$crap Metal Fundraiser Toolkit
Friedland Industries Fundraising Toolkit Page 1 This toolkit is designed to equip schools, groups and organizations with the resources and guidance they need to host a successful scrap metal fundraiser. By following the tips and steps included in this kit, you can raise money for your cause while providing donors with a great opportunity to clean out that garage or basement that s been piling up with old metal cabinets, appliances and more. Why hold a fundraiser with Friedland Industries? Holding a scrap metal drive with Friedland Industries, Inc. is a great way to raise money for your school, group or organization while promoting recycling in your community. Fundraising will add value to your organization and provide incentives for donors to take part in spring and fall cleaning of their basements, barns and garages. How does it work? Friedland Industries will drop off a large roll-off container at the location of your choice. Make sure to decide on the location early so it can be included in your promotional materials. Once the container is dropped off, it will stay at that location for a period of time determined by your group for people to drop off their scrap metal. After the fundraiser ends, Friedland Industries will pick up the container, weigh it back at our facility, determine its value and write you a check! It s that easy! If you want to continue fundraising throughout the year and we strongly recommend you do consider opening a Friedland Fundraiser Account. People can donate their scrap materials year-round and Friedland Industries will write you a monthly check for its value. There is no time limit, so you can be green and get green for as long as you want! Tips for planning a successful fundraiser Goal: Remember that the goal of the fundraiser is to maximize the weight of the roll-off container. The bigger the scrap items, the better! See page 2 for examples of scrap metal materials. Volunteers: Organize a strong pick-up crew that is able and willing to pick up and drop off large scrap metal items for the fundraiser. Assign a point person to be the contact for pick-ups, and make sure contact information for the crew is included in promotional materials. The easier it is for people to donate their large scrap items, the more successful your fundraiser will be. Time: Give your school, group or organization at least two months to promote your fundraiser. This will maximize participation and give people enough notice to save up their scrap metal, helping you raise more money. See the sample promotional materials packet for how you can spread the word.
Friedland Industries Fundraising Toolkit Page 2 What scrap metal items are accepted? We recommend limiting your fundraiser to ferrous metals or anything that is attracted to a magnet. These materials will help you get the most bang and bucks for your fundraiser. Ferrous Metals Sheet Iron Misc. Scrap Iron Cast Iron Short Cut Steel (4 feet or shorter) Clean Auto Cast Steel Cans Steel Appliances Examples Washers and Dryers Refrigerators Clean Soup Cans Metal Filing Cabinets Bicycles Metal Shelves or Hooks Stoves What are some prohibited items? Friedland Industries does not accept the following items: Appliance compressors or capacitors Transformers or mercury switches Compressors/Freon tanks Whole fuel oil tanks (must be cut in half) Whole gas tanks (must be cut in half) Compressed gas cylinders and whole propane tanks Tires Concrete Wood Metal barrels, drums, paint cans, etc. that contained petroleum - based or hazardous liquids Wire fencing unless cut into 3x3 square ft. sections or 12 or less diameter rolls Styrofoam Electrical devices containing PCB s such as transformers, ballasts, capacitors and light bulbs Any type of spray cans Household trash (carpet, garbage, wood, etc.) Steel cable unless cut into 2 ft. pieces or smaller Machinery containing hydraulic fluids, oils and coolants Questions? Contact Friedland Industries at (517) 482-3000 or mbass@friedlandindustries.com with any questions or for a full list of accepted materials.
Friedland Industries Fundraising Toolkit Page 3 Steps to a successful fundraiser Step 1: Plan Ahead We recommend giving yourself at least two months to promote your fundraiser to maximize participation and give people enough time to save up their scrap materials. Once you have a date in mind, contact Friedland Industries at (517) 482-3000 or mbass@friedlandindustries.com to schedule the fundraiser. Step 2: Recruit a Pick-Up Crew Once you ve set the date(s) and location of your fundraiser with Friedland Industries, we recommend recruiting a group of students, parents or others from your group or organization to be part of a pick-up crew. Big, heavy steel items will make the most money for your group. For this reason, you ll want to make it easy on those willing to donate these items to your fundraiser. Keep in mind you ll likely need access to a pickup truck or similar vehicle to transport large scrap metal materials. A point person should be established to take all pick-up requests and organize a time for the crew to pick up the item(s). Step 3: Start Promoting Once a crew and point-person are established, you should start promoting the fundraiser through your network. Send a letter home with students or members of your group. Post the event on your school or organization s website. Send out an email blast about the event. Include the event information in a newsletter. Send a media advisory or news release to local media notifying them of the event. Post promotional fliers around your school or organization and willing local businesses. Post about the fundraiser on social media and encourage businesses, parents or others connected to your group to do the same. Create a Facebook event for the fundraiser and select multiple leaders in your school or organization as event administrators so you can each invite your networks to the event. Don t forget to add the event to community calendars, too! See sample promotional materials packet for examples of how you can spread the word about your fundraiser.
Friedland Industries Fundraising Toolkit Page 4 Step 4: Keep Promoting It is extremely important to continuously promote your fundraiser through multiple outlets. The more community members are aware of your fundraiser, the more money you ll raise. The point person for your pick-up crew should be listed in all promotional materials. See the sample promotional materials packet. Step 5: Maximize Your Event Fundraising with Friedland Industries gives you an opportunity to increase the visibility of your group in the community. Not only are you trying to raise money for a good cause, you re also promoting recycling and helping to make your community a better place. Try to secure a sponsorship from a local restaurant or business to have food or promotional items available for people who drop off scrap materials. Also, consider having a group of representatives from your organization at the drop-off site during peak hours to welcome and thank fundraiser participants. Step 6: Distribute a News Release Once your fundraiser is complete, send out a news release to local media to highlight the success of the event and how much you raised for your cause. A spokesperson for your organization should be quoted in the release. This will help capitalize on the momentum generated by your fundraiser and potentially extend the visibility of your group through media coverage. If you decide to open an ongoing Friedland Fundraising Account, make sure to include that information in the release so those who want to continue supporting your group know how to do so. See a sample news release in the sample promotional materials packet. Step 7: Thank Those Involved Don t forget to thank those who helped make the fundraiser happen! Send a thank you letter or note to individuals who helped plan the event or volunteered as well as those who donated their scrap metal. Maintaining relationships with donors and volunteers is essential to successful fundraising.