When shoppers bring in their own bags to carry their items home in, it reduces the number of non-biodegradable plastic bags. Personally I have been wanting to get some reusable bags for some time now. I am tired of the plastic and paper bags cluttering up my garage and polluting our community (and our world in general). So when my local grocery store started offering these bright green reusable shopping bags for just 99 cents each I was delighted.

These bags are very durable, flat bottomed and can hold as much as much as 3 times what a plastic sack would. Now these bags in particular were not being sold as a fundraiser, just as a promotion for the store. In fact the grocery store offers 5 cents off when you bring them in. Not much, but it’s a nice touch.

Til now I have held off reviewing or promoting reusable bags as a fundraiser, even though there are several companies out there providing them. I believe I’ve finally found a great recommendation for you, and here’s why:

First I like to see a company who is selling a product not just make a buck but because of a driving principle. InStore Products Ltd. out of Ontario impresses me as being very committed to reducing pollution. Their website BringYourBag.com is professional and educational with statistics about plastic bag use and what impact reusable bags could have. According to the calculator (left hand side of the screen, scroll down) an average person will take their shopping home in 250 plastic bags per year!

Fundraising with Reusable Grocery Bags

First to use these as a fundraiser the bags need to have attractive pricing, both the wholesale cost for the non-profit agency and a good price for the consumer. I’ve seen bags from other companies that have suggested retail of $10-20 which even for a fundraiser is a bit pricey. This high pricing will be a turn-off for some people.

A product sales fundraiser has to be something that people really want and need. The general public is becoming more and more interested in actions that will help preserve our earth. Using these bags instead of plastic or paper bags that will end up in a landfill is one of the easiest ways to do something. Retailers also have an incentive to promote these bags. If customers bring their own bags the stores save thousands of dollars per year in costs.

I talked with John at InStore Products Ltd. and he said that they have provided the bags to several charities as a fundraiser. They will sell them in bulk to your group at less than $1 per bag and you can sell them for $2-5. This might not sound like a lot raised per bag but this way more people can purchase them and can get several of them. Most families will need at least 2-6 bags if they plan on using them at the grocery store.

This would be a great way for a retailer and large organization, such as a school, to partner for mutual benefit. For example, by using school colors and logo it’s a spirit item. If the store and/or other retailers put their logo on them its a publicity item. It could be a co-branded promotion where both the store and the charity logos are on the bags. The minimum order for custom imprints is 5,000 but they also have stock bags for those needing lower quantities.

As I mentioned each bag will only bring in a dollar or two, so you will need to set a goal for the number of bags you want to sell in order to meet a fundraising goal. Keep in mind that in addition to the funds raised you are raising awareness about your cause and providing a way for people to do something good for the environment.

The biggest drawback I can see with this project is the potential competition. Just today I was running errands and saw reusable bags on sale at two other stores in addition to the grocery where I bought mine. They were also selling for $1-2. The difference I can see though is that those stores are not actively promoting them like the grocery was. Of course they were also not benefiting any charity.

If your organization got behind this as a big campaign then you could be quite successful with it. Just be sure to be the first and/or biggest group in your area doing this program. If several organizations and stores can partner together it would boost your chance of success.

Cell phone owners get new phones at least every two years, some more often. What happens to all of those old phones? By turning in a phone to a recycling project, cell phone owners can help non profit organizations raise funds.

A cell phone recycling drive can be a good additional fundraiser for your group. Combine it with an inkjet and laser printer cartridge collection for more impact. Printer cartridges are easy to collect as they are used up pretty fast in school classrooms and offices. Encourage parents to save the cartridges from home too!

When you collect cell phones and print cartridges your group can redeem points to shop for hundreds of thousands of products including computers, sports equipment, office supplies, cameras and more. Or just choose the cash option to get paid by check.

FundingFactory offers a free cell phone recycling program that provides collection boxes, free shipping, promotional materials, online accounting and more!Since 1997 FundingFactory has been offering a free fundraising-through-recycling program for educational and nonprofit organizations.

Promoting the program is key. Make sure all of your office personnel are aware of the collection boxes, where the proceeds go and that the program is actively managed. This is the type of fundraiser that can go on year-round. The funds raise are incremental, but over time will really add up. Plus you will be doing your part to help our environment by keeping used cartridges out of the landfills.

It doesn’t cost anything to get started, just request a free information packet from Funding Factory to find out more.

Temple Beth Sholom has found a great way to raise extra funds for their school – by collecting ink cartridges that people would simply throw away and sending them to the Funding Factory. With just about everyone having at least one home computer, there is great potential for running a program like this. For every cartridge they collect they earn points, and each point can transfer into a simple to run fund-raising program for the school.

