear donation.
The shared program cost:
Covers the administrative and operational costs of processing, packaging, and distributing underwear.
Allows us to expand the number of nonprofits we can support by increasing our inventory capacity.
Helps maintain fairness and access to this essential program for all partner organizations.
Shipping costs remains separate as it is now for donations.
Local partners who pick up their donations directly will not incur shipping costs.
Partners requesting items to be shipped will cover the actual shipping expense.
If you have a Give Back Box account, you can purchase a label(s) and send it to us to place on the box. Give Back Box labels let you ship up to 50 lbs. per label.
**Note: Shared project cost does not reflect the value of the items.
-
The current range is $75-$95. The range varies based on the type of items and the costs associated with fulfilling the donation, e.g., shipping, sorting, etc.
-
Shipping costs are separate and only apply if delivery is required.
Local partners who pick up directly do not pay for shipping.
Note: If you are signed up with Give Back Box, then you can purchase a label from your account and send it to us.
-
Yes, shared program cost could fluctuate based on an increase in inflation, shipping costs, and other operational expenses. Our goal is not to increase the price by more than 3-5% each year.
-
We understand that every nonprofit’s situation is unique. Some ideas to cover the cost include holding a fundraiser, partnering with another nonprofit that is seeking underwear to help cover the cost, and including the shared program cost in grant proposals.
-
It ensures a sustainable, reliable program for accessing new underwear while expanding The Undie Chest’s ability to serve more nonprofits and families.
-
There is no minimum, but it is based on the availability of inventory. It is first-come, first-served. We cannot reserve or hold items.
-
No, the boxes will be pre-packed. Our goal is to provide a variety of sizes.
Please note that sizes may vary depending on what we have received from our partners.
We highly encourage you to share any sizes you cannot use with other organizations in your community.
-
The number of items will vary based on the product, product sizes, and the availability of inventory. For example, a box of bras will, on average, contain 50 bras in a variety of sizes. Men’s boxers, on average, will have an average quantity of 100 items, and women’s underwear will have an average of up to 150.
Quantities will be preset based on what has been packed in the boxes.
-
Item descYes, we will not ship the donation until we have received the shared program cost and the label for shipping.
Use Shippo to estimate your shipping cost. Enter this as the ‘from’ address:
The Undie Chest
5750 S Power Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85295
Contact: Elaine Birks-Mitchell
Email: contactus@undiechest.org
-
Shipping cost will vary based on your location. We recommend services like Shippo that offer a range of shipping rates across carriers. But you can use whatever shipping carrier you choose.
We will give you the box’s weight and dimensions. When you get your shipping label, just email it to contactus@brarecycling.com.
If you are ordering 20-30 boxes (if available), we recommend shipping on a pallet and arranging a pickup with a freight company. If you do not have a freight company, we can make a recommendation.
If you are part of Give Back Box, then you can purchase a label for $20 and ship up to 50 lbs. You will need to contact Give Back Box, if you have questions about signing up or issues getting labels.
Join Us in Sustaining Dignity Access
When we share the responsibility, we share the impact.
Together, we can ensure that every person — no matter their circumstance — has access to one of life’s most basic essentials.