News
COVID-19 Update
Our offices and showroom are now open! We look forward to seeing you soon! The safety of our employees and members remains our top priority. We will continue to monitor local and regional guidelines for recommendations and best practices.Please note: In accordance with the City of Saint Louis, we require masks to be worn in…
Black Friday of Returns
It’s difficult to overstate just how drastically the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world of reverse logistics. The staggering increase in online shopping due to stay-at-home orders, combined with the inability to try out items in-store, caused the amount of returns to skyrocket almost immediately. According to the National Retail Federation, online returns more than…
Save Money and Change Lives by Donating Excess Inventory During COVID-19
Save Money and Change Lives by Donating Excess Inventory During COVID-19 How COVID-19 Has Affected the Economy The ripple effect of the COVID-19 global pandemic is difficult to wrap your mind around. “Shelter at home” requirements have not only caused a major shift in lifestyle for most Americans but instigated an economic downturn. Large gatherings…
Celebrate World Humanitarian Day the WIN Warehouse Way!
August has plenty of interesting holidays when you dig deep enough. International Lefthanders Day, World Cat Day, and National Friendship Day are just a few of the special days that dot the calendar this month. We at WIN Warehouse are ready to celebrate a truly important holiday on August 19 – World Humanitarian Day –…
WIN Warehouse Named Landmarks Association’s Most Enhanced 2019
ST. LOUIS – On May 23, WIN Warehouse, a St. Louis-area nonprofit organization working for other local nonprofits, was selected as a winner for the Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc.’s 23rd annual Most Enhanced Awards for excellence in historic rehabilitation. “WIN Warehouse is honored to receive this award from the Landmarks Association of St. Louis,”…
St. Louis Radio: 10th Annual Suit Drive
Tony DiFranco of WIN Warehouse, was recently interviewed on local St. Louis radio about the Men’s Wearhouse Suit Drive. He also tells a great story about a veteran who was able to return to work with the tools and clothing he needed thanks to WIN. What an awesome story. To listen to the interview, click here. …
Logistics Leaders in Action – An Interview with Fortna’s David Farmer
Fortna’s Logistics in Action At WIN, we get the privilege of meeting and talking with all kinds of interesting people in the world of logistics. Every time we speak with one of these leaders, we’re always blown away with their knowledge and insight. With that in mind, we wanted to share the wisdom we are…
Larson Financial Foundation
Challenge Larson Financial Foundation, headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., is a 501(c)(3) corporate foundation with the vision of empowering entrepreneurs and establishing sustainable business in communities of great need. The foundation strives to provide livable wages for refugees and immigrants as well as education for life skills. In 2015, John Peters, executive director at Larson Financial…
KMOV: 10th Annual Suit Drive
On Friday, August 11th, Fathers’ Support Center and Employment Connection visited WIN Warehouse to pick up suit donations that were collected during July as part of the Men’s Wearhouse 10th annual National Suit Drive. WIN Warehouse hopes it can help make a difference in the lives of hundreds around St. Louis. The charities receiving the…
ICYMI: WIN Hosted a Massive PPE Distribution Event
WIN Partners with St. Louis Community Foundation Last month, WIN Warehouse was fortunate enough to partner with St. Louis Community Foundation and the COVID-19 Regional Response Team to host a massive, two-day Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) distribution event for more than 50 organizations at WIN Warehouse. Community Impact Over the course of those two days, we’re proud to say that…
Fox 2: 10th Annual Suit Drive
ST. LOUIS – A little confidence can go a long way. Nothing boosts the ego like some fresh new threads. You can help better someones life just by giving them something to wear. More information: National Suit Drive
FM NewsTalk: 10th Annual Suit Drive
WIN Warehouse President Travis Laws was recently interviewed on the 97.1 radio show Today’s Issues with Kristi Carson. The two talked about WIN’s ongoing suit drive partnership with Men’s Wearhouse and the way that WIN is helping local nonprofits fill out their suit inventory to help people in St. Louis to get gently used suits and feel great about themselves. Click the audio link…
Can I Donate This?
