The 20 Most Needed Items at U.S. Nonprofits Right Now

What verified nonprofits across California are consistently running low on — a real-time inventory of need from 100+ Givelink-onboarded organizations.

This list comes from the wishlists. Not from surveys, not from sector research, not from assumptions — from the actual wishlist items that 100+ verified Givelink nonprofits have flagged as their highest-priority needs in 2027. These are the items that appear most frequently across wishlists, that are marked critical or high-priority most consistently, and that are most often depleted between biweekly delivery cycles. If you want to give something that will be used immediately, give from this list.

How this list was compiled

Every Givelink-onboarded nonprofit can flag wishlist items as critical (immediate shortage), high (needed within the month), or standard (useful but not urgent). This list reflects the items that appear most frequently at critical or high priority across our 100+ nonprofit partners, as of Q1 2027. It's updated quarterly.

---

The 20 most needed items right now

1. Incontinence supplies (adult briefs, sizes M/L)

Who needs it: Senior services, adult homeless shelters, domestic violence programs with senior residents. Why it's always short: Not covered by government benefit programs. Underdonated in drives. High daily usage.

2. Feminine hygiene products (pads and tampons)

Who needs it: Virtually every organization serving women and girls. Why it's always short: Chronically underdonated. High stigma around asking. Essential daily need.

3. Unscented bar soap (individual or bulk)

Who needs it: Every shelter, transitional housing, and social services organization. Why it's always short: Drives tend to bring scented soaps. Unscented required for sensory-sensitive environments.

4. New socks (adult, multiple sizes)

Who needs it: Homeless shelters, veterans organizations, domestic violence programs. Why it's always short: One of the most requested but least donated items in the sector.

5. Toothbrushes (individually wrapped)

Who needs it: Every shelter and intake program. Why it's always short: Drives collect toothpaste; toothbrushes are frequently forgotten.

6. Diapers, size 3 and size 4

Who needs it: Family shelters, domestic violence programs, food banks with family programs. Why it's always short: Size mismatch is the primary problem — donors give size 1 and 2; programs mostly need 3 and 4.

7. Nutritional supplement shakes (Ensure or equivalent)

Who needs it: Senior services, hospice support programs, medical day programs. Why it's always short: Expensive relative to other items. Often missing from drives.

8. New underwear (adult, all sizes)

Who needs it: Shelters, transitional housing, emergency services. Why it's always short: Drives collect used clothing; underwear must be new. Often overlooked.

9. Deodorant (unscented)

Who needs it: Every shelter and housing program. Why it's always short: Scented deodorant is donated frequently; unscented is what organizations need.

10. Baby wipes (unscented, large packs)

Who needs it: Family shelters, food banks with family programs, transitional housing with young children. Why it's always short: High volume usage, frequently depleted.

11. Phone chargers (USB-C and Lightning)

Who needs it: Homeless services, domestic violence shelters, veterans programs. Why it's always short: Critical for housing applications, employment, and maintaining contact with services. Rarely donated.

12. Transportation gift cards (local transit)

Who needs it: Virtually every organization with client transportation needs. Why it's always short: Cash equivalent — not covered by most drives. Essential for medical and employment access.

13. Protein-rich canned food (tuna, chicken, sardines)

Who needs it: Food banks, community fridges, senior nutrition programs. Why it's always short: Drives collect carbohydrate-heavy items. Protein sources are consistently depleted.

14. Art supplies (colored pencils, sketchbooks)

Who needs it: Youth arts programs, mental health programs using art therapy, school readiness programs. Why it's always short: Niche enough that most drives don't include them. High value for programs.

15. Backpacks (adult and youth)

Who needs it: Homeless services, transitional housing, family shelters. Why it's always short: Essential for people moving into housing or attending programs. Underdonated.

16. Grip socks (non-slip, multiple sizes)

Who needs it: Senior services, physical therapy programs, adult day programs. Why it's always short: Very specific senior care item that most donors don't think of.

17. Baby formula (standard and specialty)

Who needs it: Family shelters, domestic violence programs, community resource centers. Why it's always short: Not covered by WIC in some situations. High cost. Frequently depleted.

18. Journal notebooks (plain or lined, A5)

Who needs it: Mental health programs, peer support groups, school readiness programs. Why it's always short: Consistently requested for therapeutic use. Rarely donated.

19. Laundry detergent (fragrance-free, liquid)

Who needs it: Shelters with laundry facilities, transitional housing, family programs. Why it's always short: Large but heavy — hard to collect in drives. Fragrance-free requirement narrows options.

20. Hand lotion (unscented, large bottles)

Who needs it: Senior services, dry climate organizations, shelter populations. Why it's always short: Overlooked item. High use in winter and dry climates.

---

How to give these items right now

All 20 items are available on Givelink wishlists across verified California nonprofits. Browse by cause category to find the organization most aligned with your giving motivation, and give from their current wishlist.

SmartPick can convert a cash donation into the optimal mix of these items for a specific nonprofit's current needs — prioritizing whatever is marked critical in their active wishlist.

Every donation produces a delivery photo. Every photo arrives in your dashboard within 2–3 weeks of the biweekly fulfillment cycle.

Browse verified nonprofits on Givelink and give from a real wishlist today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is this list compiled?

From the actual wishlist data of 100+ Givelink-onboarded nonprofits, reflecting items marked critical or high-priority most frequently across the network as of Q1 2027.

Can I give any of these items through Givelink?

Yes — all 20 items are available in the Givelink product catalog. Browse verified nonprofit wishlists and you'll find many of them listed.

Why are unscented versions of soap, deodorant, and lotion so important?

Many shelter environments serve people with chemical sensitivities, trauma associations with specific scents, or medical conditions that require fragrance-free products. When nonprofits specify unscented, it's important to honor that specification.

How often does this list update?

Quarterly — reflecting the current priority-flag data from active Givelink nonprofit wishlists.

Give what's actually needed. See it arrive.

Browse verified nonprofits on Givelink and give from the list that comes from the wishlists themselves.

Stay Human.

---

Panos Kokmotos is Co-Founder and COO of Givelink.