CharityStorage

What CharityStorage does

Charity Storage is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2011, registered under EIN 45-3253579, that serves as the official charity of the self storage industry. It operates a model in which self storage facility partners designate vacant units as "Charity Storage Units," populate them with donated or abandoned tenant items, and auction the contents onsite or via the StorageTreasures.com online auction platform. Proceeds are split with 60% going to an operator-chosen qualified charity, 20% to Kure It Cancer Research, and 10% to the Self Storage Association Foundation scholarship program, with 90% of gross auction proceeds distributed in total. As of 2025 the program operated across more than 255 drop-off locations and 82 registered beneficiary charities in categories including animal welfare, health services, youth services, and community service, with major participating operators including US Storage Centers, NSA/SecurCare, Westport Properties, Central Self Storage, Security Public Storage, and West Coast Self-Storage.

The organization is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ within OpenTech Alliance's corporate office and is supported operationally by OpenTech Alliance (CEO Robert Chiti founded the Board Chair role; current Board Chair is Kristi Adams of OpenTech Alliance) and StorageTreasures.com, which waives auction fees on charity units and provides the underlying auction technology. Corporate sponsorships are structured as recurring annual tiers (Angel and Benefactor at $10K+, Guardian at $5K+, Sustainer at $3K+, Supporter at $1K+, Friend under $1K, plus in-kind), and supplementary revenue comes from AmazonSmile referrals and tenant round-up programs. Auxiliary assets include a digital marketing kit (email signatures, web banners, social graphics), educational webinars, an e-commerce shop, and a 255-location searchable drop-off directory on charitystorage.org.

Financially, the 2025 Annual Report disclosed more than $212,000 raised and over $158,000 distributed to 20+ charitable organizations, compared to $111,671 raised across nearly 500 auctions in 2021 and approximately $120,000 in 2019. The organization is governed by an industry-volunteer board with an operational headcount of 1–10 employees, leans heavily on an Ambassador Program staffed by industry volunteers, and has no disclosed funding rounds, M&A activity, or external investment, operating purely on program proceeds, sponsorships, and in-kind infrastructure support.

Name

CharityStorage

Legal name

Charity Storage

Website

https://charitystorage.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Charity Storage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that partners with self storage operators to auction donated and abandoned unit contents and distribute proceeds to qualified charities, with 90% of funds passed through to charity beneficiaries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Fundraising Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSAKAGAG

Self-Storage Unit Auctions & Lien Sale Services

Home & Personal Services/Moving, Storage & Relocation Services/Short-Term & Long-Term Self-Storage Services

Keywords

• Self storage charity
• Charity auction program
• Nonprofit fundraising services
• Storage facility donations
• Industry charity partnership

Headquarters

HQ city

San Clemente

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Storage Auction Proceeds: Donated and abandoned items placed into vacant storage units and auctioned off onsite or online. 90% of all auction proceeds distributed to qualified charities (60% to facility-chosen charity, 20% to Kure It Cancer Research, 10% to SSA Foundation).
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship tiers: Angel ($10K+/year), Benefactor ($10K+), Guardian ($5K+), Sustainer ($3K+), Supporter ($1K+), Friend (under $1K), In-Kind. Sponsorships offset operating costs and enable high distribution rate.
3. AmazonSmile: Raising funds through AmazonSmile program where eligible purchases generate donations to Charity Storage.
4. Round Up Programs: Facilities can participate in round-up programs where tenants round up payments to benefit Charity Storage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CharityStorage operates a charity auction program for the self storage industry in which partner storage facilities designate vacant units as Charity Storage Units where donated and abandoned items are collected and then auctioned onsite or online through StorageTreasures.com. Proceeds are split with 90% distributed to charitable causes: 60% to the facility-chosen charity, 20% to Kure It Cancer Research, and 10% to the Self Storage Association Foundation Scholarship Program. The organization also distributes a digital marketing kit, hosts educational webinars, and runs an online merchandise shop to support participating operators.

Product overview

CharityStorage is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that operates as the official charity of the self storage industry. The core offering is the Giving Back Program, which enables storage facilities to convert donated and abandoned items into charitable funds through designated auction units. The ecosystem includes: a searchable network of donation drop-off locations where donors can contribute items; a directory of 82+ partner charities receiving auction proceeds; a digital marketing toolkit for participating facilities; educational webinars on fundraising strategies; an e-commerce shop for merchandise; and downloadable resources including financial reports, guidelines, and enrollment forms. The program distributes 90% of auction proceeds to qualified charities, with 60% going to the operator's chosen charity, 20% to Kure It Cancer Research, and 10% to the Self Storage Association Foundation Scholarship Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Charity Storage Giving Back Program The core program enabling self storage facility owners and operators across the United States to donate abandoned or unused items into designated units, which are then auctioned to raise funds for charitable causes. Operators designate a vacant unit as their Charity Storage Unit, collect donated goods, and auction the contents to benefit their chosen charity.
• Charity Storage Shop An online shop selling Charity Storage merchandise and marketing materials to participating storage facilities, supporters, and donors. The shop operates at charitystorage.org/shop and processes payments for marketing kits and related items.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of all auction proceeds distributed to qualifying charitable organizations
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, major and minor.

