Construction equipment donations
Donate construction equipment and turn an idle machine into funded help
A boom lift that has not left the yard since the last contract, an excavator the business outgrew, a backhoe from a retired operator's estate. Machines like these carry real value, cost money to store, and are the donations that go furthest for Giving Center's programs.
- Lowboy, RGN or tilt-deck transport booked and paid for by Giving Center.
- No title needed. MSO, bill of sale or fleet records are what buyers expect.
- Clear guidance on the appraisal step when your claim will exceed $5,000.
Have the hours, serial number and a few photos handy and call (888) 228-7320.
Every machine type has its own page, so you get answers specific to yours
Transport, paperwork, value drivers and the appraisal question differ between a scissor lift and an excavator. Start with your machine.
Not on the list? We also accept pavers, milling machines, graders, water trucks, screening and crushing plants, welders, pumps, attachments and shop equipment. Use the form above and describe it. Tractors and ag machinery have their own home on farm and ag equipment donations; trucks and trailers are handled on truck donations and trailer donations.
Every make, and the model number is what matters
We accept equipment from every manufacturer. Buyers search by make and model number, so the single most useful thing you can send with the form is the data plate: make, model, serial number and operating weight. A photo of the plate beats a description every time.
- Earthmoving: Caterpillar, Komatsu, John Deere, Volvo, Hitachi, Case, New Holland, Hyundai, Kobelco, Doosan and Develon, Liebherr, JCB, Sany, Link-Belt, Takeuchi, Yanmar, Kubota, Bobcat.
- Aerial and material handling: JLG, Genie, Skyjack, Snorkel, Haulotte, Manitou, SkyTrak, Gehl, Toyota, Hyster, Yale, Crown, Clark, Linde.
- Compaction, paving and support: Bomag, Hamm and Wirtgen, Sakai, Dynapac, Ammann, Wacker Neuson, Multiquip, Ditch Witch, Vermeer, Atlas Copco and Epiroc, Sullair, Ingersoll Rand, Generac, Kohler, Cummins, Allmand, Wanco.
- Cranes: Grove, Manitowoc, Terex, National Crane, Manitex, Link-Belt, Tadano, Liebherr, Broderson, Elliott, Altec.
Not seeing yours? The list above is a search aid, not a restriction. We accept any make or model in this category, named here or not, including orphan brands and builders long out of business. What decides a donation is the condition and the paperwork, never the badge, so put yours on the form even if it is not listed.
Manufacturer names appear here so you can find your own machine. No manufacturer sponsors, endorses or is affiliated with this program.
The haul is planned and paid for, whatever the machine weighs
Heavy equipment is the one donation where transport is the whole question. Giving Center books the right trailer for the machine: a tilt-deck or step-deck for skid steers, mini excavators and scissor lifts; a lowboy or removable-gooseneck for full-size excavators, dozers and loaders; permits and escorts where height or width require them.
We ask about access up front. A machine on a fenced jobsite with a locked gate, or in a field with soft ground, needs a different plan than one parked on a paved yard. If it cannot be loaded under its own power, the hauler brings a winch or we arrange a machine to load it.
Where it sits matters to the outcome. A short haul to a regional equipment auction leaves more for the cause than a cross-country move, and we will say so plainly before anything is scheduled.
What you can deduct for donated equipment, case by case
The rules are set by the IRS, not by us. Here is how they apply to machines specifically.
| Your situation | What you deduct | Paperwork |
|---|---|---|
| Giving Center sells the machine, as is typical | The gross sale proceeds | Form 1098-C from Giving Center, attached to your return |
| Proceeds are over $5,000, common for excavators, telehandlers and newer lifts | Gross proceeds, and the IRS requires a qualified appraisal | Form 1098-C plus Form 8283 Section B, signed by your appraiser and by Giving Center |
| Proceeds are $500 to $5,000, common for older compact equipment and attachments | Gross proceeds | Form 1098-C plus Form 8283 Section A |
| The machine sells for under $500, for example a non-running unit with a long haul | The lesser of fair market value or $500 | Written acknowledgment from Giving Center |
| Giving Center puts the machine to significant use or materially improves it before sale | Fair market value, supported by an appraisal above $5,000 | Form 1098-C with the use or improvement certified |
Giving Center does not provide tax, legal or financial advice. Donations are deductible to the extent allowed by law. See IRS Publication 526, Publication 561 and Publication 4303, and consult a tax professional.
The paperwork you already have is usually enough
Unlike cars, most construction equipment is never titled. What establishes ownership is one of the following, and any one of them lets us proceed:
- A manufacturer's statement of origin (MSO or MCO) if you bought new.
- A bill of sale from your purchase, matched to the serial plate.
- A fleet asset record or depreciation schedule showing the unit.
- A lien release from the lender if it was financed.
Road-going units like dump trucks and box trucks are titled and treated like other trucks. If a lien is still open, we walk you through the payoff letter before pickup.
What decides how much your machine brings
- Hours on the meter, and whether the meter is original.
- Engine and hydraulics: starts cold, no major leaks, cylinders hold under load.
- Undercarriage or tires, the most expensive wear items on tracked and wheeled machines.
- Attachments included: buckets, forks, thumbs, hammers, augers.
- Emissions tier and year, which govern where a machine can legally work.
- Inspection records, especially the annual inspection on aerial lifts.
Photos of the serial plate, hour meter and each side of the machine let us give you a realistic range before the hauler is booked.
Equipment donation questions, answered plainly
More on the full FAQ and the state title rules page.
Do you take equipment without a title?
Yes. Most heavy equipment was never titled. A manufacturer's statement of origin, a bill of sale from when you bought it, or a fleet asset record with the serial number is what buyers and auction houses expect, and it is what we work from.
How is a large machine moved?
Giving Center books the hauler. Tracked machines and anything over legal height or width go on a lowboy or RGN with permits where required; smaller equipment goes on a tilt-deck or step-deck. You do not arrange or pay for the transport. If the machine cannot be loaded under its own power, we plan for that too.
What will my deduction be for equipment?
When Giving Center sells the machine, you deduct the gross sale proceeds reported on Form 1098-C. Because equipment often sells for well over $5,000, expect the qualified-appraisal step described in the table above. We tell you before pickup whether that is likely.
Does it need to run?
No, but it changes the plan. A machine with a dead engine or a failed hydraulic pump still sells to rebuilders and parts buyers if it is a common model. Tell us the hours and what is wrong and we will give you an honest read on whether the proceeds justify the haul.
Can a company donate equipment from its fleet?
Yes. Corporate donations follow the same process, with the receipt and Form 1098-C issued to the business. Fleet disposals of several units can be scheduled as one pickup. Ask your accountant how the deduction applies to your entity type.
What about attachments and spare parts?
Include them. Buckets, forks, augers, hammers, spare tires and manuals raise what a buyer pays. List them on the form or mention them on the call so they are part of the sale and reflected in your 1098-C.
Tell us what is sitting in the yard
Make, model, hours and where it is. That is enough for a straight answer on transport and a realistic sense of value.
Part of vehicle donations. Related: farm and ag equipment · truck donations · tax benefits · what happens to your vehicle