Fund-raising Success with Recycling

“Well in about 2 years we have raised 390.00,” said David Wallach. The school raises money through a combination of sending back ink cartridges and referrals for other people who send back cartridges. “Everyone your company refers and sends back at least one box gets 125 points. Each point is .40 cents.”

Program Is Low-Maintenance and Needs Few Additional Supplies

Funding Factory recycles ink and laser printer cartridges, but they also recycle cell phones. Temple Beth Sholom focuses on sending back ink cartridges because they like the return on this product. “Laser cartridges earn good money (sometimes) while inkjets earn some,” said Wallach. The school has been pleased with the program not only for the money given for returning the ink cartridges, but the support Funding Factory offers to the schools and organizations that participate.

The company helps each school by giving them promotional material to tell parents, teachers and the public about your program. “They give you promotional material for free via the website such as referral letters and business letters,” said Wallach. Wallach ordered 500 to 1500 free flyers for his school from the website to promote the program. They will also give you boxes with prepaid labels attached. “Just order them from the website; they no longer come in the welcome kit. But there is no charge for the boxes,” said Wallach.

An added benefit is the low costs associated with running this program. “Maybe a roll of packaging tape and used newspapers. All packages sent back use UPS Authorized Return Service. Just leave it for the driver or bring it to a UPS drop location or store,” said Wallach.

If you sign up with Funding Factory, they send you a Jump Start package. This package contains program guide, access to an online account, posters, flyers, labels for UPS to use on your own boxes so you don’t have to pay for shipping. This Jump Start package will reach you in about ten business days.

Three Ways to Earn With FundingFactory.com

Wallach explains there are three great ways to save with FundingFactory.com:

1. Collection of ink cartridges in your school or organization
2. Obtaining referrals
3. Getting other businesses at remote sites that do the same boxing and packaging that you do. “But you never have to pick the stuff up, but you get the credit,” explains Wallach.

Funding Factory also runs contests that are free to enter. An organization or school does need to have qualifying cartridges. “It is a great way to turn trash into cash and reduce the tonnage put into the dumpster that hits the bottom line. You send the laser cartridges in the boxes they came in for protection and less packing, and less garbage,” said Wallach.

How Your Payment Is Determined

On the Funding Factory website is a list that gets updated periodically – usually every week. “When you send in the units, they note the return and list all of what you sent and they list the value for each type of cartridge, if the cartridge is defective or refurbished or re-manufactured you get nothing. They can’t take re-manufactured or refurbished; this is because no one wants to buy them. Funding Factory will list how much you have earned and from what source,” said Wallach. Points can be redeemed at CDW-G, Amazon.com, Flaghouse, Ellison through their website, or you can simply request cash payout.

The Final Word On A Successful Fund-Raiser

”This is a great way to save and recycle for virtually no cost at all just a little time. I am sure you can deduce that I am enthusiastic about this program, well I am,” Wallach says.

If your group would like to earn some extra cash just like Temple Beth Shalom does, just register online with Funding Factory to get a free starter kit.

Funding Factory supplies community organizations a way to help the environment while raising money for their cause through a laser and ink jet printer cartridge and cell phone battery recycling program.

We were able to catch up with a participant in the program to get some feedback. Sue, a member of the West Corner Campus Parent Teacher Association (PTA) in Endicott, New York, has raised over $100 since she signed up with Funding Factory, recently. She provided some great feedback on how to use this fundraiser in your organization.

Signup

To sign up for the service, just go to the Funding Factory website. There, you will fill out a simple form to get started. They then send you a starter kit for collection of ink cartridges and cell phone batteries. “The signup process was very easy, and if you ever have questions, you just email your representative,” Sue says. “They get back to you ASAP!”

Getting Participation

Sue says she has a hard time getting people to participate initially, but once they do cartridges come in on a regular basis. Right now, they have about a 10 percent participation rate from the PTA members.

To increase participation, Sue has advertised in the PTA newsletter, and reminders go home with students on a regular basis. She also sends reminders to the teachers and staff at the school to bring their cartridges.

The struggle for participation among so many other activities and fundraisers can be hard, but Sue says you must be persistent. She recommends consistent advertising at meetings, frequent reminder notices and hanging posters.

“Also, ask parents to ask their places of employment for cell phones, laser cartridges and ink cartridges,” Sue says. “I am getting the word out for that, too, and am having success!”
Other Advice

Have a support group. “I have a great group of PTA members who help me when I need it,” she says. “Keep track of donations on a spreadsheet [for simplicity].”

