Overflow Thrift Store

What Overflow Thrift Store does

Overflow Thrift Store is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in Ames, Iowa. It operates three physical thrift retail locations in Ames (919 E Lincoln Way, 202 S Duff, 4723 Lincoln Way) that resell donated clothing, furniture, electronics, household goods, toys, and books to the local community. The stores accept gently-used item donations during posted hours and offer free furniture delivery for purchases of $40 or more within 15 miles of Ames city limits, along with free furniture pickup for qualifying donations.

The organization extends its retail reach through an eBay online store operating 24/7 with in-store pickup or shipment options, and it sells electronic gift cards. Its operating model is fundamentally a closed-loop donation cycle: community members donate goods and shop, the proceeds fund grants to 25+ partner nonprofits (cumulative giving of $1.5M+ since 2014), and a volunteer program open to ages 10+ supplies labor for sorting, testing, stocking, and store operations. Partner beneficiaries include Martha's House of Hope (maternity services), Matthew 25 House (housing), UCI Haiti (university scholarships), Obria Medical Clinics, Mustard Seed Community Farm, and Anchored Hope (foster-care transitional housing).

Revenue is generated through point-of-sale retail transactions, eBay sales, and gift cards; specific pricing and revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Marketing is conducted primarily through organic social channels (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram), an email newsletter, and community events. The organization is independently governed with no parent company or institutional investment backing identified in available sources.

Name

Overflow Thrift Store

Legal name

Overflow Thrift Store

Website

https://overflowthriftstore.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Overflow Thrift Store is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating three thrift stores in Ames, Iowa, plus an eBay online store, reselling donated goods to fund grants to 25+ partner nonprofits serving Iowa and international communities since 2014.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Thrift Retail

NAICS

Used Merchandise Retailers (459510)

SIC

Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores (5700)

akta.pro primary industry

Donation, Resale & Disposal Coordination (HSAFAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Donation, Consignment & Resale Coordination (HSAFAFAG)

Keywords

• Nonprofit thrift retail
• Secondhand clothing
• Donated goods resale
• Charitable retail store
• Community donation center

Headquarters

HQ city

Ames

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Donated Goods: Overflow generates revenue through the sale of gently-used donated items including clothing, furniture, electronics, kitchen items, toys, books, and other merchandise at their three retail locations in Ames, Iowa.
2. eBay Online Sales: The organization operates an eBay store for online sales of vintage and specialty items, with orders available for in-store pickup during business hours or shipment to customers.
3. Gift Cards: Electronic gift cards are available for purchase both for personal use and as gifts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Overflow Thrift Store is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that resells donated secondhand clothing, furniture, electronics, kitchenware, toys, books, and household goods through three physical thrift stores in Ames, Iowa and an eBay online storefront. All net income is donated to more than 25 partner charitable organizations serving Iowa and international communities.

Product overview

Overflow Thrift Store is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit thrift store operating three physical retail locations in Ames, Iowa, along with an online sales channel via eBay. The organization operates as a unified retail operation offering in-store shopping, online purchasing through their eBay store, gift cards, and furniture donation/pickup services. The company also facilitates volunteer engagement and accepts donated items for resale to support community charitable initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Store Thrift Shopping

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1.5M donated to 25+ partner organizations since 2014
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Obria Medical ClinicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Obria is dedicated to offering affordable and comprehensive reproductive care with compassion, dignity and respect. In April 2026, Overflow made a $25,000 donation toward their new office expansion in Ames designed to serve more families with medical care, parenting classes, and life-affirming support.
• Mustard Seed Community FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026A local treasure northwest of Ames dedicated to sustainable and simple living. In April 2026, Overflow donated $3,500 to fund delivery of weekly boxes of fresh produce to local nonprofits including Martha's House of Hope, Wings of Refuge, Anchored Hope, Matthew 25 House, The Bridge Home, and Ames Romero House.
• Anchored HopecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Anchored Hope provides transitional homes for young adults aging out of foster care. They opened their first women's home in 2024 housing four girls, and recently opened their first men's home with two young men. Overflow sponsored a bedroom in the new men's home, decorating it with items from their stores.
• Martha's House of HopecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOverflow supports this Ames maternity home with financial donations. The support covered 9 months of rent expenses for the facility. Additionally, volunteering opportunities were provided to three mothers at the home, enabling them to enhance their skills and prepare for future employment.
• Matthew 25 HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOverflow's support provides groceries for house residents - three meals a day, every day, for five men. This support helps residents get back on their feet more quickly and provides a family-type atmosphere while they work toward independence.
• UCI HaticoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll donations to UCI are used for university scholarships in Haiti. Overflow has supported over 20 students in Haiti, many of whom have graduated and are now working in their communities as pastors, nurses, agronomists, and doctors.
• Wings of RefugeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit receiving weekly produce deliveries funded by Overflow through Mustard Seed Community Farm donations.
• The Bridge HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit receiving weekly produce deliveries funded by Overflow through Mustard Seed Community Farm donations.
• Ames Romero HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit receiving weekly produce deliveries funded by Overflow through Mustard Seed Community Farm donations.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Buffalo Exchange: For-profit resale clothing and accessories chain buying and reselling secondhand fashion; comparable to Overflow as a used-apparel reseller and competes in the same secondhand shopping occasion.
• Deseret Industries Thrift Stores: Nonprofit thrift chain operated by the LDS Church that sells donated goods to fund employment training and humanitarian programs; directly comparable to Overflow on the donate-resell-fund-mission model and reliance on volunteer labor.
• Savers / Value Village: For-profit thrift chain operating Value Village, Savers, and Unique thrift stores, purchasing and reselling donated secondhand apparel and household goods; comparable to Overflow on the secondhand retail format and donation-supply model, though operating as a for-profit.
• Arc Thrift Stores: Nonprofit thrift retail chain selling donated clothing and household goods to fund programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; directly comparable to Overflow on the donated-goods-resold-to-fund-charity nonprofit model.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Nonprofit home-furnishings and furniture resale chain that sells donated furniture, appliances, and home goods to fund Habitat's housing mission; directly comparable to Overflow on the donated-goods-furniture-and-home-resale nonprofit model.
• St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores: Network of nonprofit thrift stores selling donated clothing, furniture, and household items to fund Society of St. Vincent de Paul charitable programs; directly comparable to Overflow on the donate-resell-fund-charity structure and store-based format.

Emerging players

• ThredUp: Large-scale online resale platform for secondhand apparel; comparable to Overflow as a competitor for secondhand clothing donations (donors choose ThredUp over local thrift) and as a competing secondhand purchase channel for consumers.
• Poshmark: Peer-to-peer online marketplace for secondhand fashion and accessories; comparable to Overflow as an alternative resale channel that competes both for donors' items and for thrift-oriented shoppers.

Broad incumbents

• Salvation Army Family Stores: Nonprofit thrift retail arm of The Salvation Army selling donated clothing, furniture, and household goods to fund social programs; directly comparable to Overflow on the donated-goods-resold-to-fund-charity model and reliance on volunteer/donor supply.
• Goodwill Industries International: Largest nonprofit thrift operator in North America with thousands of retail stores that accept donated goods and resell them to fund workforce development programs; directly comparable to Overflow's donated-goods-resold-to-fund-charity model, but at massive scale across hundreds of markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCG8lxcOnzWnHyGcNP_m9m-w
• Facebookfacebook.com/overflowthriftstoreames
• Instagraminstagram.com/overflowthriftstore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/overflow-thrift-store

Compliance1 record

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 Overflow Thrift Store