Have you found yourself lately with a surplus of unused items eating up space in your warehouse? If this sounds like you, we’re happy to tell you that you can put your extra products to good use by donating them to WIN! But what sorts of inventory can you donate? This is the burning question…
Calling On Partners For Wins Million Dollar Toy Distribution
Who Can Partner With WIN? If you are a 501(c)3 organization/church or know of one, please consider a partnership with WIN to bring joy to children who need it the most this holiday season! Qualified organizations who apply will even obtain a free WIN membership if they don’t already have one. Visit toydeploy.org for more…
26 U.S. Code § 170(e)
26 U.S. Code § 170(e) – Charitable, etc., contributions and gifts Published by Cornell University Law School (3) Special rule for certain contributions of inventory and other property (A) Qualified contributions For purposes of this paragraph, a qualified contribution shall mean a charitable contribution of property described in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 1221 (a), by a corporation (other…
Room at the Inn
Shelter with a purpose, Clients with a future Room at the Inn is one of only three emergency shelter providers in the St. Louis County Continuum of Care. With this, they shelter more than two hundred individuals, half of them being children. Not only does Room at the Inn provide a sheltered space, they empower…
R3 Development
Empowering East St. Louis Youth R3 Development empowers the youth of East St. Louis with job opportunities to improve their economic futures. R3 recruits, trains, and employs these individuals through social enterprise efforts such as rehabilitating homes in the East St. Louis area. Dave Kuntz, Executive Director, leads with the heart, not only revitalizing dilapidated buildings,…
Harambee Youth Training
Member Spotlight: Harambee Youth Training Harambee Youth Training was started in 1996 to give job training and mentorship to a few men. At the time it was part of a small ministry but has grown to become its own separate 501(c)3 organization that provides training to at-risk urban youth to do work in landscaping, property maintenance, roofing…
Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue
Saving and Supporting Guinea Pigs Saskia Chiesa started Los Angeles Guinea Pig Rescue (LAGPR) in 1999, which is the largest guinea pig welfare organization in the United States. They are not only a no-kill, private shelter, but also offer services such as wellness checks, nail clips, and support for previously adopted guinea pigs. LAGPR has 200+ adoptable…
Mind of Christ Church
Mind of Christ Church Building Strong Networks Within the Community The 2020 Operation Toy Deploy – Million Dollar Toy Distribution was made successful by many different organizations that WIN Warehouse serves in the St. Louis region as well as across the country. Our goal was to partner with those who could help us get toys into the…
Bridgeton Toys for Tots
Bridgeton Toys for Tots WIN Warehouse is fortunate enough this holiday season to work with many outstanding nonprofit partners through our ongoing initiative, Operation Toy Deploy – Million Dollar Toy Distribution. This experience has allowed our partners to receive brand-new toys at a significantly reduced cost. One nonprofit in particular is Bridgeton Toys for Tots.…
Employment Connection
Member Spotlight: Employment Connection Employment Connection is a nonprofit St. Louis community asset that breaks down barriers to self-sufficiency for individuals with limited opportunities including the homeless, ex-offenders, U.S. veterans, high school dropouts, women on welfare, and at-risk youth. They offer help with GED/education, business clothing, transportation, mental health counseling, childcare, and vocational training. They’ve…
Bread of Life Pentecostal Apostolic Church
This year, WIN Warehouse was invited to participate in Toy Bank – a Toy Foundation program – and we knew just who to call… the Bread of Life Pentecostal Apostolic Church. The children who attended the “Holidays in Old North” event this December got a sweet surprise from Pastor Battle and his congregation. He organized…
Lake Williamson Christian Center
Lake Williamson Christian Center is a St. Louis-region retreat center for the Christian Retreats Network with a goal to “Serve one another in Love.” A longtime member at WIN Warehouse, Lake Williamson’s fulfilling mission is to joyfully honor God by offering hospitality and facilities that exceed expectations where their guests can be restored, renewed, and reconnected…
Fathers & Families Support Center
