IRN Surplus

IRN’s Role

What IRN Does as a Source of Surplus Property

IRN handles all the steps to assure that surplus meets the recipient’s needs, that it’s packed safely and securely, that shipping and customs paperwork are in order. With more than a thousand shipments under our belts, we’re very good at what we do:

Identifying and Qualifying Surplus

Qualifying inquiries. We field dozens of inquiries regarding surplus disposition. We qualify and categorize inquiries to be matched against the needs of recipent organizations.

Quality control. What’s used for relief and economic development has to be good quality material, not junk. We evaluate all of the surplus we handle, and recycle what’s not suitable for donation.

Material inventory. We provide a detailed inventory for almost every job, almost always with photos of representative pieces. Recipients know what they are getting, so they can make the best match to their own needs.

Loading, Packing, and Transportation

Removing surplus from generator locations. We manage all aspects of loading. We carefully estimate the number of trailers or shipping containers needed for the job, and the time for packing and loading. We find, hire, and manage professional moving crews. We remove surplus from generators’ premises and pack it safely and professionally.

Transportation. Many of our nonprofit partners have their own logistics departments. In these cases, we work with the partner to schedule shipments, assure that trailers and containers are loaded quickly and efficiently, and manage all on-site paperwork. In other cases we handle transportation from start to finish; we schedule through our own network of low-cost shippers, manage trucks to and from the project site, and handle all communications and financial transactions with the shipper.

Warehousing. IRN maintains three warehouses and has access to others nationwide, where we can temporarily store goods that are being consolidated for shipment.

Paperwork for U.S. and International Shipment

Based on partner needs, we provide customs documentation, trailer/container inventories, bills of lading, trailer weights, customs seals – whatever our partners require to move surplus smoothly throughout the U.S. and overseas.

Financial Partnership

IRN, IRN Member, and Partner Roles. IRN and our members pick up all costs until trailers or containers are loaded for shipment. That is, we cover all costs for project planning, on-site management, move-out from the generating location, and packing trailers/containers for shipment. Our charitable partners pay the cost of long-distance transportation, intermediate warehousing (if required) and distribution of surplus in recipient locations.

Taxes and Valuation. A majority of our clients are nonprofit organizations, not looking for tax benefits associated with donating surplus property. Neither are most of our for-profit clients. If valuation and tax consequences are important to the donor, IRN will handle the details.