My Adjusted Gross Income is approximately $47K (I say approximately because I switched jobs last year to a higher salary, so this is a guesstimate). Last year, my refund was about $900. I always take the standard $250 deduction for charitable organizations, but this year I am considering donating a lot of items that would be a few thousand dollars total. My question is this: if I donate a few thousand dollars to a charitable organization, is that enough to effect my tax refund, or would I have to donate A LARGE amount in order for it to effect my refund beyond taking the standard deduction? If I do not donate the items, the other option is to sell the individually on Craigslist or Ebay, so I was hoping you would be able to tell me which would yield more money.

Almost ALWAYS, selling the items generates more money than making a donation.