Information Packet

About The CellFund Program
Benefits of The CellFund Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Tips and Ideas
Cell Phone Collection Scripts
Important Guidelines for The CellFund Program
Shipping Instructions

Why It Works

The CellFund Program is a tool that has been designed to help organizations maximize their fundraising potential. There are approximately 150 million cell phones in use in the United States today and another 50 million that are lying idle in homes across America. This number continues to grow larger every day at an accelerated rate. The CellFund Program refurbishes and recycles these inactive phones and turns them into cash for you.

It’s easy! Simply collect used cell phones on behalf of your organization. The CellFund Program will pay you for every cell phone with value that your organization collects. So get started and register your organization today!

NOTE: To ensure maximum benefit for your group, collect as many LATE MODEL cell phones as possible.

Benefits of Using The CellFund Program

Absolutely no cost
With The CellFund Program, there is no product you must purchase to sell. Simply start collecting cell phones and begin generating funds today. How many candy bars, raffle tickets, or discount cards have you had to pay for in the past because you could not sell them all? With The CellFund Program, you have no up-front costs or out-of-pocket expenses.
Risk free Turn-Key Program
There are no costs that cut into your CellFund profits. As soon as you ship your collected phones, you begin making money.
It’s easy
Simply collect used cell phones, ship the cell phones, and receive a check! It really is that easy. (CellFund pays all shipping costs as soon as you collect at least 25 phones.)
Everybody wins
With The CellFund Program, your organization benefits from the donated phones and each donor as well. Owners of cell phones are happy to donate their used cell phones while also benefiting your organization's worthy cause.
Cutting-edge
Become part of a revolutionary fundraising concept. The newness and freshness of the CellFund innovative program is sure to stimulate attention and excitement throughout your community.
Untapped source of revenue
The average cell phone user upgrades every 14-18 months in the U.S. With over 150 million cell phones in use today, this high turnover rate creates a very large source of used cell phones that can be converted into additional revenue for your organization.
Refer other organizations for additional income
Use The CellFund Program's automated Referral Plan to receive 10% of the value of all collected phones by each organization you refer. Click here for information on the Referral Plan.
For all types of organizations
Any organization, no matter how large or small, can use The CellFund Program to help generate funds. You can develop it as a stand-alone program or integrate it into an existing fundraising plan.
Protect the environment and raise funds for your organization
A portion of the phones that you collect will be damaged beyond repair or simply obsolete. These phones and their batteries are recycled in accordance with all applicable environmental laws. So, now while you're out raising funds, you're also protecting the environment by disposing of used cell phones properly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The CellFund Program?

The CellFund Program is a FREE fundraising tool designed to help you raise substantial funds for your organization or group by collecting used cell phones.

We have developed a fundraising approach enabling your organization to capitalize on an untapped source of revenue with the estimated 50 million idle used cell phones across America. Many of these phones can be refurbished for secondary markets in the wireless community.

How does it work? All you need to do is collect used cell phones and we'll send you a check. It's free and it's that easy!

How can my organization get started?

Get started immediately by clicking here and registering your organization.
Click here to download The CellFund Program fundraising materials.
Spread the message that you are collecting cell phones throughout your community, just as you would for other fundraisers. We recommend you integrate CellFund with existing fundraising plans.

What types of organizations are eligible to collect?

Any individual, any organization, and any group is eligible to receive funds through The CellFund Program.

How much is each used cell phone worth?

Depending on the model and market value, there is no limit to how much a used cell phone is worth. Newer, specialty models pay more. Your organization will receive the market value for every phone you ship to CellFund.

What is a paying cell phone?

NEW CELLFUND PAYOUT MODEL
CellFund is now owned and operated by a national recycler. The middleman in your fundraising efforts has been removed. As a result, you will automatically be paid twice as much for your valued phones. Plus, more commonly collected models have value with us, ensuring a better return for your fundraising efforts!

