Considering donating your old cell phone? It's not only an environmentally friendly choice but also a way to support meaningful causes. Before donating, it's essential to ensure your data is secured. Simple steps include backing up your data, unlocking the phone, and resetting it to factory settings.
Numerous organizations, such as Cell Phones For Soldiers, ECO-CELL, Medic, and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, would greatly benefit from your donation. Dive in to discover how to prep your phone for donation and where to send it for the maximum impact.
How to Prep Your Phone for Donation
We keep our lives on our phones. The last thing anyone wants is a worker at a recycling center testing your phone and discovering they have access to your banking apps, text messages, and personal photos.
The good news is that you can protect yourself and your data by following a few easy steps.
1. Back up your data
Backing up the data on your phone should be something you do regularly, not just when you get a new device or are ready to donate an old one. But if you aren’t in the practice of doing it regularly, it’s an essential first step to complete before donating your phone.
Most phone manufacturers have backup services tied directly to their clouds. Apple lets you back up your phone to iCloud, while Samsung offers the Samsung Cloud. There are also free third-party services like Google and paid ones that offer extra features. You can also save a backup of your device directly to your computer.
2. Make sure it’s unlocked
Before donating, you’ll want to make sure your phone is unlocked. When a phone is unlocked, it is no longer connected to a single, specific carrier and can be used with any network.
Depending on your carrier, you may not need to do this yourself—Verizon, for example, automatically unlocks your phone after 6 months. Purchasing directly from a manufacturer (like Apple or Samsung) also offers a way to buy an unlocked phone outright. Some carriers, though, will require you to complete the unlock process on your own after you meet certain requirements.
Unlock guides by carrier
Check out our guides for specific network requirements.
Donating an unlocked device makes it easier for organizations to give phones directly to the people they help, but it’s not necessary for all of them. Make sure you check the rules of any organization you like to ensure your phone meets their guidelines.
3. Reset the phone to factory settings
After you’ve backed up your phone and made sure it’s eligible for donation to your chosen organization, it is now time to factory reset your phone. This action will clear out all your data on the device. Make sure you’ve backed up your phone before this step. It is irreversible, and anything on the device will be deleted.
The steps to factory reset your old cell phone can differ depending on the device. This option is generally found in the settings section of your phone.
For iPhones:
- Go to Settings and then General.
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Select Erase All Content and Settings.
For Android devices:
- Go to Settings and select System.
- Select Reset options.
- Select Erase all data (factory reset).
New phone, who dis?
If you've decided to donate your old phone, it might also be the perfect time to consider a switch in carriers. A new phone often comes with new features and capabilities that might be best suited with a different, more cost-effective plan. Several carriers offer competitive switching bonuses, promotional rates, or deals that can save you money in the long run. As you embrace the new tech, take a moment to shop around and ensure you're getting the best bang for your buck with your phone plan.
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Visible
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Taxes & Fees included
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US Mobile
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$20/mo. for 6 months; $25/mo. thereafter
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Where to Donate Your Phone Sustainably
There are tons of organizations out there you can donate your phone to—In fact, it can get a little overwhelming. Here’s a list of our current favorites.
Cell Phones For Soldiers
Cell Phones For Soldiers is a non-profit that provides cost-free communication services to active-duty military personnel and veterans. Your donated phone is either resold or recycled to raise money. That money is then used to buy prepaid international calling cards for troops.
Since its founding in 2004, Cell Phones For Soldiers has turned 25 million donated cell phones into 400 million free minutes of talk time for veterans and servicemembers. You can donate your phone by visiting one of their drop-off locations or by shipping it directly to them.
ECO-CELL
ECO-CELL uses cell phone donations to help protect gorilla populations in the Congo, which is home to coltan, a metal essential to cell phone manufacturing. The mining of coltan has decimated gorilla numbers. ECO-CELL takes your phone donation and either resells it for reuse or recycles it for the precious metals inside, both of which reduce the pressure to mine new coltan.
ECO-CELL also partners directly with 110 zoos and aquariums across the United States to help directly fund conservation efforts. You can donate your phone by sending it directly to ECO-CELL or by dropping it off at one of their collection centers across the county.
Medic
Medic is an organization building open-source software that supports health workers in Africa and Asia. After recycling your phone, the funds they make are used to support and maintain their software. Your phone donation must be mailed to Medic, but they offer free shipping labels, as well as charitable tax deduction forms.
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence(NCADV) recycles donated phones to support survivors of domestic violence and related NCADV programs. Note that you do have to pay shipping costs when donating to the NCADV; however, if you’re donating three or more devices, shipping is free.
SecondWave Recycling
SecondWave Recycling takes donated phones and recycles or resells them. The funds they raise are split between the Wounded Warrior Project and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They are a great option for someone who wants to support multiple causes at the same time.
Donating five or more phones also qualifies you for free shipping. SecondWave Recycling does not offer a charitable tax receipt because it is not a non-profit.
