A practical partnership that helps nonprofits access new essential undergarments while supporting the work required to prepare and fulfill each request.
How Shared Program Cost Works
Together, We Make Dignity Possible
The Undie Chest helps approved nonprofit partners provide new, clean undergarments to individuals and families experiencing need.
Through the Shared Program Cost, your organization gains access to a managed source of essential products without having to independently source, sort, package, and coordinate the merchandise.
The contribution supports the administrative and operational work required to prepare each request and helps maintain the program's availability to community partners over time.
The Why
A Letter from Our Founder and Executive Director — Elaine Birks-Mitchell
Since 2021, The Undie Chest has worked alongside schools, shelters, and community organizations to help provide new, clean undergarments to individuals and families experiencing need.
The Shared Program Cost was created to help us continue that work through a practical partnership model—one that gives nonprofit organizations access to essential products while supporting the preparation, coordination, and fulfillment required for each request.
— Elaine Birks-Mitchell
Founder & Executive Director, The Undie Chest
Why Access Matters
“I don’t have to make excuses to skip school anymore. I feel like I can focus on my classes and my future.”
“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.”
What Is a Shared Program Cost?
A Shared Program Cost is a one-time program-support contribution applied when an approved organization requests available products from The Undie Chest.
It supports the administrative and operational work required to coordinate, prepare, package, document, and fulfill each request.
The contribution is not based on the retail value of the donated merchandise, and it is not a membership or recurring monthly fee. Shipping or freight is separate.
What Your Shared Cost Supports
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Prepare Each Request
Supports the coordination, processing, packaging, documentation, and fulfillment required to prepare products for nonprofit partners.
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Strengthen Program Capacity
Helps The Undie Chest maintain the operational capacity needed to serve nonprofit and community partners over time.
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Support Fair Access
Helps us manage available inventory responsibly so organizations of different sizes have an opportunity to participate.
Shipping and Local Pickup
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Local Pickup
Local organizations may arrange pickup by appointment and will not incur shipping costs.
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Shipping and Freight
Shipping or freight is separate from the Shared Program Cost. Your organization may provide its own shipping label, or The Undie Chest can identify a cost-effective shipping option and include the charge in your pledge. Larger requests may require freight arrangements.
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:
Mission-Aligned Partnership
“The Shared Program Cost supports access to new essential undergarments through a managed partnership that helps us meet participant needs.”
Connect It to Outcomes
“This partnership helps us provide new, clean undergarments that support comfort, confidence, hygiene, and dignity for the people we serve.”
Add It to the Budget
“We can include this as a program support expense, essential-needs expense, or another classification that aligns with our organization’s accounting policies.”
Explain the Practical Value
“Partnering with The Undie Chest reduces the time and effort required to independently source, sort, package, and coordinate these essential products.”
Plan for the Full Request
“Our budget should include both the Shared Program Cost and any applicable shipping or freight.”
Take the Next Step With the Board & Funding Toolkit
Getting approval or securing funding can feel like another hurdle when your organization is already focused on meeting urgent needs.
The Undie Chest Board & Funding Toolkit gives you practical, ready-to-adapt resources to help you:
Explain the Shared Program Cost to leadership
Prepare a budget request
Seek grant or sponsor support
launch a community fundraising campaign
Report the impact after distribution
Please contact The Undie Chest before launching a campaign or finalizing a funding request so current availability, estimated costs, and fulfillment options can be discussed.
FAQs
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Eligible organizations must:
Be a recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Complete The Undie Chest application
Provide the required documentation
Receive approval before requesting products
At this time, we are unable to provide donations to:
Individuals, crowdfunding campaigns, or GoFundMe pages
Political organizations
Faith-based or religiously affiliated organizations
Some of the products we distribute are provided through corporate partnerships that include restrictions on donations to faith-based organizations. We appreciate your understanding.
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Your organization must be an eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit and complete The Undie Chest donation request application.
We must receive a copy of your organization’s IRS determination letter.
Once your application is approved, we will contact you to discuss current product availability and the quantity your organization would like to request. Request quantities are reviewed to help maintain fair access across our nonprofit and community partners. Larger requests may be adjusted or fulfilled in phases.
We will send an invoice for the applicable Shared Program Cost.
Once payment is received and shipping or pickup arrangements are confirmed, we will prepare your request. Please allow up to 10 business days, depending on request volume and available inventory.
Please note: Products are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved until payment and fulfillment arrangements are complete.
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No. The Shared Program Cost is applied only when your organization requests and is approved to receive available products. It is not a membership fee, subscription, or recurring monthly charge.
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The Shared Program Cost is based on the product category, the quantity included in each prepacked box, and the administrative and fulfillment work required to prepare the request.
It supports activities such as processing, sorting, packaging, recordkeeping, coordination, and distribution.
The Shared Program Cost does not reflect the retail value of the donated products. Shipping or freight is separate.
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Shared Program Costs vary based on the product category, the quantity included in each prepacked box, and current fulfillment requirements.
Based on current product offerings, the contribution generally works out to approximately $0.50–$1.50 per item. Available products, quantities, and the exact Shared Program Cost will be confirmed before your organization approves the request.
Shipping or freight is separate. Shared Program Costs are reviewed periodically and may change based on product availability, quantities, and operating expenses.
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No. Shipping or freight is separate from the Shared Program Cost.
Your organization may provide its own shipping label, or The Undie Chest can identify a cost-effective shipping option and include the shipping charge on your invoice.
Local organizations may arrange pickup by appointment. Larger requests may require freight arrangements.
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We understand that nonprofit budgets can be limited. Organizations may consider using grants, sponsorships, board-designated funds, program budgets, or community fundraising to support the Shared Program Cost and shipping.
Funding assistance is not guaranteed, and products cannot be reserved while funding is being secured.
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It ensures a sustainable, reliable program for accessing new underwear while expanding The Undie Chest’s ability to serve more nonprofits and families.
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The number of boxes available for each request depends on current inventory, product category, community need, and our ability to serve multiple partner organizations. Larger requests may require additional review and may be fulfilled in phases. Product availability is not guaranteed, and inventory cannot be held until payment and fulfillment arrangements are complete.
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Products are provided in assorted sizes based on available inventory. We are not able to guarantee specific colors, styles, brands, or exact size quantities.
When possible, we will consider general product needs or size ranges shared in your request, but all fulfillment depends on current inventory.
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Quantities vary by product category, packaging, and available inventory. Boxes are prepacked and generally include assorted sizes.
The current quantity, available product category, and applicable Shared Program Cost will be confirmed before your organization approves the request.
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The Shared Program Cost gives approved organizations access to a managed source of new essential undergarments without having to independently source, purchase, sort, package, and coordinate the products.
It also helps The Undie Chest maintain the administrative and operational capacity needed to prepare requests, support multiple community partners, and continue offering the program over time.
The result is a practical partnership that helps organizations serve participants with greater consistency, dignity, and care.
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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 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.
Ready to Explore a Partnership?
Contact The Undie Chest to discuss your organization’s needs, current product availability, the applicable Shared Program Cost, and next steps.