Cell Phones for Soldiers

What Cell Phones for Soldiers does

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in April 2004 by siblings Brittany and Rob Bergquist, headquartered in Austin, Texas, and operating a national donation and veteran-support platform. The organization collects used cell phones, smartphones, tablets, and MP3 players from the public through a network of more than 3,000 authorized drop-off locations, prepaid shipping labels, UPS pickup, and a Student Ambassador Program. Donated devices are either sold to electronics refurbishers or responsibly recycled, with proceeds funding the organization's programs; all devices undergo secure data wiping before processing.

The organization's core program portfolio includes Minutes That Matter (international calling cards for deployed service members), Cell Phones For Soldiers Mobile (free phone plus one year of paid service for qualifying veterans), Helping Heroes Home (emergency financial assistance for veterans in crisis, operational since 2012), and the Evergreen Program (subscription-based discounted mobile service at $25/month per line). The organization reports cumulative impact of 25 million+ devices recycled, 450 million+ minutes of free talk time provided, 7,500+ veterans and families assisted with emergency funding, and 4,500+ veterans receiving free devices monthly with a projection to reach nearly 20,000 by year-end 2026.

Revenue mechanics combine in-kind device donations (converted to cash via refurbishment and recycling sales), direct monetary donations from individuals and corporations, and recurring subscription fees from the Evergreen Program's carrier partnership economics. Corporate partners include Asurion, AT&T, CapitalOne, Chevrolet, Liberty Tax, and Cellbie, with electronics refurbishers and mobile network carriers serving as core operational partners. A new processing-as-a-service product, Valor Vault, is in development. The organization operates with 1-10 employees and serves the U.S. military and veteran population across all branches.

Name

Cell Phones for Soldiers

Legal name

Cell Phones for Soldiers

Website

https://cellphonesforsoldiers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that collects used mobile devices nationwide and funds communication services, free phones, and emergency financial assistance for active-duty service members and veterans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran and Military Communication Services

NAICS

All Other Telecommunications (517810)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterans Affairs & Military Family Services (BPAIAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Veterans & Military Family Benefits Administration (BPAIAKAI)

Keywords

• Veteran communication services
• Military family support programs
• Cell phone recycling nonprofit
• E-waste donation programs
• Emergency veteran assistance grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Norwell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Device Donations (In-Kind): Nonprofit receives donated cell phones, smartphones, tablets, and MP3 players from the public. Devices are either refurbished and sold or recycled, with proceeds funding communication programs.
2. Recycling Proceeds: Revenue generated from selling refurbished devices to electronics refurbishers and recyclable materials to recyclers. These proceeds fund prepaid calling cards for troops and emergency veteran assistance.
3. Monetary Donations: Direct financial contributions from individuals, corporations, and foundations used to fund organization operations and programs.
4. Evergreen Program Fees: Discounted monthly phone service ($25 per line) for veterans who may not qualify for fully subsidized services. A portion of each bill supports CPFS's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a national nonprofit organization that collects donated cell phones, smartphones, tablets, and MP3 players through a network of drop-off locations and shipping options, then refurbishes or recycles the devices to fund programs that provide free communication services to active-duty military members and veterans. Its core offerings include international calling cards for deployed troops, free phones with one year of paid mobile service for veterans, discounted mobile plans for veterans, and emergency financial grants for veterans in crisis.

Product overview

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a nonprofit organization operating multiple communication service programs. The core offerings include Cell Phones For Soldiers Mobile (providing free phones and service to veterans), Minutes That Matter (distributing international calling cards to deployed troops), and Helping Heroes Home (emergency financial grants for veterans). The Evergreen Program offers discounted service rates for veterans who may not qualify for subsidized programs. The organization funds these initiatives by recycling donated phones and selling refurbished devices. The product portfolio functions as a platform of interconnected programs where recycled device proceeds flow into calling cards for active-duty personnel while devices are also provided directly to homeless veterans through the Mobile program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Minutes That Matter: Program providing free international calling cards to deployed service members worldwide
• Helping Heroes Home
• Cell Phones For Soldiers Mobile
• Evergreen Program
• Valor Vault

