FAQ

The value of your donated phone will be used to help provide a refurbished smartphone to someone who is blind or partially sighted. The CNIB Foundation will train the recipient on how to benefit from the smartphone features and apps available to them.

The CNIB Foundation will provide you with a Tax Receipt for the value of your donated phone.

All smartphones now offer built-in “voice over” technology, which reads aloud everything that appears on the phone’s screen so that a person who is blind can access it. Additionally, the smartphones in this program will be outfitted with a suite of accessible apps that make it possible for users who are blind to do all kinds of things that may have seemed challenging before.

Modern smartphones allow people who are blind to:

• Read prescription labels and take medication safely
• Recognize the faces of loved ones
• Access emergency assistance from sighted volunteers
• Travel safely alone using GPS
• And do hundreds of other day-to-day tasks most of us take for granted

We’ll happily accept almost any modern smartphone. Older phones may have little or no value and may not qualify for this program. Start the donation registration process to see if the device you would like to donate is eligible, and its potential tax receipt value.

Yes and we appreciate your support. Please use this website link to the CNIB donation page.

Donations must be sent in a pre-paid donation envelope, provided free by the CNIB foundation, available at locations across the country. Find an envelope pick-up location near you. Once you've registered your donation, just pop the phone in the pre-paid donation envelope and drop it in the mailbox.

Shipping is free with a pre-paid donation envelope. Envelopes are available free at locations across the country. Find an envelope pick-up location near you. Once you've registered your donation, just pop the phone in the pre-paid donation envelope and drop it in the mailbox.

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All Phones come with SIM card slots, these are located on the sides, top or underneath the battery of the device. A SIM (subscriber identity module) card is how your carrier provides all the information your device needs to get on their network and access the voice and data services linked to your account.

All you need in order to remove the SIM card in your Phone is a SIM card remover tool or a small, bent paper clip.

If you're using a paper clip, straighten the long end until it projects out. If you're using something else, like the tip of a small screwdriver, just make sure it fits into the SIM ejector slot. You don't want to mangle your device.

1. Gently insert the small paperclip you bent earlier into the small pinhole opening in the SIM tray.
2. Apply a small amount of pressure until the SIM tray pops out of the phone. Don't apply pressure at an angle, only in the direction of the pin hole.
3. Grab hold of the SIM tray and pull straight out.
4. Take the SIM card out, if active it can go in another phone. If inactive, we recommend cutting or destroying the card before discarding it.
5. Return the SIM tray to the device

Some Phones come with SD card slots, these are located on the sides or top of the device. In some cases, the SD Card tray is attached to the SIM card tray.

All you need in order to remove the SD card in your Phone is a SIM card remover tool or a small, bent paper clip.

If you're using a paper clip, straighten the long end until it projects out. If you're using something else, like the tip of a small screwdriver, just make sure it fits into the SD ejector slot. You don't want to mangle your device.

1. Gently insert the small paperclip you bent earlier into the small pinhole opening in the SIM tray.
2. Apply a small amount of pressure until the SD tray pops out of the phone. Don't apply pressure at an angle, only in the direction of the pin hole.
3. Grab hold of the SD tray and pull straight out.
4. Take the SD card out, you will want to keep this as it may contain photos and videos from your device.
5. Return the SIM tray to the device

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Your phone will fall into one of four condition grades. Your phone must meet all of the criteria of the given grade to qualify for that grade. If it fails to meet one or more of the criteria it will fall into the grade below. We do not accept phones that are incomplete or missing key components.

• Like new, little to no wear
  - Phone is in near new condition
  - No scratches/dents/cracks on the phone
  - Screen has no blemishes, spots or dead pixels
• Light Damage
  - Some light wear (a few scratches/dents)
  - No deep scratches or scuffs.
  - No dents or cracks
• Heavy Wear
  - Heavy signs of wear, has scuffs scratches and dents
  - No cracks or bent frames
• I’m Not Sure

We consider the display to be damaged if there are major scratches or cracks in the LCD or front glass, or if the display has any other defects to the image, colour or brightness. Common examples of this are the effects of liquid damage, or a poor quality third party display being used to replace a damaged one.

All we require is the phone, battery and signed donor agreement form included in the pre-paid donation envelope. Find an envelope pick-up location near you.

The charging cable and adapter does NOT need to be included in the shipping package with your donation. SD cards, SIM cards, phone cases or other accessories also should NOT be included with your device. No trade-in value or credit will be provided for these items, nor will they be returned.

If your device's battery is damaged, such as overheating, swollen or leaking, please remove the battery from the device and not include with the shipment.

If the damaged battery can't be removed from the device, it should not be donated to the program and can be dropped off at a Certified e-Waste recycler for proper disposal.

No. Once you have donated/shipped your phone it cannot be returned.

No. Unfortunately, we are not able to return any SIM or memory cards once shipped. We therefore recommend thoroughly checking your device before sending. However, we do ensure that they are securely destroyed.

You can save the form then print it from another location and printer, or you can provide a handwritten page of paper that includes; i) your printed name, address and contact info, and ii) the transaction number located beneath the bar-code on the donor form, and iii) a printed message that states “I have read and agree to the terms and conditions, and agree to donate my phone to CNIB.”, and iv) your signature. This handwritten page should be enclosed, along with the phone, in the pre-addressed CNIB donation envelope.

Yes, if you are unable to register your device or do not have access to a copy of the Smartphone Donation Agreement form, please print and complete a manual copy of the [Smartphone Donation Agreement form].

The Phone it Forward donation registration evaluation process provides an estimated tax receipt value for your donated phone. Once we receive your phone, it will be assessed and the tax receipt value will be finalized.

When we receive your device, we ensure it matches the information you provided during the donation registration evaluation process and submission. If the device doesn't match the model or description it may fall to the grade below, affecting its tax receipt value.

You will receive your receipt within 90 days after you mail your donated phone. This allows for shipping time, physical receipt of phone, data wiping, assessment of phone condition and tax receipt processing.

You may request a replacement copy of your tax receipt via an e-mail at donor.services@cnib.ca

We have established processes built around keeping your donated phone's data and information safe and secure. Secure data wiping for all donated phones will be completed using ADISA Standards certified erasure software. This application and process maintains a record of each device donated and can produce documentation for each erasure, including device specific IMEI, device technical descriptions, and erasure date and time stamp. Corporate donors can be provided with a proof of data wiping report at their request.

Devices that won't power on will be destroyed and recycled by a registered Recycler certified to R2 and NAID standards. Records for proof of destruction can be provided where requested. Devices with passcode locks and other security protocols that prohibit data wiping or those identified as lost or stolen will be quarantined and reported back to the donor Company by CNIB.

No. Your privacy and security are important to us. CNIB Foundation respects your right to privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide to us. The information collected through our donation page is used to facilitate donation collection and processing, to provide tax receipts and to process online account registrations. CNIB does not trade, license or sell your personal information in any manner.