GiveBackBox

What GiveBackBox does

GiveBackBox, founded in 2012 by Monika Wiela and operated through the legal entity MBSS Inc dba The Give Back Box, is a donation logistics platform that connects individual donors, online retailers, and charitable organizations around the secondary use of corrugated shipping boxes. The platform enables consumers to print free prepaid shipping labels via givebackbox.shop, repack the boxes they received from online purchases with clothing, shoes, accessories, and household items, and ship them to nearby participating charities identified by zip code. The company is explicitly structured as a vendor providing IT and logistical infrastructure rather than as a charitable solicitor itself, with a separate non-profit arm (Give Back Box Charity) that accepts tax-deductible monthly pledges.

The technology stack is a web-based logistics platform composed of three core components: a prepaid shipping label generation system (subsidized by retailer partners), a charity routing engine that matches donors to the nearest participating charity based on donor location, and a tracking-number-linked tax receipt generation module for account-holding donors. The platform supports two monetization tracks for end users — free labels for clothing and accessories (paid by retailers) and a $20-per-box transaction fee for non-partner or ineligible items — and offers drop-off at UPS, FedEx, and USPS locations plus USPS home pickup. Beyond the consumer interface, GiveBackBox licenses its donation infrastructure to enterprise retailers, generating professional-services revenue tied to CSR, sustainability positioning, and cause-based marketing differentiation. Customer segments include large enterprise retailers (Amazon, Nordstrom, Levi's, REI, Newegg, Overstock, Aldo, Away), over 100 participating charities (Goodwill, American Cancer Society Discovery Shops, Sneaker Impact, I Support the Girls), a long tail of smaller apparel and lifestyle brand partners, and a consumer base that has shipped over 1 million boxes and diverted 19 million pieces of clothing from landfills since inception. Geographic coverage includes the US, Canada, and UK.

Name

GiveBackBox

Legal name

MBSS Inc

Website

https://givebackbox.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GiveBackBox is a donation logistics platform that lets consumers reuse online-retail shipping boxes to donate clothing and household items, connecting individual donors, enterprise retailers, and over 100 charities across the US, Canada, and UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Donation Logistics Platform

NAICS

Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Donation Pickup & Reuse Hauling (HSAKALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Donation, Reuse & Sustainability Returns Programs (TLAIAHAJ), Donation, Resale & Disposal Coordination (HSAFAAAK)

Keywords

• Donation logistics platform
• Charitable donation shipping
• Textile recycling services
• E-commerce sustainability
• Prepaid shipping labels

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Retailer Partnership Model: GiveBackBox acts as a vendor providing IT and logistical infrastructure to retailers and charities. Retailers pay for the service which provides them with CSR and sustainability credentials, brand recognition, and deeper customer relationships.
2. Paid Donation Shipping: For non-partner donations or items outside the free category (large electronics, liquids, toys, books, sheets, household items), donors pay $20 per box to ship to over 100 participating charities. This covers shipping of one box up to 50 lb.
3. Monthly Pledges: GiveBackBox Charity accepts monthly pledges from supporters. As a non-profit organization, these pledges are tax deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GiveBackBox operates a donation logistics platform that enables individuals to donate unwanted household items by reusing cardboard shipping boxes received from online retailers. The company partners with e-commerce retailers who include GiveBackBox fliers in their shipping boxes, allowing customers to print prepaid shipping labels and ship donated items to participating local charities. The platform also generates tax-deduction receipts for donors and provides IT and logistical infrastructure to retailers and charities.

