Frequently Asked Questions

Forward is a platform that connects people who want to donate items with those who need them. When you give or receive an item through Forward, you can support a charity of your choice. It's a way to declutter responsibly while making a positive impact in your community.

Creating an account is quick and free:

1. Click "Sign Up" in the top navigation
2. Enter your name, email address, and create a password
3. Alternatively, sign up using your Google, Facebook, or Apple account for even faster registration
4. You're ready to start donating and requesting items!

Yes, Forward is completely free! There are no fees to list items, request donations, or use any features on the platform. Our mission is to facilitate giving, and we're supported by optional donations to partner charities.

Forward is available in multiple regions and countries. You can browse donations in your local area or explore other regions. We're constantly expanding to new locations. Check the Regions page to see all available locations.

No, you can browse all available donations without an account. However, you'll need to create an account to request items, post donations, or interact with other users on the platform.

Creating a donation is simple:

1. Sign in to your account
2. Click the "Donate" button in the navigation bar
3. Add a clear title and detailed description of your item
4. Upload at least one photo (good lighting helps!)
5. Select a charity you'd like to support
6. Choose your pickup location and availability
7. Click "Donate Item" and you're done!

You can donate almost anything that's in good, usable condition:

• Clothing and accessories
• Furniture and home goods
• Electronics and appliances
• Books, toys, and games
• Baby and children's items
• Sports and outdoor equipment
• Kitchen items and cookware
• Office supplies and equipment

Please don't list: Broken or damaged items, recalled products, hazardous materials, expired food or medicine, or items that require professional installation.

When creating a donation, you can browse our list of verified partner charities and select one that resonates with you. You can filter by cause (environment, health, education, etc.) or location. The charity you choose will be displayed on your donation listing, encouraging recipients to consider making a contribution.

When someone requests your donation:

1. You'll receive a notification (email and/or in-app)
2. Review the requester's profile to learn more about them
3. Approve or decline the request from your notifications or the donation page
4. If you approve, arrange pickup details with the recipient
5. Mark the donation as completed once the handoff is done

Yes! You can edit your donation details at any time before it's been claimed. Go to your donation, click the edit button, and make your changes. If you need to remove a listing entirely, you can delete it from the same page. Note that once an item has been claimed, you cannot delete the listing.

Great photos help your items get claimed faster:

• Use natural lighting when possible
• Show the item from multiple angles
• Include close-ups of any wear or imperfections
• Use a clean, uncluttered background
• Show the item in use or context (e.g., a coat on a hanger)
• Include something for scale if the size isn't obvious

Yes, you can group related items together in a single listing (e.g., "Set of 4 dining chairs" or "Box of children's books"). Just make sure the title and description clearly indicate what's included. For unrelated items, we recommend creating separate listings so people can request exactly what they need.

To request an item:

1. Browse donations or use the search to find what you need
2. Click on an item to view its details
3. Click the "Request" button
4. The donor will be notified and can approve or decline your request
5. If approved, you'll receive contact information to arrange pickup

Donors may decline requests for various reasons:

• Another person requested the item first
• The donor decided to give to someone with greater need
• Pickup logistics didn't work out
• The item is no longer available

Don't be discouraged! There are always new donations being posted. Consider setting up a watch to be notified when similar items become available.

Yes, you can request multiple donations from different donors. Each request is handled independently. Just be mindful of only requesting items you truly need, as others may be waiting for the same items.

Once your request is approved, you and the donor will need to arrange pickup. The donation listing includes a general pickup location. Communicate with the donor to agree on a specific time and meeting point. Always meet in safe, public places when possible.

No! All donations on Forward are completely free. However, when you receive an item, you may see a suggestion to make a voluntary contribution to the charity associated with the donation. This is entirely optional and up to you.

We encourage donors to be honest and thorough in their descriptions. If an item significantly differs from its listing, you're not obligated to take it. If you've had a negative experience, please contact our support team so we can address the situation.

When someone posts a donation, they select a charity they care about. This charity is displayed on the listing. When a recipient receives the item, they can choose to make a voluntary donation to that charity. It's a way to multiply the impact of giving—one donation can help both a person in need and a charitable cause.

We partner with registered, verified charities in each region. Our team reviews each organization to ensure they are legitimate, in good standing, and aligned with our mission of helping communities. We aim to offer a diverse selection of causes so donors can support what matters most to them.

Absolutely! If there's a charity you'd like to see on Forward, please contact us with the charity's name, website, and location. We'll review your suggestion and reach out to them about joining our platform.