Secure the Call
Secure the Call is a non-profit that collects donated cell phones and refurbishes them to give to groups in need, primarily seniors and domestic abuse victims. Members of these groups can lack the ability to obtain cell phones for calling 911. Secure the Call provides donated cell phones for that purpose.
A local charity of your choice
While all these organizations are doing incredible work around the world and across the United States, you may want your donated phone to make a direct impact in your local community. There’s an option for you, too.
Companies like ecoATM offer cell phone recycling kiosks across the country that pay you directly for your old cell phone. You can take the money they offer for your device and donate it directly to a local organization in your community, like a food bank or animal shelter.
Pros and Cons of Donating Your Phone
There are plenty of great reasons to donate your phone. It’s the sustainable thing to do and can also help fund causes you care about. There’s no shortage of places to send your old cell phone, so you can find one with a mission that excites you. However, you may also want to keep your hold phone at home to give to your kids or use in your emergency kit.
Pros:
- Great for the environment
- Keeps cell phones out of landfills
- Helps causes you care about
Cons:
- Have to make sure your data is protected
- Might be a better use for your phone at home
How Does Donating an Old Phone Help Charities?
Donating phones helps charities by allowing them to either use your old device directly, or raise money through the proceeds of recycling them. If the phone you donate is in good condition and still functional, they might give it directly to people who need them. Other organizations don’t use donated phones directly but sell them to raise money.
Why Should I Recycle My Old Cell Phone?
Cell phones have a high environmental cost and are major sources of pollution. Recycling your phone keeps them out of landfills and reduces the need for new raw materials. Donating your phone lets you be part of the solution. In addition to reducing your environmental impact, you can also financially support causes you are passionate about.
Getting a New Phone After Donating
Donating your old phone often comes with the exciting prospect of upgrading to the latest and greatest. We're here to help you navigate this sea of choices to find a device that suits both your needs and budget.
For those who have always been charmed by Apple's blend of sleek design and robust performance, the latest iPhones continue their legacy of pushing technological boundaries. Whether you're capturing memories with their advanced camera systems or multitasking seamlessly thanks to their powerful processors, Apple ensures an experience that's both intuitive and premium.
On the other hand, if you've been swayed by the versatility and innovation of the Android ecosystem, Samsung's Galaxy series is hard to overlook. Each new iteration boasts stunning displays, formidable processing prowess, and camera capabilities that rival professional equipment, making them a favorite among tech enthusiasts.
The world of mobile devices is vast and ever-evolving. While Apple and Samsung are undeniable giants in the industry, there's a plethora of other brands and models waiting to be explored. Dive into our top recommendations to discover your next perfect mobile companion.
Moto G 5G (2026) 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 2MP
- Front Camera: 32MP
Galaxy A26 5G
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP, 2MP
- Front Camera: 13MP
Moto G 5G (2025) 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 2MP
- Front Camera: 16MP
Edge (2025) 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 50MP, 10MP
- Front Camera: 50MP
Galaxy A37 5G 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP, 5MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Want your new phone to be sustainable?
In addition to donating your old phone, consider purchasing a refurbished phone to replace your donated one. Refurbished phones are great devices that are pre-owned, reducing the need for new phones. Plus, since they aren’t new, they can save you a ton of money.
Donating Cell Phones: FAQs
What is the best thing to do with old cell phones?
The best thing to do with old cell phones is donate them to a cause of your choice. That way the phone is recycled/refurbished and the organization you chose gets funding. You could also simply recycle the phone yourself or find a use for the phone at home.
Whatever you do, don’t throw an old cell phone away. Cell phones and their batteries have been shown to cause major groundwater pollution when thrown into landfills. For that reason, it is always better to keep the device or dispose of it in a responsible way through recycling or donating.
What do you do with old cell phones before donating?
Before donating an old cell phone, read the guidelines posted by the organization you want to donate your device to. You may need to unlock the device or make sure it is functioning properly. From there, back up your device’s data to a location off the device, like the cloud or your computer. Then factory reset the phone to wipe your data.
Where can I donate my old phone sustainably?
You can sustainably donate your phone to a charity or nonprofit, such as Cell Phones For Soldiers or ECO-CELL. Check out our favorite organizations listed above for more ideas on where to donate.
Can my old cell phone help veterans?
Yes, your old phone can help veterans by donating it to a charity that specifically works with veterans or active duty service members. Two great options for that are Cell Phones For Soldiers and SecondWave Recycling.
Can I donate my old cell phone if it’s broken?
Yes, broken cell phones can be donated. Some places accept broken phones because they are recycling them for the parts. Make sure to read the guidelines of any organization you’re interested in to make sure your phone meets their requirements.
Is it safe to donate a cell phone?
Yes, it is safe to donate a cell phone as long as you factory reset your phone. That way all your data is cleared from the device.
Max McCaskill
Sr. Staff Writer
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