U-Haul – Community Equipment Rental Donations
In-Kind Equipment Rental Assistance Supporting Food, Clothing, Shelter, and Community Needs
U-Haul provides in-kind equipment rental assistance to eligible nonprofit organizations addressing essential community needs, particularly food, clothing, and shelter. Through its community donation program, U-Haul helps qualifying organizations access rental equipment for charitable activities that directly benefit their local communities.
Applications are accepted throughout the year and evaluated individually. Eligible organizations must have held 501(c)(3) status for at least three years and submit requests at least three weeks before the equipment is needed.
Organization: U-Haul International
Support Type: In-kind equipment rental assistance
Geographic Focus: United States; communities served by U-Haul-owned and -operated centers
About the Funder
U-Haul is a moving and storage company founded in 1945 by a World War II Navy veteran and his wife. The company provides moving trucks, trailers, storage services, and related equipment across North America.
U-Haul’s community involvement focuses on helping charitable organizations address fundamental human needs. Its giving priorities reflect the company’s belief that mobility and access to basic necessities are essential to family and community stability.
The company supports charitable partners through equipment assistance, employee volunteerism, and established community partnerships, including initiatives serving veterans and families experiencing homelessness.
What This Program Supports
U-Haul prioritizes charitable organizations addressing three essential needs.
Food Security & Hunger Relief
Organizations providing food assistance to people experiencing hunger or food insecurity may seek rental assistance for qualifying activities.
Potential uses include transporting donated food, delivering supplies to distribution sites, and supporting community food programs.
Clothing & Essential Supplies
Nonprofits distributing clothing and other essential goods may request equipment rental assistance to support local charitable activities.
Examples include transporting donated clothing or moving supplies to community distribution locations.
Housing, Shelter & Homelessness
Organizations helping individuals and families access shelter, housing, and basic household necessities may qualify for assistance.
U-Haul has a history of supporting organizations that assist families and veterans transitioning out of homelessness.
Veterans & Military Families
U-Haul also supports charitable organizations serving veterans and military families, particularly those addressing food, clothing, shelter, and related essential needs.
Community-Based Humanitarian Assistance
Other qualifying charitable activities may be considered when they directly benefit members of the organization’s local community and align with U-Haul’s giving priorities.
Eligible Support Types
In-Kind Equipment Rental Assistance
Approved nonprofits may receive assistance toward the cost of an equipment rental at a U-Haul-owned and -operated center.
The donation program is intended to support qualifying charitable activities requiring rental equipment.
Frequency Limit: One approved in-kind rental assistance donation per organization every 52 weeks.
Important: U-Haul does not provide cash grants or self-storage donations through this standard donation request program.
Separate Disaster Relief Assistance
U-Haul also provides disaster relief assistance through established partnerships, including its relationship with the American Red Cross.
In some disasters, participating U-Haul facilities may offer temporary free self-storage to affected residents.
These disaster response activities are separate from the standard nonprofit equipment rental donation program and should not be treated as generally available nonprofit grants.
Eligibility & Preferences
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be recognized as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization
- Have been established for at least three years
- Provide documentation of their tax-exempt status
- Conduct activities that directly benefit their local community
- Request assistance for an eligible charitable purpose
- Identify a U-Haul-owned and -operated rental location
- Obtain an equipment reservation number before submitting the request
- Submit the request at least three weeks before the equipment is needed
U-Haul considers requests individually and prioritizes organizations whose activities address basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.
Geographic Eligibility
The donation program serves eligible organizations in communities where U-Haul operates company-owned rental centers.
No state-specific eligibility list is published.
Applicants must identify the U-Haul rental location, including its city and state, as part of the request.
Important: The rental must be associated with a U-Haul-owned and -operated center. Applicants should verify the location’s status before applying.
Ineligible Requests
U-Haul does not support:
- Requests received fewer than three weeks before the event or equipment need
- Individuals seeking assistance for personal hardships
- Monetary donations, grants, or scholarships
- Self-storage donations through the standard program
- Organizations without established 501(c)(3) status
- Organizations established fewer than three years ago
- School activities
- Sports teams
- Race teams and car clubs
- Beauty pageants and individual competitions
- Organizations that do not directly benefit their local communities
- Telephone solicitation organizations
- Political entities
- Requests intentionally submitted through incorrect or multiple channels
- Transportation of people or animals in cargo areas of rental equipment
- Requests for ownership of trucks or trailers, including retired U-Haul vehicles
U-Haul does not operate a charitable foundation or formal cash grant or scholarship program.
Funding / Donation Amounts
U-Haul does not publish a standard dollar value or maximum amount of equipment rental assistance.
Approved contributions are provided as in-kind assistance toward an eligible equipment rental rather than direct cash payments.
Donation Frequency: Once every 52 weeks per approved nonprofit organization.
Timeline & Review
📅 Application Timeline: Rolling / ongoing
📅 Minimum Lead Time: At least three weeks before the event or equipment need
📅 Recommended Lead Time: Submit well beyond the three-week minimum, particularly during holidays and other high-volume periods.
📅 Review Process: Case-by-case evaluation
📅 Blackout Dates: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and potentially other holidays, including surrounding dates
📅 Review Period: No guaranteed response period published; additional processing time may be needed during high-volume periods.
Requests submitted within three weeks of the equipment need are not eligible for consideration.
Application / Request Process
All donation requests must be submitted in writing by email.
Donation Request Email: donations@uhaul.com
Applications must include:
- Name of the charitable organization
- Name of the person requesting assistance
- Contact email and telephone number, or physical mailing address
- Type of donation being requested
- Explanation of how the donation will be used
- Equipment reservation number
- Name listed on the reservation
- Date the equipment is needed, such as the rental pickup date
- Name, city, and state of the U-Haul location
- Copy of the organization’s 501(c)(3) tax documentation
Organizations should make the equipment reservation before applying. The reservation may be canceled if the donation request is denied.
U-Haul reviews requests individually and does not guarantee approval.
Apply / Learn More: https://www.uhaul.com/About/Philanthropy/
Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit
This opportunity is particularly well suited for organizations that:
- Have held 501(c)(3) status for at least three years
- Operate food banks, food pantries, or hunger relief programs
- Distribute clothing, furniture, or essential household supplies
- Support housing, homelessness prevention, or shelter services
- Assist veterans and military families
- Need rental equipment for a charitable activity
- Serve a clearly defined local community
- Can plan equipment needs at least three weeks in advance
U-Haul’s Community Equipment Rental Donations Program is a practical source of in-kind support for established nonprofits whose charitable work depends on transporting food, clothing, household goods, or other essential supplies.
Corporate Grants Guide Notes
Review Type: Rolling; case-by-case
Minimum Lead Time: Three weeks
Eligibility: Established 501(c)(3) organizations operating for at least three years
Donation Frequency: Once every 52 weeks
Support Type: In-kind equipment rental assistance
Cash Grants: Not available
Application Method: Email to donations@uhaul.com
Best Suited For: Established local nonprofits addressing food insecurity, clothing needs, housing, homelessness, and veteran support