This depends on your country's tax laws and the specific charity you donate to. Most of our partner charities are registered nonprofits that can provide tax receipts. When you make a donation, you'll typically donate directly to the charity, who can issue any applicable receipts or documentation.

We'd love to have you! To join Forward as a charity partner:

1. Email us at [email protected]
2. Include your organization's name, website, and registration details
3. Tell us about your mission and the areas you serve
4. Our team will review your application and get back to you

Click on your profile picture in the navigation bar and select "Settings." From there, you can update your name, photo, bio, location, and notification preferences. A complete profile helps build trust with other users.

Go to your Settings page and look for the password section. Enter your current password and then your new password twice to confirm. If you've forgotten your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the sign-in page to reset it.

Yes, you can request account deletion by contacting our support team at [email protected]. Please note that deleting your account will remove your profile and active listings, but some information may be retained in accordance with our privacy policy for legal or safety purposes.

Your public profile shows your display name, profile photo, bio (if provided), member since date, and your donation activity (items given and received). Your email address and exact location are never publicly displayed.

Visit your Settings page to customize your notification preferences. You can choose to receive notifications via email, in-app, or both. You can also control which types of notifications you receive (new requests, approved donations, watch matches, etc.).

We take safety seriously. Here are our recommendations:

• Meet in public, well-lit places during daytime
• Bring a friend or family member if possible
• Tell someone where you're going and when
• Trust your instincts—if something feels off, leave
• Avoid sharing your home address until you're comfortable
• Use the in-app messaging to communicate initially

If you encounter inappropriate behavior, suspicious listings, or any safety concerns, please report it immediately. You can contact our support team at [email protected]. We investigate all reports and take appropriate action to maintain a safe community.

We verify email addresses and monitor accounts for suspicious activity. Users who sign in with Google, Facebook, or Apple have an additional layer of verification through those platforms. We also display activity history on profiles to help build trust within the community.

To keep Forward a positive space for everyone:

• Be honest in your listings and communications
• Treat all users with respect and kindness
• Only list items that are truly free to give away
• Follow through on your commitments
• Don't use the platform for commercial purposes
• Report any violations you encounter

We take privacy seriously. Your email address is never publicly displayed. Location information is shown at a neighborhood or city level, not your exact address. All data is transmitted securely, and we never sell your personal information. For more details, please read our Privacy Policy.

Watches are saved searches that automatically notify you when new donations match your criteria. Instead of checking the site constantly, you can set up watches for items you're looking for and receive alerts when they become available.

To create a watch:

1. Go to your Watches page
2. Click "Create Watch"
3. Enter keywords for items you're looking for
4. Optionally filter by category or location
5. Save your watch

You'll receive notifications when new donations match your watch criteria.

You can create multiple watches to track different items. We recommend keeping your watches focused and specific to get the most relevant notifications. You can edit or delete watches at any time.

You can pause or delete individual watches from your Watches page. If you want to stop all watch notifications, you can adjust your notification preferences in Settings, or simply delete all your active watches.

Regions help you find donations near you. Each region represents a city or metropolitan area. When you browse donations, you can filter by region to see items available for pickup in your area. You can also explore other regions if you're willing to travel.

You can change your default region from your Settings page. You can also browse donations in any region at any time by using the region filter on the donations page or visiting a specific region's page.

We're expanding to new areas regularly! If Forward isn't in your area yet, you can still create an account and browse existing regions. Let us know at [email protected] where you'd like to see us next. The more interest we receive from an area, the faster we prioritize launching there.

Yes! You can list donations in any region where you're able to arrange pickup. Some donors are willing to deliver, or you might list items in multiple regions if you travel between them. Just be clear in your listing about pickup options.

If you're having trouble with photo uploads:

• Make sure your photo is in JPEG, PNG, or WebP format
• Try reducing the file size if it's very large (over 10MB)
• Check your internet connection
• Try a different browser or clear your cache
• Ensure your browser allows the site to access your files

If problems persist, contact us at [email protected].

If you're missing notifications:

• Check your spam or junk folder
• Add our email address to your contacts
• Verify your notification preferences in Settings
• Make sure your email address is correct in your profile

Try these troubleshooting steps:

• Refresh the page
• Clear your browser cache and cookies
• Try a different browser
• Disable browser extensions that might interfere
• Check if your internet connection is working

If the site is still not working, we may be experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again later or check our social media for status updates.

Click the "Forgot Password" link on the sign-in page. Enter your email address, and we'll send you a link to reset your password. The link expires after 24 hours for security. If you don't receive the email, check your spam folder or try again.

Forward works best on modern browsers including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. We recommend keeping your browser updated to the latest version for the best experience. Some features may not work correctly on older or unsupported browsers.