A used cell phone has monetary value if the model has demand (if it can be resold) in the secondary cell phone market. Note: Every cell phone either has market value OR is used in 911 emergency collection programs OR is recycled. Only phones with market demand have monetary value to you or CellFund. The phone list identifies the models with monetary value. Former technology models have little or no value; therefore, most phones that have been stored in drawers have no market demand. Phones with no value are recycled according to EPA guidelines. There may be phones that do not appear on our current listing of valued phones that may have value. This is due to the ever-changing nature of the wireless industry.

Click here to see the phone list and their payout amounts.

Please note: To ensure maximum benefit for your group, collect as many LATE MODEL cell phones as possible. Silver, camera, and video phones are in demand. Text messaging, color screens, and number portability (2003 Federal Law) are necessary for a phone to have higher value. One strategy is to collect phones in professional office settings. Other high value phone collections are coming from independent retail wireless stores. Identify advocates and boosters of your cause and have them make these contacts and manage the collections for you.

CellFund is easy!

Recommendation: Put youth and young adults in charge of your CellFund fundraiser. They know how to bring in phones with value!

What type of phones can be collected?

Collect wireless phones. Cordless phones intended for home use are not acceptable. All cellular or PCS hand-carried phones will be accepted.

Must phones be in working order?

Collected phones need not be in working order. Phones that cannot be resold will be recycled and disposed of according to EPA regulations.

How long should we run the CellFund campaign?

The duration of your campaign effort is up to you. The more cell phones you collect, the more funds you will generate to benefit your organization. We recommend that a campaign last at least 90 days. Remember, a minimum of 25 phones is needed in order to submit a shipping request.

Shipping is free. Be sure to send phones on an ongoing basis. After you have completed your CellFund campaign, make drop boxes available so that people upgrading plans or switching services will be able to donate their former cell phones to your organization on an ongoing basis. CellFund can effectively be used as a year-round fundraising tool.

How do I ship my phones?

Shipping is free and easy. All you need is your CellFund User ID and a minimum of 25 phones.

To receive your free shipping labels, go to www.CellFund.com, click on Shipping and go to the Shipping Request Form. Using your CellFund User ID, complete the shipping form.

We will immediately mail your free FedEx shipping label(s), one for each box. Upon arrival, affix your label(s) and call FedEx or bring your boxes to nearest driver or pickup station.

Please note: We will not accept shipments sent C.O.D.

Is there a name that should be given to this fundraising campaign?

You may determine the name of your own fundraising campaign. However, we ask that you please acknowledge it as part of The CellFund Program. Refer others and make additional income!

When will my organization receive a check?

Your organization will receive a check within 3-5 weeks after we receive your phones.

Who do I contact if I have any questions?

If you have questions, go to Contact Us.

Who is CellFund?

CellFund is a used cell phone fundraising program that was started by missionaries and is now owned and managed by a recycling company. CellFund is a free fundraising program. Registration is free. So are the web-based materials, shipping, check processing and reporting. Plus, CellFund is a recycling program.

What is my CellFund User ID?

If you lose or forget your CellFund User ID, go to Contact Us. Otherwise, click here to register for free and receive your CellFund User ID.

Where do the phones go?

The used cell phones that have value are refurbished and sold as such in markets where that model's technology will work and is in demand. Some of these markets, such as pre-paid wireless, are in America and some are international. Then there is a group of phones with a functional technology but have no market value. These go into an emergency 911 handset program for the elderly and battered women shelters. Finally, there are phones that have no value and are not re-used. These units are broken down and the parts re-used or recycled. If the parts cannot be used, the hardware is disposed of in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local regulations.

Should I ship the accessories?

Yes, CellFund now accepts accessories. For packing information, click here.

Do we send phones that are not on the phone list?

The general rule is to collect as many newer model phones as possible for best results. We encourage you to ship any and all phones you collect because of constant market changes. Some phone models will pay that are not on our current list.

What happens to the information on the phones?

Regarding privacy and the information stored on the phone, we receive thousands of wireless phones each day. Every handset is entered into inventory and the phones that are refurbished are cleared of all data. The goal is to refurbish the units as efficiently as possible and get them to a secondary market as soon as possible. Because every unit is inventoried, it is not possible to remove a unit to retrieve private information. No donated phone will work with your current wireless billing plan if you have notified your provider to remove that handset.

