Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharing With A Purpose SWAP.
Hi Sharing With a Purpose, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
SWAP was founded in 2008 by a group of Washington University in St. Louis students who questioned the copious amount of waste generated on WashU’s campus each year. As a result of the move-in and move-out processes, many working dorm appliances found the landfill instead of new homes.
To reduce this end-of-year waste, SWAP holds an annual sale during freshman move-in on the South 40 basketball courts to recirculate secondhand appliances. At the end of the spring semester, volunteers gather dorm items left behind, focusing on mini fridges and microwaves. These items are then sold for discounted prices–helping students save money while simultaneously reducing waste.
Through the StEP (Student Enterprise Program) at WashU’s Skandalaris Center, students pitched their idea to the board, granted approval, and secured proper funding for a storefront operation on the South 40 section of campus in 2012. Starting from a single event, SWAP is now able to make donated items available to students year-round. In 2010, SWAP achieved 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, ensuring the longevity of our organization and impact. Of the StEP businesses, SWAP is one of the oldest and the only nonprofit.
Unlike other organizations, SWAP’s storefront inventory is free for all, all the time. SWAP accepts donations 24/7 from students and community members of clothing, shoes, books, school supplies, and other miscellaneous items. Developed and upheld throughout our 18 years of operations, SWAP’s mission statement is:
“To promote re-use within the Washington University and larger St. Louis community through the free exchange and affordable sale of donated goods. By giving these items another life, we’re actively combating waste and diverting items away from the landfill, as well as providing affordable and accessible resources for students.”
Currently, SWAP has 18 members who believe in the mission and work completely as volunteers. Our seemingly small organization manages every year to divert several tons of waste from landfills, promote second-hand shopping, and save students thousands of dollars. In 2025 alone, SWAP recycled over five tons of waste, and redistributed over $100,000 worth of inventory. Outside of internal campus operations, SWAP builds partnerships with local St. Louis organizations, hosts free events for students, and shares resources to promote sustainability across the community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
With over 15 years of history, SWAP has seen many generations of directors leading our operations. While we can only imagine the unique challenges our founders faced in the early days in becoming a non-profit business, and a student-founded business, today we are navigating a new set of challenges to our operations. One of those issues is a high leadership turnover rate. While this is a positive thing, as most directors come in with new ideas and leadership styles, this is a bit of a struggle for a business to remain consistent. Minor things such as keeping our paperwork up to date, transitioning between directors, and sharing operational knowledge can get lost in this transition. We are excited because the current leadership is working to develop a way to guide future SWAP directors in keeping the business running efficiently and consistently.
As rent for retail space has increased over the last decade, our rent has risen to reflect those costs. Rising costs have made it clear that our annual move-in sale (which generates most of our income) is insufficient to offset them. We are actively striving to find ways to generate more revenue for SWAP while staying true to our mission and keeping our storefront 100% free. Operating as StEP’s only nonprofit is both a privilege and a challenge. Because we prioritize our mission over profit, our operational needs look different from those of other businesses, which can sometimes feel like there’s a gap in support. However, we remain grateful to the StEP board for recognizing that SWAP’s unique structure is exactly what makes us vital to the community.
We’ve been impressed with Sharing With a Purpose (SWAP), but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
More than a free thrift store, SWAP is a beacon of community building and mutual aid. Sustainability efforts often prioritize reducing waste while failing to promote accessibility to low-income individuals. SWAP, on the other hand, is free for all, meaning you do not have to demonstrate need to enjoy our goods and services. Our organization recognizes that the sustainability movement is and must be inextricably tied to economic, social, and environmental justice.
Directed, operated, and founded by WashU students, SWAP is uniquely situated to offer students real-world nonprofit experience while being located on a college campus. SWAP is the only nonprofit located on a stretch of other student-owned businesses. However, despite being located on WashU’s campus, SWAP’s impact reaches beyond the university. SWAP fosters partnerships with St. Louis organizations, such as St. Louis Mutual Aid and Just Used Tech, leveraging our position and influence to benefit our community. We are proud to have served WashU and the St. Louis community for 18 years, championing mutual aid, recirculation, and sustainability.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Our storefront is open weekdays from 4-6 pm. Just stopping by and browsing means a lot to us. We aim to grow our presence as a resource not only for WashU students but also for the greater St. Louis community. There is a donation bin outside our store available 24/7, so feel free to contribute to SWAP and support a local, student-run nonprofit. We enjoy partnering with local St. Louis organizations in order to expand the sustainability movement. Feel free to contact us if our mission aligns with yours. Lastly, supporting us on social media and subscribing to our newsletter are great ways to stay updated on SWAP and our ongoing projects. SWAP is, and has been for over a decade, a student resource. In the past school year alone, we provided students with over 1,600 items, saving $39,000, and diverting over 4,000 pounds from the landfill. As our storefront operates on a nonprofit basis, we rely entirely on the generosity of our community to keep our doors open and continue our work. We gratefully accept monetary donations; please visit our website to learn more about how you can support our mission.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://swapstl.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swapstl/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10938209/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@swapstl?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
