Q: Donating Cell phones to a Cause

1. What happens to my phone once donated?
2. Can laptops, home phones or other devices be donated? 
3. How much does the Cause get for each cell phone?
4. How does Cell phones for my Cause handle data stored on my phone?
5. Why should I donate my cell phone?
6. How do I know the Cause is being credited with my donation?
7. Should I include my charger or other accessories with my cell phone?
8. What if my cell phone is old or does not work?
9. How do I ship my cell phones to you?
10. Does Cell phones for my Cause comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations?

Q: Starting a Cause

1. Who can start a Cause?
2. What do I have to do and how much time is involved in managing my Cause?
3. How can I or my company benefit from starting a Cause?
4. How can I ship phones in for my own cause?
5. Can I track the donations given to my Cause?
6. When does the fundraising for a Cause end?
7. Can I decide what percentage goes to my Cause and what goes to me?
8. How much is each used cell phone worth?
9. How can I track how many cell phones were donated for my Cause?
10. How can you help me spread the word to get more phone donations?
11. How can I edit my current Cause after I've submitted it?

A: Donating Cell phones to a Cause

1. What happens to my phone once donated?
   • When you donate your cell phone, it is shipped to one of MPC’s No-Landfill recycling facilities. There it is wiped clean, tested for re-use, resold, or recycled. To learn about the process, click here.
2. Can laptops, home phones or other devices be donated?
   • Cell phones for my Cause does not accept any electronics other than cell phones. Many communities offer free drop-off sites for electronic recycling. To find a collection site in your area, visit MPC’s Residential Recycling page or search the web for opportunities in your area.
3. How much does the Cause get for each cell phone?
   • The Cause will receive a base credit of $0.50 to $1.50 for every cell phone that is not able to be reused or is non-working.  If a cell phone is working and able to be reused, a fair market resale value will be given to the cause. 
4. How does Cell phones for my Cause handle data stored on my phone?
   • All cell phones received at MPC go through a strict data destruction process. The data is destroyed by a secure wiping process that makes data recovery impossible. If the cell phone is non-functional, the data is destroyed by complete shredding. To ensure that your data is safe in the mail, you should also clear any personal data before you mail it.
5. Why should I donate my cell phone?
   • By donating your old cell phones, you are helping the environment by putting precious metals back into circulation, which prevents land-mining. You are also helping a worthy cause of your choice raise money. When you donate your cell phone, you create more space in your junk drawer and prevent pollution by keeping it out of the landfill.
6. How do I know the Cause is being credited with my donation?
   • When you make a donation, be sure the name of the Cause and your donation number is clearly labeled on your envelope or package label. This ensures the phones are being credited to the right cause.
7. Should I include my charger or other accessories with my cell phone?
   • Cell phones for my Cause does not accept any electronics other than cell phones. Many communities offer free drop-off sites for electronic recycling. To find a collection site in your area, visit MPC’s Residential Recycling page or search the web for opportunities in your area.
8. What if my cell phone is old or does not work?
   • We accept any and all cell phones, no matter their condition. If it’s new, old, broken, or perfect, send it in! Even the value generated from an old phone can contribute to a Cause’s goal and keep it out of a landfill.
9. How do I ship my cell phones to you?
   • We have partnered with the United States Postal Service to guarentee the most efficient way to ship your cell phones. Once you’ve collected your cell phones, follow the donation steps to print off a shipping label and apply postage. If you have 20 phones or more, we’ll cover your shipping costs by sending you a pre-paid USPS label for use with a Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box (0-FRB1) available for free at your local Post Office or in packs online from www.usps.com. Each box fits approximately 45 cell phones, so based on your online donation amount, we will send you an appropriate number of labels. Pre-paid labels may only be used with the Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate box (0-FRB1) and a minimum of 20 phones must be sent in each box for your Cause to be credited with your donation.
10. Does Cell phones for my Cause comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations?
    • Cell phones for my Cause is powered by MPC, which ensures all laws and regulations are met. Check out MPC’s policies and standards to see for yourself the strict procedures they have in place for everything they do!

A: Starting a Cause

1. Who can start a Cause?
   • Cell phones for my Cause is open to anyone who has a worthy cause they need to raise funds for. Our mission is to help all organizations, foundations, charities and individuals, no matter their size, raise money for their Cause. You can even start a cause on behalf of your favorite charity, we'll send a check to you, and you can donate the money to them.
2. What do I have to do and how much time is involved in managing my Cause?
   • All you have to do is register your cause and create a cause community page. Find marketing resources and ideas in the My Account area to get you started. You can use our pre-made templates or come up with your own unique way to share your cause with your friends and supporters. Once you get the word out, just sit back and see your results on your page.
3. How can I or my company benefit from starting a Cause?
   • If you have a fundraising goal you need to meet, you can benefit from starting a cause. For every cell phone your supporters send in, we’ll send you a check! Benefit from this fundraising platform by showing your environmental stewardship initiatives and raising money for your unique goal.
4. How can I ship phones in for my own cause?
   • We have partnered with the United States Postal Service to guarentee the most efficient way to ship your cell phones. Once you’ve collected your cell phones, follow the donation steps from your Cause page to print off a shipping label and apply postage. If you have 20 phones or more, we’ll cover your shipping costs by sending you a pre-paid USPS label for use with a Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate Box (0-FRB1) available for free at your local Post Office or in packs online from www.usps.com. Each box fits approximately 45 cell phones, so based on your online donation amount, we will send you an appropriate number of labels. Pre-paid labels may only be used with the Priority Mail Medium Flat Rate box (0-FRB1) and a minimum of 20 phones must be sent in each box for your Cause to be credited with the donation.
5. Can I track the donations given to my Cause?
   • Each time a cell phone is donated to your cause, you’ll receive a notification and your Cause page will be updated. Cell phones for my Cause also provides value reports when your check is sent that show the amount of phones and funds raised for your cause.
6. When does my fundraiser end?
   • You control when your cause will end by setting a fundraising goal. Once you hit your goal, you can contact us to stop your cause or create a new goal for your cause.
7. Can I decide what percentage goes to my Cause and what goes to me?
   • Cell phones for my Cause will pay the full amount to the registered name and address. It is up to you to distribute the funds to your organization or charity from there.
8. How much is each used cell phone worth?
   • You will receive at least $0.50 to $1.50 for every phone, regardless of condition. On top of that, if a cell phone is able to be reused, you will be paid a fair market resale value. See the Resources tab of the My Account area for the terms and conditions with details on payments.
9. How can I track how many cell phones were donated for my Cause?
   • You can see the details of total cell phones collected and total amount raised (not including resale value amount) for your cause on the bottom of your Cause Page.
10. How can you help me spread the word to get more phone donations?
    • You can access resources like logos, web banners, and poster templates when you are signed into your account. Just click on your email displayed at the top of the page to open your account area and click on the Resources tab.
11. How can I edit my current Cause after I've submitted it?
    • You can edit your page information, pictures and fundraising goals in your account area. Just click on your email displayed at the top of the page to open your account area and click on the Manage my Causes link.

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