Twenty-two years ago Fathers’ Support Center and founder Halbert Sullivan began with a simple vision: transform fathers that were not present into nurturing parents. While the name first suited the organization, they have now stepped into their true potential and renamed the organization Fathers & Families Support Center. This new name now encapsulates the mission and…
Suit Distribution Drive
Each year a handful of our local St. Louis non-profit organizations spend the day receiving hundreds of gently used suits and professional attire items collected through the Annual Men’s Wearhouse Suit Drive held in July. On September 12th, our friends from Criminal Justice Ministry, Doorways, Employment Connection, Fathers & Families Support Center, Mission: St. Louis, Transition Center of St. Louis and VA St.…
Employment Connection Supports Veteran with Suit Donation
WIN Warehouse has partnered with Men’s Wearhouse for their Annual Suit Drive for the past 12 years. People donate gently-worn business attire to local Men’s Wearhouse locations during their annual suit drive, which WIN Warehouse then receives to distribute. WIN distributes these donations to social service organizations in the St. Louis area, providing those with…
Empowering Youth through the Greater Pentecostal Church of God
This summer, through the Greater Pentecostal Church of God, Pastor Terence Coleman teamed up with Pastor David Battle to host their first annual Carpenter’s Kids Camp. The goal of the week-long camp was to empower youth by building faith, skills, and character while learning a trade that is becoming less popular and not offered in schools…
Refab Salvages History, Retains Veterans, and Creates Jobs
St. Louis has a rich history that can be told best through the foundation, brick, and wood in buildings around the city. Eric Schwarz, the founder of Refab, sees the beauty in these structures as well as the sustainability in the raw materials that can be removed instead of destroyed. Not only is his heart in…
The Little Bit Foundation Supports Students Living in Poverty
Out of all the nonprofits in St. Louis, we believe our members are the most impactful ones in the surrounding community. In honor of that, we would like to recognize The Little Bit Foundation as another WIN Warehouse success story. The Little Bit Foundation is committed to breaking down barriers to learning for students living in poverty…
Landmarks Association Names WIN Warehouse Most Enhanced
We’ve got some wonderful news to share! In May 2019, our newly remodeled headquarters in North St. Louis was selected as a winner of Landmarks Association of St. Louis, Inc.’s Most Enhanced Awards. This is such a big honor for us, and we are beyond excited to receive this great award! What is the Landmarks Association…
Criminal Justice Ministry is Improving Our Communities
As a nonprofit, WIN Warehouse believes that a mission-minded organization can and will make a difference. That’s why we’re recognizing Criminal Justice Ministry (CJM), who have been WIN members since May 2018, as a success story. CJM’s mission is to improve our communities by supporting and empowering those impacted by incarceration. A leader of the…
Mission: St. Louis Empowers People Through Programs
As important contributors to the St. Louis nonprofit community, WIN Warehouse members all have values that can be found in their respective mission statements. While each and every member is unique, we’d like to highlight one in particular who aims to empower people to transform their lives, families, and neighborhoods. They are known as Mission: St.…
WIN Grand Reopening – Our New Space
BOOM! WIN Warehouse has officially hosted its grand reopening after important renovations were made to our current location in North St. Louis. In case you missed it, WIN held an open house for our members, including nonprofit organizations, schools, and churches. What’s new? Since 1992, WIN has been located on San Francisco Ave., working with…
Bible Impact Ministries Promotes Spiritual Growth and Leadership
When are nonprofits able to make an impact? Well to start, the word “impact” means to have a strong effect on someone or something. That explains why nonprofits are constantly working for people and their communities. They even make an impact when it’s simply for one person. WIN is proud to work with all kinds…
The St. Louis Crisis Nursery is Protecting the Future: Our Children
They say that it takes a village to raise a child into a strong, confident adult. Family members, friends, teachers, coaches, and group leaders all play their part in this process. It also takes more than one person to help prevent child abuse and neglect. A chorus of proactive voices, experts in a variety of…
Our Toy Distribution Event Helped Spread More Joy This Year!
