The ToolBank’s Tool Lending Program shares its resources with charitable groups so they can equip volunteers to efficiently complete work in less time with the right tools at a minimal cost.

By using ToolBank tools, nonprofits avoid the expense of purchasing, repairing, and storing tools. For example, an organization can spend $100 at the ToolBank in tool handling fees and equip 50 volunteers or purchase a few tools for around 4100 for a few volunteers to use on a project.

Member agencies also pay nominal handling fees to borrow tools based on a percentage of their retail cost. For example, the one-week handling fee for a 16-foot ladder, which typically sells for around $99, would be $2.97 (3% of retail cost), significantly less than the $31 per day a rental company would charge for that same ladder. Tool handling fees help encourage the return of tools and are kept as low as possible to enable members to use the tools often.

As of early 2019, the Atlanta ToolBank has 234 different types of tools and almost 45,000 individual tools in inventory. With this number of tools, your local ToolBank can help member agencies equip projects ranging from a few volunteers to thousands of volunteers.