Products and services

• Cell Phones for Soldiers Mobile Provides qualifying veterans with a free smartphone and one year of paid mobile phone service, helping bridge the digital divide and keeping veterans connected to healthcare, employment, housing, and family support.
• Minutes That Matter Distributes free international calling cards to deployed U.S. military service members, enabling free communication with families during overseas assignments and combatting isolation during deployment.
• Helping Heroes Home Provides one-time emergency financial grants to military members and veterans during times of crisis or need, helping with transitions into civilian life, including housing stability and avoiding eviction or foreclosure.
• Evergreen Program Discounted mobile service program providing veterans with $25/month phone lines, nationwide coverage, no background checks, and the ability to add one family member, ensuring sustainable connectivity for veterans who may not qualify for fully subsidized services.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ million minutes of free talk time provided to deployed troops since 2004
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AsurioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 January 2026Tech care company Asurion partnered with Cell Phones for Soldiers to donate 775 smartphones to veterans in Middle Tennessee. The donation supports veterans enrolled in We Are Building Lives' Academy Program, helping combat veteran isolation by providing access to family, healthcare, employment, and community resources. This is a significant partnership advancing CPFS's mission to connect veterans to critical services.
• We Are Building LivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal nonprofit organization distributing 775 donated smartphones to veterans participating in its Academy Program for homeless veterans in Middle Tennessee. The program helps veterans experiencing homelessness or housing instability transition into stable housing and employment.
• CellbieminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCellbie made a $5,000 donation to Cell Phones for Soldiers' Mobile program, demonstrating corporate support for veteran connectivity initiatives.
• Danville OtterbotsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Military Appreciation Night on July 18, where fans could donate used cell phones at the gate and receive premium meal vouchers, supporting veterans and deployed service members.
• Mobile Network CarrierscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnerships with leading carriers to provide nationwide coverage for the Evergreen Program and free phone service for veterans. Enables discounted service rates ($25/month) and free year of service for qualifying veterans.
• Electronics RefurbisherscoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner companies purchase repairable donated phones, restore them for resale in the aftermarket. Proceeds fund calling cards and veteran programs.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Soldiers' Angels: Volunteer-led nonprofit supporting deployed service members, veterans, and military families with care packages, letters, and emergency aid — mirrors CPFS's donation-driven, community-led operating model for the same population.
• Fisher House Foundation: Nonprofit providing free lodging and support to military and veteran families near treatment centers — comparable beneficiary base (active-duty and veteran families) and national charity infrastructure model.
• Team Rubicon: Veteran-led nonprofit leveraging former military in disaster response and community rebuilding — comparable as a veteran-founded, mission-driven organization with a similar scale profile and donor base.
• Semper Fi Fund: Veteran-services nonprofit providing emergency financial assistance and transitional support to service members and veterans — directly comparable to CPFS's Helping Heroes Home program in mission and beneficiary profile.
• Hire Heroes USA: Veteran-services nonprofit focused on employment transition support — comparable audience and outcomes orientation (reintegration to civilian life), though narrower mission than CPFS's connectivity-focused programs.
• USO (United Service Organizations): Nonprofit serving active-duty service members and military families with communication, transition, and morale programs — directly comparable audience and analogous focus on keeping troops connected to home.
• Operation Homefront: National nonprofit delivering critical financial assistance, housing, and recurring support to military families — closely comparable on the emergency-aid and veteran/military-family benefits-administration side of CPFS's work.
• Wounded Warrior Project: Large veteran-services charity providing physical and mental health programs, career counseling, and connectivity support to injured post-9/11 veterans — a scaled, broader-scope peer in the same veteran-support category.

Broad incumbents

• Verizon (Veterans discount program): Major U.S. wireless carrier offering veteran/military discounted service plans — overlaps with CPFS's affordable-connectivity mission and competes for veteran subscriber attention alongside the Evergreen Program.
• T-Mobile (Connecting Heroes / veteran programs): Major U.S. wireless carrier operating veteran-discount and connectivity programs that overlap the same beneficiary group as CPFS's Evergreen and Mobile programs — comparable on the telecom-services-for-veterans axis, though as part of a much broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CPFSOfficial
• Facebookfacebook.com/JoinCellPhonesForSoldiers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cell-phones-for-soldiers
• Instagraminstagram.com/cpfsofficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cell Phones for Soldiers