Planet Aid
Planet Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates nearly 10,000 yellow donation bins and 6-7 textile reuse facilities across 14 U.S. states, processing approximately 70 million pounds of used clothing annually to fund community development programs through the Humana People to People Federation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersElkridge, United States
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Planet Aid does
Planet Aid, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Elkridge, Maryland, that operates a large-scale textile reuse and resale platform in the United States to fund international community development programs. The organization collects used clothing, shoes, and household textiles through a network of nearly 10,000 yellow donation bins and approximately 50 solar-powered donation centers across 14 states and Washington D.C., complemented by mail-in and home-pickup donation services. Donations are aggregated at 6-7 state-of-the-art textile reuse facilities staffed by 220+ employees and supported by a fleet of 75+ trucks and vans, processing nearly 70 million pounds of textiles annually that would otherwise enter landfills.
Collected textiles are monetized through three primary channels: domestic retail via The Loop Store thrift store in Rockville, MD; wholesale distribution to secondhand clothing markets (notably through Garson & Shaw, a global operator in 46+ countries); and international export. Proceeds, together with U.S. government grants (USAID, USDA, CDC) secured through Planet Aid's membership in the Humana People to People Federation, fund community-led development programs spanning education, health, agriculture, and economic resilience across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Planet Aid reported impact figures including 2.7 million people served annually in DRC alone, 30,000+ smallholder families in Farmers' Clubs programs, and 10+ million people reached through the Total Control of the Epidemic (TCE) health program.
The business is organized around a community-led go-to-market model in which schools, businesses, local governments, and shopping centers host bins at no cost; Planet Aid handles installation, collection, and maintenance. Supporting programs include the Scholar's Club educational curriculum for K-12 schools, the PACE Grant for U.S. nonprofits, the Sustainable Solutions podcast, and partnerships with national organizations such as United Way. The organization has been operating for 25+ years (with internal founding references spanning 1997 and 1999) and marked its 50th donation center opening in greater Richmond, VA in 2024, indicating ongoing geographic expansion.
Planet Aid firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Planet Aid
- Legal name
- Planet Aid, Inc.
- Website
- https://planetaid.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Planet Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates nearly 10,000 yellow donation bins and 6-7 textile reuse facilities across 14 U.S. states, processing approximately 70 million pounds of used clothing annually to fund community development programs through the Humana People to People Federation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Planet Aid industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Textile Reuse and Nonprofit Fundraising Services
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Sanitary Services (4950)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Donation, Resale & Textile Recycling Coordination (HSAFABAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Material Reuse & Upcycling Services (Non-recycling Transformation) (EUAIANAJ), Donation Pickup & Reuse Hauling (HSAKALAI), Donation, Resale & Disposal Coordination (HSAFAAAK)
Keywords
Where Planet Aid is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Elkridge
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Planet Aid business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Textile Resale: Collected textiles are sorted and resold through various channels: thrift store retail (The Loop by Planet Aid), wholesale to secondhand clothing markets (via partners like Garson & Shaw), and international export to markets in Global South.
- Monetary Donations: Individuals can make direct monetary donations to support community development programs. These donations are tax-deductible as Planet Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
- Grant Funding: Planet Aid helps mobilize resources and expertise enabling local organizations like HPP-Congo to lead transformative, community-driven development. Planet Aid secures U.S. grant funding from agencies such as USAID, USDA, and CDC for international development programs.
- Bin Hosting Partnerships: Partner organizations host Planet Aid bins at no cost. Planet Aid handles all installation, collection, and maintenance, generating donations and raising funds for community programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free textile donation via bins, mail, or pickup |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Thrift store retail pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Planet Aid product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Planet Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collects used clothing, shoes, and household textiles through a network of nearly 10,000 yellow donation bins and solar-powered donation centers across 14 U.S. states and Washington D.C. Collected textiles are sorted at six reuse facilities and monetized through thrift store retail (The Loop Store), wholesale export to secondhand clothing markets, and grant-funded international development programs. The organization funds education, health, agriculture, and community development programs primarily in the Global South via the Humana People to People Federation.