“I will continue to do Funding Factory,” Sue says. “What money I raise for our PTA may not be a lot, but every little bit helps. These cartridges are trash, and to see it turn into cash amazes me! It’s a lot of work, sometimes, but the kids are worth it.”

Don’t toss your used printer cartridges in the trash can! Recycle them instead and your group can earn a little cash back.

It doesn’t take that much extra time. Instead of throwing them in the trash, just toss the cartridge in the recycle box provided by Funding Factory.

Since computers and printers are so prevalent in today’s schools this will be a natural fit. Large school districts go through quite a few cartridges per month. Organizations who can enlist the support of businesses to display and promote the recycle boxes can also benefit.

Promoting the program is key. Make sure all of your office personnel are aware of the collection boxes, where the proceeds go and that the program is actively managed. Posting flyers every now and then will help remind people about the program.

This is the type of fundraiser that can go on year-round. The funds raise are incremental, but over time will really add up. Plus you will be doing your part to help our environment by keeping used cartridges out of the landfills.

It doesn’t cost anything to get started, just request a free information packet from Funding Factory and your group can get it’s first set of collection boxes.

Since 1997 FundingFactory has been offering a free fundraising through recycling program for educational and nonprofit organizations. Many of the most popular brands of inkjet cartridges, laser cartridges and cell phones are accepted through the program. FundingFactory pays the highest average prices for these items and offers extra incentives throughout the year.

Sign Up Today For The Funding Factory Recycling Program

Related Articles:

Inkjet Recovery and Recycling: A Good Fit for Your Organization?

Most organizations that conduct fund raising are constantly on the lookout for a program that is fresh and a little different from what their community has seen before.

If you’ve not tried an inkjet recycling program before, then read on.

How the Programs Work

There are several competent programs that specialize in the recovery and recycling of computer ink cartridges.

Essentially, each program offers remuneration in one of two forms. The payment is most usually based on the number of units that are submitted under the guidelines of the program.

In some instances, the program will have specified collection dates each month. Within this type of structure, your organization would turn in all collected units on or before the cut off date. Compensation would be based on the number of collected units.

Other programs are volume driven; that is, you are responsible for collecting a minimum number of units before submitting your collection. Should the preferred method of compensation be cash, most programs will mail a check. However, some do bank transfers and other forms of electronic payment. If the remuneration is to be in replacement units, most will provide a statement on the number of recharged units you will receive, based on the used units you turned into the program.

One factor that seems to vary is the matter of shipping expenses. The more robust programs provide pre-paid postage labels for any organization that wishes to participate. A few require your organization to cover the postage on the front end and will reimburse you along with the compensation for your used cartridges. There are one or two programs that offer a slightly higher rate per unit and do not offer any type of reimbursement for postage.

Is This a Good Fit for My Organization?

Inkjet recovery and recycling can be a lucrative project for any organization that wants to create a revenue stream or earn replacement technology supplies. At the same time, it is an ambitious project. If you think your organization could sustain this type of fund raising project, consider the following:

What is your group’s level of ability to collect appropriate cartridges? If you are a school or a local house of worship, chances are you have a sizable constituency who uses the appropriate cartridges. If you do not have a fairly large group of persons who can participate in the collection, this most likely is not the fund raising project for you.

One other key issue is time. There is much more to this program than simply placing a collection box at strategic locations and letting things happen. Be prepared to allocate time and effort to publicize the collection, answer questions from potential donors, and to manage the submissions and receipts from the program itself. Keep in mind these will not be one time responsibilities, but ongoing ones. If your organization does not have the resources at hand to stay on top of this program, you will not receive little to no benefit in the long run.

Another important consideration is the type of cartridges that are accepted by the program. Just about every program will accept inkjet and laser cartridges that have printer heads (that is, cartridges that have copper colored strips on the print head). If your organization is not in a position to collect acceptable cartridges, then this program is not for you.

Where Do I Sign Up?

Once you’ve determined this is a fundraising program that is a good fit for your organization, the next step is to locate a compatible program provider.

One of the more informational web sites, in terms of explaining their program and providing basic facts to consider before starting your project would be Donations INK. This is a nationwide program that specializes in recovery and recycling of inkjet cartridges.

Funding Factory has offered a free fundraising through recycling program for educational and nonprofit organizations since 1997. FundingFactory even has extra incentives such as free gifts and bonuses throughout the year.

Fundraising can be a rewarding effort, in terms of improving your community. Coupled with the fact that a program such as inkjet recovery and recycling is good for our environment and you have a project that is worthy of your consideration.