What Working in a Nonprofit Taught Me About Sustainable Fashion

I was a young and ambitious college grad when I first stepped into my role as eBay Analyst and Donation Center Co-Coordinator for the Giving Tree ( a now defunct center under a Catholic nonprofit that will sue me if I directly name it here). I had no idea how much I would learn, not just about eCommerce and donation management but also about the profoundly human aspect of sustainable fashion. This job wasn’t just about selling things online; it was about making a real difference in the lives of people who needed it most while promoting sustainability in ways I hadn’t considered before.

The eBay Side of Things: Finding New Homes for Old Treasures

A huge part of my role revolved around managing The Giving Tree’s eBay store. This wasn’t your average online selling gig because it was about strategically listing donated items to generate revenue for the nonprofit. Every sale directly funded programs that supported vulnerable individuals, from homeless shelters to mobile food pantries.

I spent a lot of time researching donated products, ensuring they were priced competitively, and crafting descriptions that would make them stand out in a crowded marketplace. Every vintage jacket, designer bag, or rare collectible that passed through my hands was a way to not just give a second life to the item but also contribute to an important cause.

Running the eCommerce side required me to be incredibly organized. It was a lot to ask of a 22-year-old at her first real job, but I was up for it. I had to track inventory, update listings, handle customer inquiries, and ensure smooth shipping operations. I had to be speedy because every order needed to be shipped within 1-3 business days. I also had to organize inventory that was a mess from years of negligence from the previous person with the role.

The eCommerce site was losing money from years of malpractice. This meant I had to add more products, fix current issues, and organize past inventory as I kept everything flowing efficiently. However, efficiency had to be met with creativity. I also used strategies to enhance the center’s online presence to make the platform more engaging and user-friendly to attract more buyers. If I had been raised with social media, this shouldn’t have been so hard right? Wrong. I was almost fired for making a donation center Facebook page and a Depop and Poshmark account without asking permission from the Communications Director first.

The Giving Tree: Providing for Those in Need

But while eBay was all about selling, the Giving Tree was about direct service. This donation center functioned as a hub for individuals and families in need, offering basic necessities such as clothing, shoes, and hygiene products. What struck me most about this side of the job was how people from all walks of life entered. It was migrants, families, ex-cons, students, and the elderly. They came from all races and ages.

Clients who shopped at the Giving Tree were allowed to pick their clothing in a thrift store layout that allowed them to rebuild their dignity, one item at a time. The people we served also came from various programs, including veterans' initiatives, senior services, and support programs for people experiencing homelessness. Seeing their gratitude firsthand reminded me why sustainable fashion isn’t just about reducing waste; it’s about ensuring that every piece of clothing finds a purpose where it’s needed most.

But to be real, the behind the scenes logistics of the donation process was a massive operation in itself. Every week, we received an overwhelming volume of clothes, shoes, and other items from generous community members. However, sorting through these donations was overwhelming and chaotic. With limited space and fragile, elderly volunteers, I was forced to streamline the process by organizing the bulk of the donations myself. This also let me find the high-quality clothing that should be uploaded on our eBay account. If goods were too old or damaged, then the excess donations were redirected to Chicago Textile Recycling to prevent waste.

Sad to say that because our thrift store layout in the center was so small, we had to recycle more clothing than we could ever really give away. And the idea of making the center a thrift store was never embraced, despite my eagerness to reach profit goals. All of these elements often had me looking through bags and bags of clothing and boxes of weird items all day while trying to keep up with everything else. I was only paid $16 an hour and paid for 30 hours every week but usually volunteered more hours; a normal work could range from 40 to 50 hours.

Challenges and Opportunities for Improvement

One of the biggest challenges was balancing supply and demand. We often had more donations than we could process or distribute, leading to overflow storage issues. This is why a thrift store open to the public would allow us to make money from the overwhelming overflow of goods while still helping the needy. On the flip side, we had critical shortages of essential items like socks, underwear, and hygiene products. These were the things that people often don’t think to donate but are in the highest demand from those in dear need. Given that the eBay business was losing money and the center was in a deficit, we had no funds to purchase these items for the communities we served.

To address this, I worked closely with long-standing volunteers, recruited interns, and tried to talk with the development team to improve donations and business logistics. I guess I was trying because I improved the complicated intake process, expedited sorting, and improved the center operations to serve more clients efficiently while minimizing waste. I also advocated for targeted donation drives that focused on our most-needed items to make sure that every contribution helped the most vulnerable in our community.

What I Took Away from This Experience

My time in this role reinforced my belief that sustainable fashion isn’t just about thrifting or eco-friendly fabrics—it’s about ethical redistribution and conscious consumerism. Every piece of clothing has value, whether it’s sold to fund social programs or given directly to someone in need. Working with The Giving Tree allowed me to experiment and create a well-organized system of donation and resale that could turn discarded items into life-changing resources.

It also deepened my understanding of the human side of sustainability. The conversations I had with clients, the stories behind the items they chose, and the impact of even the smallest donations reminded me that fashion is deeply personal. It can be a source of empowerment, dignity, and hope.

THE FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE FASHION

Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for this experience. It taught me the complexities of sustainable fashion from both a business and humanitarian perspective. Whether it was navigating the ever-demanding world of e-commerce or organizing pounds of clothing donations for families in need, every task reinforced the power of thoughtful consumption and ethical distribution.

For anyone interested in sustainable fashion, I encourage you to think beyond just buying secondhand. Get involved in donation programs, volunteer at a local charity, or even start a clothing swap in your community. Fashion can be a tool for real change, and we all have a role to play in making it more sustainable and accessible for everyone. You can support my Depop if you would like cute, vintage pieces at an affordable price. All the proceeds go into funding this ethical fashion blog alongside my susty YouTube channel and live streams, my Susty Talks podcast and my local sustainable fashion group initiatives.