• Self Storage Association (SSA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2017Official charity partner of the Self Storage Association. Charity Storage is promoted at SSA events, with 10% of auction proceeds directed to SSA Foundation Scholarship Program. SSA provides organizational endorsement and access to industry network.
• Storage TreasurescoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline auction platform provider that enables Charity Storage Unit auctions. Angel Sponsor contributing $10K+ annually in financial and in-kind support. Has provided significant technical and administrative infrastructure development including streamlined accounting and new website.
• OpenTech AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading self storage technology provider. Expanded donor relationship includes dedicated staff for infrastructure, accounting, and marketing support. Houses Charity Storage headquarters at Phoenix office. CEO Robert Chiti serves as Board Chairman. Angel Sponsor at $10K+ level.
• US Storage Centers / Westport PropertiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding sponsors and top-performing operators. US Storage Centers consistently generates highest auction totals. Westport Properties CEO Drew Hoeven (son of co-founder Barry Hoeven) serves as Chairman of Board. Both Angel Sponsors at $10K+ level.
• StorelocalmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperative of self storage owners and operators. Designated Charity Storage as Preferred Charity Partner. Encourages 42-state member network to participate in Charity Storage Giving Back Program.
• Kure It Cancer ResearchmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit dedicated to funding research for underfunded cancers. Receives 20% of all Charity Storage auction proceeds. Founded by Barry Hoeven, late co-founder of Charity Storage.
• Self Storage Association Foundation (SSAF)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScholarship program receiving 10% of auction proceeds for postsecondary education scholarships. Has awarded over $300,000 to 123+ students with roots in self storage industry since 2009.
• ISS World ExpomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCharity Partner of ISS World Expo. Promotes Charity Storage program at major industry trade show.
• California Self Storage Association (CSSA)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGranted Charity Storage Affiliate Membership. Increases Giving Back Program visibility in California, Nevada and Arizona. CSSA serves 500+ storage owners with 3,000+ locations.
• NSA Storage (National Storage Affiliates Trust)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorREIT with 1,000+ facilities piloting Charity Storage program at SecurCare Self Storage facilities in Texas. Supports Feeding America charity.
• Cornerstone Insurance ProducersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecialty Managing General Agent contributing $5,000 as annual Guardian-level sponsor. Provides tailored insurance to storage industry.
• Central Self Storage / Pegasus GroupmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor50 properties across 9 states. Auctions benefit Michael J. Fox Foundation (60%), Kure It Cancer Research (20%), SSAF (10%).
• Self Storage ReferralminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral source connecting customers to self storage resources. Quarterly funds distributed: 60% to Orange County Abuse Prevention Center and Phoenix Children's Hospital, 20% to Kure It Cancer Research.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Extra Space Storage: Large publicly traded self-storage REIT and industry incumbent whose facilities participate in the Charity Storage program; comparable for understanding the broader self-storage market context within which Charity Storage operates.
• Salvation Army Family Stores: Major donation-driven nonprofit retail network that converts donated household items into charitable program funding; operates a similar donation-to-charity model at national scale.
• Goodwill Industries International: Largest U.S. nonprofit donation-and-resale network converting donated goods into job-training revenue; analogous business model to Charity Storage at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Self Storage Association Foundation: Industry-affiliated scholarship nonprofit receiving 10% of Charity Storage auction proceeds; operates in the same self-storage charity niche with an overlapping sponsor and operator ecosystem.
• StorageTreasures: Online self-storage auction platform and Charity Storage technology partner that powers Charity Storage Unit auctions and contributes Angel-level sponsorship; competes in the adjacent online storage-auction space.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores: Nonprofit home-goods donation and resale network that monetizes donated items to fund charitable construction work; comparable operating model to Charity Storage's 'donate items, convert to charitable funds' structure.
• Kure It Cancer Research: Self-storage-industry-founded nonprofit cancer research grantmaker; receives 20% of Charity Storage auction proceeds and shares a founder lineage with Charity Storage, making it the most directly comparable peer in mission and donor base.
• Purple Heart Pickup: Nonprofit that picks up donated household items from donors' homes and resells them to fund veteran services; the closest direct analog in donation logistics and conversion-to-charity-funds operating model.

Emerging players

• OpenTech Alliance: Self-storage technology provider that houses Charity Storage HQ, contributes infrastructure and accounting capacity, and whose CEO has served as Board Chair; an enabler rather than direct competitor, but operationally intertwined.
• Storelocal Storage Co-Op: Self-storage operator cooperative with 3,000+ member facilities that has designated Charity Storage as its Preferred Charity Partner; comparable in self-storage ecosystem participation though not a nonprofit itself.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CharityStorage
• Facebookfacebook.com/charitystorage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 CharityStorage