The Chicago Furniture Bank is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2018 that collects used furniture and gives it free to Chicagoans in need. It is not open to the public: people receive furniture only after a partner social service agency refers them. Donors can drop furniture off at its South Side warehouse or book a pickup, which is not charged as a fee but comes with a suggested donation of $100 to $600 depending on the load.
The furniture bank describes itself as an intermediary between Chicagoans who have extra furniture and those who need it. It does not sell donated items. Instead it builds furnishing packages for clients that can include beds, couches, armchairs, dressers, desks, kitchen tables and chairs, dishware, rugs, lamps, artwork and mirrors.
Clients reach it through a network of nonprofit partners: shelters, housing programs and other agencies that refer people they already serve. The organization's pages give different counts for that network (325+, 400+ and over 500), so treat "several hundred agencies" as the safe description.
On its home page, the organization reports more than 25,000 homes furnished, more than 62,000 Chicagoans served and more than 20 million pounds of furniture given away. Those are the organization's own figures.
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 83-1214857 |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 2018 |
| Warehouse | 4801 S Whipple St, Chicago, IL 60632 |
| Phone | 312-752-0211 |
| Donor email | [email protected] |
Individuals cannot request furniture directly, book their own appointment or walk in to browse. The client FAQ says only people taken on as clients by a partner agency can receive furniture, so that clients are vetted and also receive other support services. The process:
Eligibility rules belong to each partner agency, not to the furniture bank. For other help in the city, see the Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago or the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
The furniture bank picks up anywhere in the City of Chicago and in most surrounding suburbs. Its FAQ says it does not charge a fee but asks every pickup donor for a suggested donation to cover labor and truck costs, scaled to the job:
| Pickup size | Suggested donation |
|---|---|
| Easy: 1 large item plus a few small items | $100 to $150 |
| Medium: 2 to 3 large items | $150 to $200 |
| Hard: 4 to 5 large items | $200 to $250 |
| Extra hard: 6 to 7 larger items | $250 to $350 |
| Full estate or multi-room: 8 or more large items | $400 to $600 |
A large number of small items or a difficult job can raise the suggested amount. Tax receipts cover both the furniture and the suggested donation.
How to book: fill in the Furniture Pickup Request Form on the organization's site, then email photos of the items to [email protected], referencing your request. Submit it at least one week before the date you want. The team aims to reply within 1 to 2 business days of receiving the form. Pickups run Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with timing set by truck availability.
The crew will come inside or collect from the curb, as you prefer, but cannot take items from the third floor or higher in a building without a working elevator. Movers are bonded and insured, and donors are asked not to help carry.
Accepted: mattresses and box springs (twin through king); metal bed frames that disassemble without tools; assembled cribs; sofas, loveseats and futons; armchairs and other seating; dining chairs; dressers; kitchen, end and bedside tables; mirrors, artwork and rugs; small appliances, dishes, utensils, glassware, pots and pans; small desks.
Not accepted: large sectional couches, California king beds, platform and wooden bed frames, headboards, trundle and bunk beds, sleeper sofas, large bookshelves, china and curio cabinets, buffets, armoires, entertainment centers and large TV stands, outdoor furniture, pianos, electronics, large appliances, linens and other soft goods, clothes, exercise equipment and large office furniture.
Condition rules: upholstery must not be broken or have heavy rips, stains, pet hair or fading; wood should not have heavy water marks, chipped edges or missing hardware; everything must be clean, odor-free and free of pests such as bed bugs. Movers make the final call on whether an item is usable for clients.
The mattress policy is unusual. Many charity stores refuse mattresses, so this is one of the few Chicago options for a clean, pest-free mattress (see our mattress donation guide for others).
The furniture bank prefers drop-offs. Bring eligible items to 4801 S Whipple St on a weekday and call 312-752-0211 when you are on the way so someone can meet you and unload. The donate page lists drop-off hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the FAQ says 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., so aim for earlier in the day or confirm by phone. Drop-offs must meet the same criteria as pickups.
Items that fail the criteria above can go to Honest Junk Company, which the furniture bank calls its sister nonprofit. Honest Junk takes anything regardless of condition, from homes and businesses, can usually come within 48 hours, and prices the job by how much truck space your items fill. Usable items go to charity partners and revenue funds the furniture bank. Receipts cover the items and 80% of the removal fee.
The furniture bank is also a pickup partner for Goodwill Greater Milwaukee & Chicago, which does not accept furniture itself. Pickups booked through Goodwill's page are scheduled within 2 business days for a donation pickup fee. For other ways to give furniture in the city, including Habitat ReStore Chicago, see where to donate furniture with free pickup.