Tips and Ideas

Exponentially increase your collections!

Here at CellFund we hear success stories of how groups and organizations are multiplying their fundraising strategies. By expanding their collection efforts to include the realms of influence of staff, members, clients, etc., they are able to dramatically increase their collection results far beyond what they thought possible from merely collecting the phones within their organization. Read on to see what we mean.

Cheryl Bauman, Director of the Crisis Pregnancy Outreach in Tulsa, Oklahoma, had a dilemma. She consumed so much of her time, energy, and resources running her organization that she had little time left to raise funds. Sound familiar? What to do? All of her financial resources were already being tapped and additional funds were always needed. That’s when someone told her about The CellFund Program. Cheryl knew that The CellFund Program had great potential for an organization like the Crisis Pregnancy Outreach but she simply didn’t have a lot of time promote it. Then Cheryl had an idea. She simply emailed some of the parents that had successfully adopted children from her organization. The response she got was amazing. Let’s let Cheryl tell the rest of the story. She writes...
Many of the families who have adopted babies through Crisis Pregnancy Outreach have really caught the vision for raising funds through CellFund.

Some have put collection boxes in their churches, places of work, and businesses that they patronize.

Several of the adoptive fathers have involved national corporations with which they are employed. They have taken the opportunity to issue e-mails that go to all of the offices in their companies. Men and women all over the U.S. have caught the vision and are filling collection boxes!

We are so excited about the opportunity that CellFund has provided for raising funds for our ministry!

Thank you so much!

In His Service,
Cheryl J. Bauman, Director
Crisis Pregnancy Outreach
Tulsa, Oklahoma

Promote your CellFund collection

Send out flyers, emails, letters, newsletters, and posters to promote your collection.
The CellFund Program is a new concept and may create an excellent opportunity to provide additional media representation for your organization.
Add The CellFund Program information to your organization's website.
Include The CellFund Program in your advertising materials.
Use the Fundraising Tools provided on our website to enhance your collection efforts.

Ask sponsors to incorporate The CellFund Program

Ask media sponsors to encourage their audience to drop off phones at specified locations in support of your collection efforts.
Ask sponsors to set up drop boxes in their workplace in support of your organization's collection efforts. A collection Drop Box flyer has been provided for your convenience. See Fundraising Tools in the Getting Started menu.
Ask corporate sponsors to set up collection boxes and promote The CellFund Program within their businesses. Use the same Drop Box flyer.

Expand your CellFund collection efforts

Ask volunteers to set up collection drives at their individual workplaces, and increase your phone collection potential to reach wider audiences. A collection Drop Box flyer is available for your convenience. See Fundraising Tools under the Getting Started menu.
Encourage your board members to set up collection drives at their places of business.
Give participants in sponsored individual or team events (such as walks, runs, marathons) the option of collecting phones instead of cash from their sponsors.
Set up contests and provide incentives to see who can collect the most phones.
Organize door-to-door collection events. (This works very well with youth groups.) Door-to-door flyers and scripts are available for your convenience. See Fundraising Tools in the Getting Started menu.
Organize phone-calling campaigns. Use your phones to collect phones!
Ask members of your organization to pledge to collect phones. Have them sign a pledge sheet with their name, phone number, and the number of phones they pledge to collect.

Incorporate The CellFund Program into existing fundraising events

Ask for used cell phones as the price of entry for fairs and other events.
Use pre-event promotion to inform participants to bring their used phones to donate.
Set up a drop box at any event site, such as walks, runs, galas, bowl-a-thons, and golf tournaments.

Click here to see the Phone List page for tips on collecting phones with the highest value!

Used Cell Phone
Door-to-Door
Collection Scripts

Sample Script #1

Hello my name is (your name) and I am with (name of organization). We are participating in a nationwide cell phone awareness and recycling program called The CellFund Program. Did you know that there are approximately 50 million de-activated cell phones in homes and businesses in America? (pause for response) Do you have any lying around your home or office? (pause for response) Well, instead of throwing them away, the donation of your phone will help my organization raise funds to (your organizations cause). (pause for response) Thank You.

