In-Kind Donations

Remember the APS and APRL when it is time to find a new home for some or all of the philatelic material, supplies, and literature in your collection.We turn your donations into resources that will enrich and educate future generations of collectors.

What Counts as an In-Kind Donation?

Donations of tangible personal property are often called “gifts in-kind.” The APS and APRL accept in-kind gifts of stamps, postal history material, philatelic literature, and hobby supplies. Gifts of philatelic-related material support the purpose of the APS and APRL as tax exempt organizations – therefore, the donor can deduct these at fair market value per IRS regulations.

Your In-Kind Donation Gives Back — Twice!

When you donate philatelic material in-kind to the APS and APRL, we keep it moving back into the hands of collectors.

Our team of volunteers helps us decide where your donation will make the biggest impact. Many stamps and supplies will support APS educational programming, while other material is added to our member-accessible library and reference collection. We also sell some philatelic material back to collectors. All proceeds of these sales support educational and youth programs, the reference collection, and the library.

You may either drop off your donation at the American Philatelic Center in Bellefonte, or mail your items.

Our mailing address is:
American Philatelic Society
100 Match Factory Place
Bellefonte, PA 16823

For mailed donations to the APS, please add attn: Development to the mailing address. For mailed donations to the APRL, please add attn: APRL to the mailing address.

What Should I Donate?

The APS accepts:

Beginner, advanced, and specialized collections.
Postal history and postcards
First day covers
Stamps on- and off-paper, used or unused
Supplies in good condition (mounts, hinges, tongs, album and album pages, stock sheets, etc.)

Unless requested otherwise, the APS Reference Collection gets the first choice of any stamps donated.

Donations of mint and unused (with gum intact) U.S. postage are very welcome, and are often used on APS direct mailings to offset regular postage costs.

The APRL accepts:

Literature and research material on all aspects of philately and postal history
Material relating to APS and APRL history
Exceptional and significant archival collections
Artifacts that provide insight or inspire curiosity about postal history and philately

Potential donors of philatelic literature and artifacts to the library should read the APRL donation guide here. If you aren’t sure whether your material is a good fit for the APRL’s collection, contact Marian Mills by phone at (814) 933-3803 ext. 246 or by email.

What Should I Avoid Donating?

The APS does not need:

Supplies that are no longer in usable condition, such as mounts that have shriveled up, hinges stuck together, or badly yellowed glassine envelopes
Any philatelic supplies (such as watermark fluid) that are liquid. Please do not include any liquids with your in-kind donations.

This list may be updated as needs change.

Unsure whether your collection has a new home at the APS? Contact our Donations team to discuss your potential donation by phone (814) 933-3803 ext. 225 or by email.

The APRL does not need:

Copies of The American Philatelist and Philatelic Literature Review, or Scott Catalogues published post-1925
Plaques, awards, and trophies
Reproductions or clippings from non-philatelic publications
Philatelic materials or reproductions of philatelic materials (such as photos of stamps)
Severely damaged or fragile items, or items with mold or pest exposure
Routine financial records such as invoices, receipts, ledgers, etc.
Materials with no connection to philately

Some exceptions may apply. Potential donors of philatelic literature and artifacts to the library should read the APRL donation guide here. If you aren’t sure whether your material is a good fit for the APRL’s collection, contact Marian Mills by phone at (814) 933-3803 ext. 246 or by email.

How to Claim Noncash Charitable Contributions to the APS

Although not required, we would greatly appreciate if your in-kind donation includes a simple inventory of the donation, itemized at the category, container, album, or stockbook level. There is no need to inventory at the individual stamp, cover, book, or journal level.
To claim donations valued between $501 - $5,000, you will need to submit an IRS Form 8283 to the IRS.
- Per IRS guidelines, the APS / APRL does not sign IRS Form 8283 for noncash charitable contributions valued at less than $5,000.
To claim an in-kind donation with a value equal to or greater than $5,000, you MUST also submit an independent qualified appraisal when sending the in-kind donation to the APS.
- Please include an IRS Form 8283 with your name and identifying information and Section B – Part 1 completed. For more detailed IRS guidance on IRS Form 8283, click here.
- Be sure to sign and date Part III.
- IMPORTANT: Part IV (Declaration of Appraiser) MUST be completed by the Independent Qualified Appraiser. This section must be completed prior to sending us the donation. Appraisers must be able to inspect the material to give a qualified appraisal.
  - Use our stamp and postal history dealer locator to find an Independent Qualified Appraiser in your area.
- The APS will then complete Part V (Donee Acknowledgement) and return the completed IRS form 8283 with your acknowledgement letter.
- The APS will not sign blank IRS 8283 forms, and as per IRS guidelines, we cannot sign IRS Form 8283 for in-kind donations that have not been appraised by an independent qualified appraiser.
We will mail an acknowledgement letter within 7 to10 business days of the receipt of your in-kind donation.

American Philatelic Society

In-Kind Donations: Support the APS & APRL