This time of the year is made of magic. Children everywhere look forward to hearing reindeer hoofs click quietly atop their houses, finding cookie crumbs and an empty glass of milk on the table, and waking up to beautifully wrapped presents with their names on it. Their joy radiates as brightly as the Christmas lights…
FACC Is Changing Local Children’s Lives
When we think back to the days of our youth, we probably recall happy memories growing up within a caring family, playing with our favorite toys, and going on fun adventures with our best friends. Of course, no family is perfect, but most of us are truly fortunate to have the childhood that we had.…
WIN Warehouse Gets Up Close and Personal with Central Print!
If you’re a nonprofit member of ours and you’ve received a unique card in the mail from your friends at WIN Warehouse, well… we’ve got quite a story for you, and it involves one of our other members, Central Print. Let’s give you a little backstory first. If you aren’t familiar with them, Central Print is…
See How DaySpring School of the Arts is Molding Young Lives!
Let’s face it – art makes the world a better place. Gazing at a gorgeous painting or taking in an intricate drawing can evoke an array of emotions within us. Creating art, whether it’s adding the perfect hues to a coloring book or singing in the chorus of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, can give us…
Ethnos360
Nothing makes us happier than supporting non-profits who are truly passionate about what they do. We love being able to make a difference for these incredible organizations and become part of their stories as they change the world around us for the better. This time, we are proud to spotlight a fantastic nonprofit organization that…
Wings of Hope: A Story of Local and Global Success!
If you know anything about WIN Warehouse, you know that we are passionate about helping others. We truly believe that everyone can make a difference and the way we serve others will inspire those around us to make the world a better place as well. We work hard to fulfill this vision by connecting nonprofits…
Celebrate World Humanitarian Day the WIN Warehouse Way!
August has plenty of interesting holidays when you dig deep enough. International Lefthanders Day, World Cat Day, and National Friendship Day are just a few of the special days that dot the calendar this month. We at WIN Warehouse are ready to celebrate a truly important holiday on August 19 – World Humanitarian Day –…
Ask WIN: Can I Donate This?
Have you found yourself lately with a surplus of unused items eating up space in your warehouse? If this sounds like you, we’re happy to tell you that you can put your extra products to good use by donating them to WIN! But what sorts of inventory can you donate? This is the burning question…
4 Reasons to Should Try Fundraising Text Campaigns
As a nonprofit, you’ve undoubtedly scouted for the most effective ways to raise funds for your programs. While you may have relied on emails, direct mail, and even phone-a-thons to help you reach your goals, there’s one major market you may be missing: mobile giving. Even though texting has been around for more than a…
3 Unexpected Donor Savings
It’s happening. Little by little, you’ve begun noticing certain items adding up. Unused tables and chairs begin eating up space in the storeroom. Items that didn’t sell as well as you thought they would are strewn on shelves in the back. Before you know it, you have an abundance of products that you don’t need…
Toys & Games by the Pallet
Nonprofit organizations can order brand new toys and games in time for the holidays ST. LOUIS, MO (Nov. 7, 2017) – WIN Warehouse, a public charity that connects nonprofit organizations with corporate excess inventory, announces that member organizations can now receive toys and games by the pallet. The pallets include games, puzzles, arts and crafts,…
Men’s Wearhouse 10th Annual Suit Drive
WIN Warehouse and Men’s Wearhouse Encourage St. Louis Area Residents to Donate Gently Used Professional Attire to Benefit Unemployed Americans in Need LOUIS, MO (June 27th, 2017) – WIN Warehouse, a public charity the connects nonprofit organizations with corporate excess inventory, is partnering with Men’s Wearhouse to launch its 10th annual National Suit Drive, a…
New Bulk Ordering Program
LOUIS, MO (Oct. 19, 2017) – WIN Warehouse, a public charity that connects nonprofit organizations with corporate excess inventory, recently launched its new bulk ordering program. The type of inventory available in the bulk ordering program includes paper products, safety products, safety shoes and boots, and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products. “Many of our…
Fox 2: Bulk Ordering Program
