Apply for a membership today!
Complete applications are usually approved in less than 24 hours! Once your application is approved, your agency is immediately eligible to borrow tools.
Members can submit a tool order at any time by clicking the ‘Place Tool Order’ button in the top right corner or on the Borrow Tools page. It’s fast and easy and ToolBank staff will contact you as soon as possible to confirm your order and pickup appointment.
To learn more about how our memberships work, who can apply, and our policies, keep scrolling down on this page!
Tools in Four Easy Steps
Become a ToolBank Member
First time borrowers must complete our brief online membership application before they can borrow tools. There is no membership fee. This process captures documentation of their not-for-profit status and creates a user account for the agency contact in our online tool ordering system.
Submit a Tool Order
Log into your ToolBank account and submit a tool order online. Get all the tools you need for your project!
Pick Up Tools
Schedule your pick up time and pick up your tool order at the ToolBank at the scheduled pickup time. ToolBank staff and volunteers will have already prepared the order in advance and will help load the tools and equipment into their vehicle. ToolBank staff will also provide usage and care guidelines and, as well as an itemized receipt.
Return Tools
Schedule your return time. After the completion of the project, the agency returns borrowed tools at the scheduled return time. ToolBank staff and volunteers assist agency in unloading tools and check tools back into inventory.
Who can apply for a membership?
The ToolBank is the not-for-profit sector’s one-stop-shop to access over 10,000 tools that are being used all across RVA every day! ToolBank tools are only available to community-based organizations, such as:
- Nonprofit, Charitable & Tax exempt organizations
- Schools and PTAs/PTOs
- Neighborhood Associations
- Faith-Based Groups
- Civic Organizations
- Government Agencies
ToolBank tools are affordable, easily accessible, and top of the line. Our tools maximize your financial and human resources by empowering you to complete awesome community projects quickly, easily, and cheaply.
Simple, Standardized Pricing
Members are required to pay a tool handling fee to borrow ToolBank tools and equipment. The Tool Handling Fee is 6% of the retail value of each tool borrowed multiplied by the number of weeks borrowed.
For example, a member borrows 30 rakes for one week. Rakes are valued in our tool ordering system at $9.98 each. At 6%, our tool handling fee for one rake is $0.60 per week. For this project, the total tool handling fee would be $17.94.
Quick Math: 0.06 x $9.98 x 30 x 1 = $17.94
In addition to tool handling fees, members may also incur late fees, replacement fees, and cleaning fees – all of which are easily avoidable. To learn more about our fees and other policies specific to our tool lending program, check our Member Policies below.
ToolBank Member Policies
Placing Tool Requests
To provide the best chance of receiving your needed tools, please submit your borrowing request as early as possible. Inventory is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please note: Submitting a request does not guarantee tool availability or reserve your pickup time. Orders are confirmed only after pickup and return appointments have been booked via our scheduling link. Once appointments have been arranged, ToolBank staff will verify equipment availability and confirm your order.
Tool Lending Fees
Please return all tools clean and ready for the next borrower. A $35 cleaning fee per tool may be charged for tools returned with excessive dirt, dried paint, caulk, mud, concrete, or other materials requiring significant staff cleaning.
Tools returned damaged—beyond normal wear-and-tear—that would prevent use (for example: hardened concrete) may be charged at full replacement cost. Lost, stolen, abused, or tools beyond repair will be charged at their full retail replacement value, plus $35 per hour of processing time.
Rush Order Requests
Whenever possible, Richmond ToolBank is happy to accommodate last-minute requests. Because rush requests require staff to adjust existing schedules and prepare orders on short notice, additional fees apply. Requests are accommodated only as staffing and inventory allow and are available for warehouse pickup only.
Fees are based on the amount of notice given at the time the order request is received.
- $25 Less than 3 business days
- $50 Less than 2 business days
- $50 Less than 2 business days
Business days are Monday through Friday; National Holidays are excluded from business hours. Please contact borrowtools@richmondtoolbank.org before submitting a rush request.
Cancellations & No-Show Policy
Warehouse Pickups
Reservations canceled or rescheduled with less than 1 business day (24 hours) notice will be charged a cancellation fee of up to 50% of the tool handling fee.
Delivery Orders
Because delivery routes and staffing must be scheduled in advance, delivery orders require 3 business days' notice before the delivery date to cancel or reschedule. Tool handling fees may be credited toward a future order. Requests received after these notice periods will be subject to the full bill.
Missed Appointments/No-show
Orders that are not picked up or returned as scheduled, and have not been canceled or rescheduled, may be charged the full tool handling fee.
Late Returns
Tools returned after their scheduled due date accrue late fees equal to 12% of the retail value of the borrowed tools per week until the tools are returned, replaced, or paid for.
If your project timeline changes, please contact
borrowtools@richmondtoolbank.org as soon as possible. Extensions may be available depending on inventory needs.
Weather-Related Cancellations & Rescheduling
We understand that weather can impact volunteer projects and outdoor work.
Pickup Orders: Orders canceled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours' notice may be rescheduled at no additional charge, or receive a credit toward future tool handling fees.
Delivery Orders:
Because delivery routes and staffing must be scheduled in advance, delivery orders require 3 business days' notice before the delivery date to cancel or reschedule. Tool handling fees may be credited toward a future order. Requests received after these notice periods will be subject to the full bill.
SmartBox Delivery Information & Fees*
SmartBox delivery is available for larger tool orders and multi-day projects where tools need to remain secured on-site. SmartBox Delivery Fee is
$125
per
SmartBox.
Guidelines
- Requests require at least two weeks' advance notice.
- Maximum of 8 wheelbarrows per SmartBox.
- Small-engine equipment is not eligible for SmartBox delivery and must be picked up from the warehouse.
Delivery Schedule
SmartBox deliveries and pickups are available Tuesday through Friday only. Because deliveries are not scheduled on Saturday, Sunday, or Monday, projects should be planned accordingly. Monday deliveries and pickups are not available. For example: Friday deliveries remain on-site until the following Tuesday.
SouthSide Satellite Pickup & Delivery
SouthSide Satellite offers additional pickup and delivery options for eligible projects. Log in to your TOM account and create a new order as you normally would. Under Project Information, select delivery as the order type, and SouthSide delivery as the delivery location. Delivery Address can be left blank.
SouthSide deliveries and pickup occur on Tuesdays, and thus require one week's advance scheduling. Weekend and Monday delivery or pickup service is not available.
Delivery of our Scissor Lift
Scissor lift delivery is required for all scissor lift rentals. Delivery charges are assessed for each trip (delivery and return). Mileage is calculated from 1407 Cummings Drive, Richmond, VA.
- Within 10 miles of Richmond Community ToolBank: $100
- More than 10 miles: $100 + $3.50 for each mile beyond 10