The Fundraising Directory
Information to Help You Succeed with Your Fundraising Goals
 

ARTICLE INDEX

Affiliate Programs

Art

Brochure (Order-Taker) Fundraisers

Calendar Fundraisers

Candle Fundraisers

Car Wash Fundraisers

Catalog Fundraisers

Discount Card Fundraisers

Event Fundraisers (Games, Raffles, etc.)

Family Friendly / Family Oriented

Food - Candy Fundraisers

Food - Cookie Dough Fundraisers

Food - Fruit Fundraisers

Food - Gourmet

Food - Pizza Fundraisers

Food Fundraisers

Free, Totally Free Fundraisers

Fundraisers for Charities/Causes

Fundraisers for Non-Profit Organizations

Gift Fundraisers

Health and Safety Fundraisers

Holiday Fundraisers

Home and Outdoor Products Fundraisers

Magazine Fundraisers

Making Right Decisions

Making Right Decisions - Choosing the Right Fundraisers

Making Right Decisions - First Time Fundraisers

Making Right Decisions - Fundraising Letters

Making Right Decisions - Making More Sales

Medical - Fundraisers for Hospitals and Medical Groups

Military - Fundraisers for Military Groups

Online Fundraisers

Portraits and Arts

Raising Large Sums

Recycling Fundraisers

Relay for Life

Religious Fundraisers

School - Elementary School Fundraisers

School - High School Fundraisers

School - Middle School Fundraisers

School Fundraisers

Scratch Card Fundraisers

Sports - Cheerleading

Sports - Swim Teams

Sports Fundraisers

Youth Groups

Printer Ink Cartridge Collection: Raise Funds and Recycle at the Same Time!

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.

Start Your Collection Drive

Raising funds with cartridge simply starts with publicizing the drive and providing collection containers for them.

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.

Get signed up and start you printer cartridge recycling program today.


Learn more at Step by Step Fundraising.