Tony DiFranco was recently interviewed on Fox 2 in St. Louis about WIN Warehouse’s new bulk ordering program. This program allows nonprofit members to order large quantities of paper products, safety products, MRO products, and safety shoes/boots. Now nonprofits can save up to 99% off retail prices by ordering products by the pallet or truckload.…
The Impact of Reverse Logistics
This article originally appeared in Supply Chain Technology News. Click Here to access the original article. The retail industry faces a growing challenge in managing the billions of products consumers return every year. These returns can result in both financial losses as well as potential negative environmental impact such as waste. With the increase in…
Online Catalog Benefits
This article was written by WIN’s President, Travis Laws, and originally published on Nonprofit Technology News. Every company that sells merchandise must address excess inventory from time to time. These products often exist because of overproduction or discontinuance, and determining what to do with this excess inventory is a constant struggle. Non-moving inventory is not…
Grapevine Faith Christian School
Challenge Grapevine Faith Christian School, located in Grapevine, Texas, is a private Christian school serving an average of 785 students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. In Spring 2017, Andy Beene, director of facilities at Grapevine Faith Christian School, needed several items for the maintenance and facilities department. As an example, Beene needed to either replace…
Men’s Wearhouse 10th Annual Suit Drive 2
Background WIN Warehouse, a public charity that connects nonprofit organizations with corporate excess inventory, partnered with Men’s Wearhouse for the 10th Annual National Suit Drive: a month-long initiative to collect gently-used professional clothing for Americans transitioning back into the workforce. Challenge Several St. Louis area nonprofits assist individuals in need including homeless, ex-offenders, US veterans, and…
East Islip UFSD
Background East Islip Union Free School District is located in Suffolk County, New York and educates kindergarteners through high school seniors. Problem In 2014, Eric Woellhof, Plant Facilities Administrator, needed to purchase updated machines along with other maintenance supplies to preserve and clean the educational facilities with a limited budget. Unfortunately, this task was more…
Men’s Wearhouse Launches 10th Annual Suit Drive
MEN’S WEARHOUSE LAUNCHES 10TH ANNUAL NATIONAL SUIT DRIVE WIN Warehouse and Men’s Wearhouse Encourage St. Louis Area Residents to Donate Gently Used Professional Attire to Benefit Unemployed Americans in Need WIN Warehouse, a public charity the connects nonprofit organizations with corporate excess inventory, is partnering with Men’s Wearhouse to launch its 10th annual National Suit…
Crain’s St. Louis: Travis Laws
The Mistake: Being too cautious with overhead spending. Nonprofit leaders were often concerned in the past with overhead ratios and what they were spending on program versus administration and fundraising costs. That’s something that, up until a few years ago, was the primary measure of how efficiently an organization was running. I bought into that…
The Academy of St. Louis
Challenge Now in its 14th year of operation, The Academy of St. Louis assists K-12th grade students with cognitive learning disabilities, specializing in students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and developmental delays. The organization provides students with a safe and nurturing environment, individualized and challenging curriculum, social integration skills and faith formation. The Academy aids each…
IRS Updates Nonprofit Filing Form
Anyone who has ever been involved in filing for nonprofit status with the IRS knows that the process can be exasperating. Indeed, filing often requires the guidance of tax attorneys who specialize in the nonprofit sector. As of July 1, the IRS is trying to streamline that process with a simpler form. According to the…
The Cost of Business
No one is in business to lose money. Even so, disposal of excess and obsolete inventory is often part of the cost of business. Companies work hard to minimize these losses. A few of these companies have figured out that while there are many strategies for reducing this waste, there is a way to potentially…
Our Story
Clinton Laws had a passion for helping people. Faith and Family were always at the center of his life, but he also made it a priority to volunteer for causes close to his heart. After an early retirement from Western Union, Clinton enjoyed a successful second career as a fundraiser and not-for-profit executive. Through his…