Product overview
Planet Aid is a nonprofit organization operating a portfolio of textile reuse products and services. The core offering consists of yellow donation bins and solar-powered donation centers placed at nearly 10,000 locations for collecting used clothing and shoes. Supporting services include a retail thrift store (The Loop Store/Planet Aid Thrift Store), home pickup service, and textile reuse facilities processing millions of pounds annually. Planet Aid also offers educational programs (Scholar's Club with free lesson plans), the PACE Grant for nonprofit partners, and the Sustainable Solutions podcast. The organization serves communities across 14 states and Washington D.C., funding international development projects in Latin America, Africa, and Asia through textile collection proceeds.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Loop Store: Planet Aid's thrift store brand, offering secondhand clothing, shoes, accessories, and home goods to support the organization's mission of textile reuse and community fundraising.
- Sustainable Solutions with Planet Aid
Products and services
- Yellow Donation Bins
- Solar-Powered Donation Centers
- The Loop Store (Planet Aid Thrift Store)
- Home Pickup Service
- Textile Reuse Facilities
- Community Partnership Programs (Bin Hosting)
- PACE Grant (Planet Aid Capacity and Environmental Grant)
- Mail-In Donation Service (Mail a Box)
- Scholar's Club Educational Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 70 million pounds of textiles diverted from landfills annually
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use Planet Aid
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Planet Aid technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Planet Aid partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Humana People to PeoplecorePlanet Aid is an integral partner in the global Humana People to People Federation, a network of 29 member organizations working across Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. For nearly 30 years, Planet Aid has supported this global network by securing U.S. grant funding from agencies such as USAID, USDA, and CDC for community development programs.
- Humana People to People Congo (HPP-Congo)coreHPP-Congo is part of the Humana People to People Federation. Planet Aid has collaborated with HPP-Congo for nearly two decades, funding programs in education, health, and economic development that impact over 2.7 million Congolese annually across 13 provinces.
- Humana People to People IndiacorePartner organization implementing the Kadam Step-Up Programme for out-of-school children, education initiatives, and community development programs in India.
- ADPP MozambiquecoreMember of Humana People to People Federation implementing education, health, and development programs including TB prevention initiatives.
- DAPP MalawicoreDeveloping Africa Project Programs in Malawi implementing TB prevention and community health programs, presenting at international conferences.
- DAPP ZambiacoreImplementing TB programs and community health initiatives in Zambia, part of the Humana People to People Federation.
- Humana People to People BelizecoreLocal development organization implementing the Farmers' Clubs model to help Toledo District farmers build climate resilience through early warning systems, climate-smart agriculture, and disaster preparedness education.
- Garson & ShawcoreGlobal wholesale company headquartered in Atlanta, operating in 46+ countries. Major player in secondhand clothing market, selling around 700-800 loads of clothing monthly. Planet Aid textiles flow through their distribution network.
- Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services (LARS)minorThree-time recipient of Planet Aid's Capacity and Environmental (PACE) grant. PACE grants awarded to four U.S.-based nonprofits for sustainability and capacity building projects. LARS used funds for energy-efficient equipment and Project Grow initiative.
- Community Ecology Institute (Freetown Farm)minorPACE grant recipient providing local produce to LARS, demonstrating sustainable local food system partnerships.
- EncoreminorNonprofit promoting resilience, solidarity, and sustainability. Organized sustainable fashion show using donated clothing from Planet Aid Thrift Store with wounded veteran models, held at French Embassy.
- Schools and PTOscoreThousands of schools and parent-teacher organizations host Planet Aid bins for fundraising. Scholar's Club provides free environmental lesson plans and eco-challenges for participating schools.
- Shopping Centers and Mall OperatorscoreShopping centers host solar-powered donation centers and yellow bins. J.C. Bar Properties and other operators provide locations for donation infrastructure. No costs, risks, or obligations for host partners.
- Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter SchoolminorLongtime partner venue for annual Free Coat Giveaway in Rochester, NY. Hosts coat distribution for community members in need.
- Ibero-American Action LeagueminorPartner with Planet Aid for 11th Annual Free Coat Giveaway in Rochester, NY. Committed to supporting Rochester community through clothing distribution initiatives.
- Rochester Police DepartmentminorVolunteer partner for coat giveaway event, demonstrating community policing and support.
- Richmond Vale AcademyminorClimate center in St. Vincent and Grenadines, training volunteers and students in climate resilience. Planet Aid shipped nearly 20,000 pounds of donated clothing for volcanic eruption relief.
