FUNDING
Funding For The Virtual Scavengers Project
Virtual Scavengers’ goal from the start
it has been to meet operating costs from earned
revenue rather than grants. It was important for
the organization to demonstrate – counter
to widely publicized notions that computer reuse
is prohibitively expensive – that reuse
is not only less costly than disposal but can
actually be profitable. Virtual Scavengers also
wanted to show its low-income and disadvantaged
clientele the possibilities inherent in becoming
self-sustaining, as an organization or as an individual.
Virtual
Scavengers has historically accepted all materials
free of charge. Recently, it began to charge a
nominal fee to pick up quantities of items up
from businesses (as low as $25, depending on the
size of the load). The fee covers the volunteers’
fuel costs. Given the organization’s limited
human and other resources, it prefers that materials
be dropped off, which remains a free service.
Virtual Scavengers has received grants from the
Mervis Family Foundation for general operating
expenses; the Hoover Family Foundation to set
up workstations for hands-on training; SBC Excelerator
Grant for technology training and marketing; a
matching grant from the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management for capacity building;
and the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, which
funds the apprenticeship program.
Looking toward future growth, the organization
will need to initiate a salary structure. Virtual
Scavengers will seek grants, corporate contributions
and individual donations to build its capacity,
expand current successful programs and develop
new projects. The best estimate for a paid staff
to run the organization is about $350,000 per
year.