Product overview

Give Back Box operates as a single unified donation platform that connects donors with charities through reusable shipping boxes. The core product includes the Give Back Box Donation Platform and Shipping Label Service, which work together to enable convenient donation of clothing and household items. Additional offerings include a Free Label Program for basic donations, a Tax Deduction Receipt System for account holders, and a Monthly Pledge Program for ongoing support. The platform also includes specialized programs like the LEGO Replay partnership. The company (MBSS Inc dba The Give Back Box) acts as a vendor providing IT and logistical infrastructure to retailers and charities, not as a direct charity solicitor.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Give Back Box Donation Platform A donation platform that enables individuals to donate unwanted household items by reusing cardboard shipping boxes. Users print prepaid shipping labels from the website, pack donations (clothing, shoes, accessories), and ship to participating charities.
• Give Back Box Shipping Label Service Provides prepaid shipping labels for donors to ship boxes to charities. Partners bear the cost of shipping for free labels; non-partner or non-clothing donations require a $20 per-box fee covering shipping of one box up to 50 lb.
• Monthly Pledge Program Monthly giving program for supporters of Give Back Box Charity. Pledges are tax deductible as Give Back Box has non-profit status.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million boxes shipped and recycled since 2012, diverting 19 million pieces of clothing (13+ million pounds) from landfills.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Newegg.comcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst major retailer partner. Newegg placed GiveBackBox fliers in all boxes shipped to customers, recommending customers re-use boxes to donate clothes, accessories, and household items using prepaid shipping labels.
• OverstockcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program, enabling customers to donate through reused shipping boxes.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• NordstromcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• LEGOflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLEGO Replay program partner. In 2019, 50,000 lb of LEGO bricks were donated. Step towards creating a circular business model by encouraging consumers to pass on LEGO bricks to children in need.
• noissuecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable packaging partner providing eco-friendly branded packaging cards for businesses. Cards inform customers about GiveBackBox partnership and how to reuse shipping boxes. Provides tissue, mailers, tape, boxes, stickers, totes, stamps, and shipping labels.
• Levi'scoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• Ann TaylorcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• LoftcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• REIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• BonoboscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• AsicscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• Scrubs & BeyondcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• eBagscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• Lou & GreycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• Viva TerracoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• EcrucoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor U.S. retailer partner in the GiveBackBox program.
• GoodwillcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipating charity partner. Donations are directed to local Goodwill locations which sort and sell items to fund community-based programs including job training and employment placement.
• American Cancer Society Discovery ShopscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDiscovery Shops accept high quality gently used donated merchandise including luxury clothes, apparel, shoes, accessories, collectibles, jewelry, electronics. Revenues support cancer research, prevention education, patient support, and advocacy.
• Sneaker ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise partner for recycling gently used sneakers and keeping them out of landfills while creating opportunities for people in need.
• I Support the GirlsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner accepting new and gently used bras, new underwear, pads, and tampons (not clothing, shoes, accessories, or household items). Limited time prepaid postage available.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Eileen Fisher Renew: Brand-owned take-back and resale program for Eileen Fisher garments. Represents the kind of in-house circular program that retailers might pursue instead of partnering with GiveBackBox.
• Patagonia (Worn Wear): Patagonia's branded take-back and resale program lets customers trade in used Patagonia apparel for credit. Competes for brand-led circular apparel programs that GiveBackBox also enables via its retailer partnerships.
• For Days: Clothing take-back and exchange subscription service. Operates a similar closed-loop apparel model with consumer-driven donation/recycling flows.

Direct peers

• Helpsy: Clothing and textile collection service partnering with municipalities, retailers, and charities for curbside and drop-off textile reuse. Closely comparable reverse-logistics and charity-routing model.
• Trashie: Take-back rewards platform that mails prepaid shipping labels for clothing/textile recycling in exchange for brand credits. Direct competitor on the prepaid-label donation mechanic GiveBackBox pioneered.
• ThredUp: Online resale platform that processes donated and consigned clothing, directly competing for the same pool of gently used apparel that GiveBackBox routes to charity. Operates a managed marketplace model with both consumer and brand resale programs.
• The Renewal Workshop: B2B textile renewal and take-back service provider working with apparel brands to recover, clean, and resell returned and unsold garments. Directly comparable as a brand-facing circular logistics platform.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: Largest nonprofit thrift and donation network in North America with thousands of retail stores. Receives routed donations from GiveBackBox and competes for the same donor mindshare.
• I:CO (I:Collect): Global textile and footwear take-back and recycling operator serving large retailers with in-store collection bins and reverse logistics. Closest large-scale incumbent in the apparel/footwear donation logistics space.
• TerraCycle: Specialty recycling company operating brand-funded take-back programs for hard-to-recycle materials and consumer goods. Competes for the brand-funded circular logistics layer GiveBackBox also serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/givebackbox
• Facebookfacebook.com/GiveBackBox
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/give-back-box

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GiveBackBox