- National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) - St. VincentminorDistributed donated clothing from Planet Aid to residents affected by La Soufrière volcanic eruption.
- United WayminorPlanet Aid employees volunteer for United Way's Day of Caring events in New Hampshire, supporting community service initiatives.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Planet Aid competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- USAgain: USAgain is a for-profit textile recycling company operating a similar donation bin network across the U.S. It collects used clothing and shoes for reuse and resale, making it the closest direct competitor to Planet Aid's core bin-and-collection model.
- American Textile Recycling Service: ATRS is a Texas-based textile recycler operating public drop-off bins across multiple U.S. states, processing donated clothing for resale and reuse. Its bin-network and textile-recycling model closely mirror Planet Aid's core operations.
Emerging players
- Soles4Souls: Soles4Souls is a nonprofit that collects used shoes (and increasingly apparel) for distribution and resale to fund antipoverty programs. Its focus on footwear reuse and mission funding overlaps materially with Planet Aid's shoe-collection operations.
- thredUP: thredUP is an online resale platform that processes donated and consigned apparel for resale. While for-profit and digital-first, it competes for the same pool of secondhand clothing and represents the modern retail channel Planet Aid could expand into.
- Cities Recycling Donated Goods (CRDG): CRDG and similar regional for-profit operators deploy clothing donation bins in municipalities and partner with nonprofits. They share Planet Aid's bin-deployment model but typically operate at smaller geographic scale.
- Greenspot Recycling: Greenspot operates textile and shoe donation drop boxes in select U.S. markets, focusing on convenient public collection for reuse and recycling. It is a smaller, regional emerging player in the same textile-donation space as Planet Aid.
Regional players
- Dress for Success: Dress for Success is an international nonprofit that collects professional clothing donations to support women's workforce reentry programs. Its donation-driven mission model is comparable to Planet Aid's apparel reuse-plus-mission approach, though with a narrower beneficiary focus.
Broad incumbents
- Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Habitat ReStores are nonprofit home-goods retail outlets operated by Habitat for Humanity, diverting donated furniture and household items from landfill to fund affordable housing. While focused on home goods rather than apparel, the reuse-and-fund-mission model is highly comparable.
- Goodwill Industries International: Goodwill is the largest nonprofit thrift retailer in North America, operating thousands of donation bins and retail stores. It accepts textiles among other donated goods and funds job-training programs, making it a broader incumbent in the same donation-and-reuse space as Planet Aid.
- The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army operates a national network of donation bins, thrift stores, and family stores that collect used clothing to fund community programs. Its scale, retail footprint, and nonprofit mission make it a direct analog to Planet Aid.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Planet Aid social profiles
Digital presencePlanet Aid financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Planet Aid leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Planet Aid funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Planet Aid M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Planet Aid
What does Planet Aid do?
Planet Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collects used clothing, shoes, and household textiles through a network of nearly 10,000 yellow donation bins and solar-powered donation centers across 14 U.S. states and Washington D.C. Collected textiles are sorted at six reuse facilities and monetized through thrift store retail (The Loop Store), wholesale export to secondhand clothing markets, and grant-funded international development programs. The organization funds education, health, agriculture, and community development programs primarily in the Global South via the Humana People to People Federation.
Is Planet Aid a public or private company?
Planet Aid is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Planet Aid founded?
Planet Aid was founded in 1999. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Planet Aid based?
Planet Aid is headquartered in Elkridge, United States, in the North America region.
How does Planet Aid make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Textile Resale is the primary driver. The others are monetary Donations, grant Funding and bin Hosting Partnerships.
Who are Planet Aid's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are USAgain and American Textile Recycling Service. Emerging players are Soles4Souls, thredUP, Cities Recycling Donated Goods (CRDG) and Greenspot Recycling. Dress for Success is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Goodwill Industries International and The Salvation Army.
Does Planet Aid have an API?
No public API is recorded for Planet Aid.
What industry is Planet Aid in?
Planet Aid's product category is Textile Reuse and Nonprofit Fundraising Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAFABAI, Donation, Resale & Textile Recycling Coordination, with a secondary code of EUAIANAJ, Material Reuse & Upcycling Services (Non-recycling Transformation). Its NAICS code is 8134 and its SIC code is 8300.