Grad Bag

Grad Bag has a twofold mission: to support underserved college-bound students and to advance sustainability.   Grad Bag accomplishes its mission by collecting, refreshing, and repackaging lightly used dorm room essentials and distributing these to first-year college students who need them most.

Grad Bag began in 2012 as a small grassroots project in Scarsdale, New York.  The two founders were troubled by the waste accumulating in dumpsters as they helped their children move out of their college dorms. They noticed that many of the discarded items were in fine condition and these items could help to ease the college transition for students who couldn’t afford to purchase them.  Furthermore, this could serve an important recycling mission as these items would otherwise end up in landfills.  With this dual purpose in mind, they began collecting, cleaning and packaging these dorm room items in their homes.

Over the years Grad Bag’s operation expanded onto 17 college campuses with distribution to more than 20 not-for-profit organizations in New York, Connecticut and Boston.   Recognizing that the organization couldn’t continue its growth trajectory with its current volunteer leadership, it became a 501 ( C) 3 not-for-profit in Fall, 2019.   A small board was recruited and planning began to determine Grad Bag’s future.  The COVID-19 pandemic forced Grad Bag to cease operation on college campuses for the 2020 and 2021 academic years.  During this time the Board worked on a strategic plan that will position the organization for future growth and success.  Successful operations resumed in both Boston and New York in 2022.