Sample Script #2

Hello my name is (your name) and I am with (name of organization). We are going door to door asking people to donate cell phones that are no longer being used. Instead of eventually throwing them away, we are able to turn these cell phones into funds for our organization through a unique fundraising program called The CellFund Program. Do you have any cell phones that you are no longer using? (pause for response) Great, would you like to donate it/them to our organization now? (pause for response) Thank you and have a great day!

Sample Script #3

Hello my name is (your name) and I am with (name of organization). We are participating in a nationwide program aimed at protecting the environment and raising funds for our organization by collecting some of the 50 million used cell phones that are lying idle in homes and offices across America. Many people after upgrading services or changing plans do not know what to do with their old cell phones and simply end up throwing them away. This is very dangerous for our environment because cell phones contain hazardous materials. We are here today to offer an alternative means of disposal by recycling your old phones. In doing so, not only are we able to protect our environment but we are also able to raise funds for our organization to (organization's cause). Do you have any phones that you would like us to recycle for you? (pause for response) Thank you for participating in this nationwide effort to protect our environment.

Important Guidelines

Collect only wireless (a.k.a. mobile or cellular) phones. All cellular or PCS hand-carried phones can be collected.
Chargers and other accessories are accepted.
Cordless phones intended for home use are not accepted.
Two-way radios and walkie-talkies are not accepted.
Collected phones do not need to be in working order to be of value.
Shipping is free. A minimum of 25 phones is required.
When you're ready to send your phones, click here to request your free, prepaid shipping label(s).

Shipping Instructions

Batteries are not required but if a phone has a battery, leave it attached. We now accept accessories. You may also include cases and manuals.

Use sturdy, undamaged, corrugated boxes for packing your phones. Use as many boxes as necessary and the weight limit is now 100 pounds.
Gather packaging material such as bubble wrap, newspaper, paper bags, plastic bags, or plastic sheets. Place a layer of packaging material on the bottom of a shipping box.
Carefully count your phones. Verification of your phone count is very important. If the phone count does not match the count when they are received, it may delay your payment.
Place a layer of phones in the box.
Place another layer of packaging material on top of the phones.
Repeat the process, placing a layer of packaging material between each layer.
Place an additional layer of packaging material on the top. This will minimize damage to donated wireless handsets during transport.
If possible, use a separate box for accessories or place accessories at the bottom of your box(es).
Seal all box openings with strips of shipping tape for secure transport.
Use the email label link we send you to label each box as part of the whole shipment. With three boxes, for example, indicate “1 of 3”, “2 of 3”, “3 of 3”. Please note: The Ship ID on your label is very important and will be used to track your shipment.

Contacting CellFund to ship your phones

Shipping is free. The minimum is 25 phones. DOUBLE CHECK YOUR PHONE COUNT to ensure you will receive your payment in a timely manner.

Have your boxes ready to pack before completing the Shipping Request form. You may include accessories.

Using your CellFund User ID, complete the Shipping Request form.
We will email you a confirmation with a temporary shipping label link.
We will mail your pre-paid (PRP) FedEx shipping labels First Class, one for each box. If your Shipping Request is received by 1 p.m., your FedEx PRPs will go out the same day. You will receive one FedEx PRP for each box.
Seal your boxes.
When received in the mail, affix the PRPs to your boxes.
Call 800 GO-FEDEX to schedule your pickup OR give your shipment to any FedEx driver OR take your shipment to any FedEx pickup location. The driver will leave you a tracking number receipt for each box.
After your shipment is received and processed, you will receive email notification of the value.
Your payment will arrive in 3 to 5 weeks.

Once you submit your Shipping Request, do not change the number of boxes for your shipment or your processing and payment will be delayed. Contact CellFund to make a change.

Please note: We do not accept packages sent C.O.D. Once shipped, all phones become the property of CellFund and cannot be returned.