How to Start a Dance Costume Donation Drive: A Step-by-Step Guide

Dance costumes often sit unused in closets after performances, yet many dancers and studios face financial barriers to access quality costumes. Starting a dance costume donation drive at your studio is not only a great way to give back, but it also strengthens the dance community, while promoting sustainability.

Whether you are a studio owner looking to clear out your storage closet, or a returning dancer looking to do a closet clean-out, organizing a dance costume donation drive with your studio might be the best decision for you.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through why donating dancewear matters and how to organize your own drive, especially during the holiday season when generosity is at its peak.

• Give Back To The Dance Community: Not all dancers have the financial means to purchase costumes for performances. A donation drive helps redistribute gently used costumes to dancers who might not be able to afford them, ensuring everyone has access to the joy of dance.

• Promote Sustainability: Costumes are often only worn once or twice before being stored or discarded. By encouraging donations, studios can contribute to a more sustainable dance industry by reducing waste and extending the life of dancewear.

• Build Community: A costume drive brings dancers, parents, and their studio together for a common cause, fostering a sense of collaboration and giving back.

Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing a Dance Costume Donation Drive

Before you begin PLAN your time.

Remember that executing this involves contacting the members of your studio and that will take time!  Make sure to include time for you to conduct a solid outreach before ALL your deadlines.

Step 1: Choose Your Timeline – Holiday Season Works Best!

The best time to organize a donation drive is during a period when people are inclined to be generous—around October and November, leading up to the holiday season. Planning your drive for these months can inspire donations, as individuals may feel more motivated to declutter and contribute to a charitable cause.
To be realistic with your donation goals, remember that although dance items are generous donations, relocating them to another location does come with a cost. Most dance costume charities fundraise their shipment costs, but they are also responsible for the fees of storing any unused items. It is best to create a practical monetary goal alongside a dance item collection number to ensure the logistics will be covered, helping them to go to the right place.

To provide you with an idea for a monetary fundraising target, logistics companies tend to charge about $3 per pound.

Step 2: Set Clear Donation Goals And Share Them With Your Studio

As a studio, you have the potential to create a large impact on another dance program. Most donations are single items and are not able to be re-used in local dance performances (within competitive studios). It is a great goal to try and receive as many group dance donations as possible!

Before launching the drive, decide on clear goals:

• How many costumes or items are you aiming to collect?
• Are you accepting shoes, dancewear, or just costumes?
• Will you donate locally, or send costumes to dancers in need worldwide?

Ultimately, the more clear your goals, the easier it will be to communicate to your donors and facilitate your efforts in the right direction.

Step 3: Partner with a Non-Profit or Charity

If your studio isn’t already aligned with a cause, partnering with a charity like Second Stage Dance or another organization that distributes dancewear to underprivileged dancers can streamline the donation process. Dance non-profits that focus on costume reuse are always building relationships with dance programs that are in need. As well, they typically have an idea of what is required where and can contribute other items at the time of your projected donation. Think of it like your studio joining forces with the rest of the dance community.

Step 4: Promote the Donation Drive

To make your costume drive successful, you need strong promotion:

• Flyers & Posters: Design flyers that highlight the importance of donating and post them around your studio.
• Social Media Campaign: Use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and your studio’s website to promote the event. Include impactful imagery, such as dancers in the donated costumes, to demonstrate the direct effect.
• Email Outreach: Send out emails to your studio community encouraging participation. Include the logistics of where, when, and what to donate.

*On our website shopsecondstagedance.org you can find resources to help your studio

Step 5: Set Up a Collection System

Make it easy for donors to contribute by setting up a clear and simple collection system:

• Designated Drop-Off Spots: Place a clearly marked bin or area in your studio where donors can easily drop off costumes and dancewear.
• Clear Instructions: Ensure donors know what items can be donated and the condition you expect (gently used, clean, etc.)–we advise taping our donation poster to the exterior of the box you are collecting in.
• Scheduled Collection Days: Consider having specific collection days to create urgency and ensure someone is available to manage the intake.
• Rewards System: Decide if you are going to encourage donations through an in-studio rewards system–maybe discounts to be used on a workshop in the future, free swag or a private lesson.

Step 6: Create Incentives for Participation-Rewards System Ideas

Offer rewards or incentives to encourage more participation:

• Recognition: Publicly thank donors (with their consent) on social media or during a studio event.
• Raffles: For every item donated, enter participants into a raffle for studio-related prizes like free classes, private lessons, or studio merchandise.
• Holiday Spirit: Since this drive aligns with the holiday season, you could combine it with other studio events, like a holiday recital or a studio party, to generate more excitement.

Step 7: Organize and Distribute Donations

Once the donation period ends:

• Sort & Inspect: Ensure all items are in good condition, clean, and ready for donation.
• Package & Label: Organize items by type and size, making it easier for the receiving organization to distribute them.
• Deliver Donations: Work with your charity partner to deliver the donations or arrange for them to be picked up. Some organizations may require items to be shipped, so factor this into your plan.

Step 8: Share the Impact

After the donation drive is complete, follow up with your community by sharing the results:

• Social Media & Email: Post about how many items were donated and where they are going. This can inspire future participation and keep your community engaged.
• Thank You Event: Consider hosting a small event or class in honor of all who donated, celebrating the impact they’ve made.

Give Back To Dance

Organizing a dance costume donation drive at your studio is a simple yet impactful way to give back to the dance community. By following these steps and leveraging the spirit of the holiday season, you can inspire dancers, families, and staff to contribute to a meaningful cause. Not only does this initiative support dancers in need, but it also encourages sustainability and fosters a sense of community. Let’s start giving, one costume at a time!