February 7, 2003
Press Release
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Forget the Saturday Car Washes... Fundraise Without Asking for Money
Groups around the country are getting a boost in their fundraising efforts. An organization named CellFund has created a unique way for organizations to raise funds with no cost and no sales and at the same time give back to their donors. We dialoged with CellFund spokesman Debra Saunders to find out more:
Q: What exactly is the CellFund program?
A: Cellfund is a very simple fundraiser that any club or organization can use that will help them reach their fundraising goals.
Q: How does it work?
A: A group collects unused cell phones from donors, giving them a tax-deductible receipt provided by CellFund. After collecting at least 100 phones the group requests our free shipping. After we process the cell phones, the group is paid for each collected phone that has value.
Q: What does it cost to participate?
A: There is no cost for the program and CellFund pays for all shipping.
Q: This sounds too easy. Are there really enough cell phones lying around unused that can make this worthwhile for an organization?
A: There are around 110,000,000 cell phone subscribers in the United States. The cell phone industry reports that the average cell phone user changes calling plans every 18 months, most of the time receiving a new phone. Conservative estimates are that 30,000,000 used cell phones exist in homes and businesses around the country.
Q: Wow, that’s a lot of used cell phones! Are people really willing to donate them so easily?
A: We would have to answer that with a resounding yes, just by virtue of the hundreds of groups that have already collected and shipped thousands of phones, resulting in thousands of dollars raised. But to answer more specifically, CellFund has created a win/win for all involved. The donor of the cell phone receives a tax-deductible receipt for something that has little value to them, the collecting organization receives payment for each collected phone with value and the environment is spared the devastating effects of improper disposal of these used phones.
Q: How does a group provide a tax-deductible receipt if they aren’t registered as a federally exempt non-profit?
A: A group need not give tax-deductible receipts to donors from their organization. CellFund itself is a federally exempt non-profit, and provides tax-deductible receipts for the group collecting phones. All these materials and much more are provided on the CellFund website www.cellfund.com.
Q: What does CellFund do with the cell phones groups collect?
A: The CellFund Program refurbishes, reprograms, and recycles the phones and sells them in secondary and overseas markets.
Q: How does a group sign up and start collecting cell phones?
A: Any group wanting to participate can go to www.cellfund.com and register under “Getting Started”.
Q: I’m sure our readers will have more questions. How do they contact you?
A: The CellFund website at www.cellfund.com has lots of helpful information, answers to frequently asked questions, and downloadable fundraising helps and tools. For further questions we can be contacted at info@cellfund.com or call 918-902-8521 Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM CST.
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