Donate Cell Phones to Support Active Military and Veterans
Cell Phones For Soldiers is an initiative dedicated to supporting our nation’s heroes — active military members and veterans by providing crucial communication services and emergency financial aid to those who have served our country.
Every donation, whether a device, financial contribution, or volunteering time, contributes significantly to these efforts. By participating in these programs, you help bridge the communication gap for military personnel and support the complex needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life.
We encourage you to get involved and make a profound difference in the lives of those who have safeguarded our freedoms. Learn more about our impactful programs and how you can contribute through Minutes That Matter and Helping Heroes Home.
Donate Less Than 10 Devices
Donate 10 or More Devices
Find a Drop-Off Location
Make a Monetary Donation
How to Donate Old Cell Phones, Smart Phones & Devices
Our organization offers a unique opportunity to support active military members and veterans. Here are the ways you can make a difference:
- Ship your devices directly: For 10 or more devices, CPFS will cover your shipping. With fewer devices, use self-paid shipping.
- Drop-off locations: You can donate at any of over 3,000 locations nationwide. Find a drop-off location near you.
- Organize a local drive: Gather devices from your community to support CPFS’s mission.
These simple yet impactful actions can significantly aid our servicemen and women, providing essential communication tools and support. We count on your support to keep helping thousands of soldiers and families who need our urgent aid.
If you are ready to send or drop a donation, please visit our guide on how to donate your devices to our organization before initiating the process.
Pre-Shipping Steps
Step 1: Backup Your Data
Take a moment to backup anything you would like to save such as photos, videos and contacts. This information will be lost when we erase the phone.
Step 2: Turn Off 'Find My iPhone'
If you are donating an iPhone 4 or newer, remember to turn off Find My iPhone and sign out of icloud. If you are donating a google phone, remove your google account.
Step 3: Erase All Data
If your phone or smartphone has a SIM card, please remove it prior to donating. Search your make and model for “factory reset”. If you cannot reset your device, don’t worry. We follow Department of Defense standards for wiping hard drives and devices.
Step 4: Print a Shipping Label
If you are shipping 10 or more phones, smartphones or devices – print a pre-paid shipping label by clicking the prepaid button below. If you are donating less than 10, please help CPFS by paying for your own shipping with the self-paid label, shipping is our largest expense.
Step 5: Print a Battery Warning Label
Due to federal shipping regulations, you must print a battery warning label for each package and affix to the outside of each box.
Step 6: Package Carefully and Ship
Place the phones, smartphones, and devices flat across the bottom of the box or padded envelope and layer with newspaper or bubblewrap to avoid damage. Affix postage or a prepaid waybill in order for your package to reach us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If your cell phone or smart phone has a SIM card, please remove it prior to donating. You can also search the internet for “factory reset” with the specific make and model of your phone to receive instructions on wiping away all personal information.
If you cannot factory reset your device do not worry. Our recycling partner is R2:2013 (Responsible Recycling) and NAID AAA certified (National Association for Information Destruction) and follows the Department of Defense standards for wiping hard drives, smartphones, cell phones and devices.
We accept donations of any and all types of cell phones and smartphones from any carrier. Newer, gently-used mobile devices, including smartphones, are preferred for donation; however, proceeds are generated from the recycling of broken and outdated mobile phones as well. Chargers and accessories are welcome but are not necessary to donate. If you have a charger you would like to donate, please keep the original phone and charger together. Please do not send instruction manuals.
We do not accept laptops or computers of any kind for donation. We also do not accept chargers and accessories not in their original packaging.
No. It is a common misunderstanding that Cell Phones For Soldiers sends donated mobile devices directly to deployed troops. Doing so is not a viable option because, first and foremost, cell phones can be security hazards for military members in combat zones. Secondly, the cost of international phone calls using a cell phone is very high, making this option extremely cost prohibitive. Instead, we use the proceeds from the donated cell phones and smartphones to send prepaid international calling cards to our troops to use via their approved phones.
We also accept tablets and mp3 players. Chargers and accessories are welcome but are not necessary to donate. If you have a charger you would like to donate, please keep the original phone and charger together. Please do not send instruction manuals.
Please contact Cell Phones For Soldiers directly.
info@cellphonesforsoldiers.com
(678) 580-1976
Yes! CPFS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with tax ID #20-1343425. Your device donations and shipping costs are tax-deductible. Click here to print a donation receipt.
