Where can I donate old computers? You can donate old computers at Pickup Please, Computers 4 Charity, World Computer Exchange, St. Louis Bwork, and Kansas City Fed. There are others, which I have included in this posts, as well as the steps to make the donation. I have also included the donation resource you need to access the donation portal to process your old computer donation.
When you donate your old computers and equipment, you support local charities to help students, schools, and even teachers. This article shows you the best places where you can donate old computers.
Where Can I Donate Old Computers?
Pickup Please
Through Pickup Please, you can easily schedule a free pickup of your used computers, which supports various charities and keeps electronics out of landfills. They accept desktops, monitors, laptops, tablets, and computer accessories.
This service helps those in need and also offers you a tax deduction receipt. The process is as simple as scheduling a pickup, labeling your donation, and leaving it outside on the designated day for the driver to collect. They do request that the computers be in working condition.
Computers 4 Charity
Individuals are encouraged by Computers 4 Charity, a UK-based organization, to donate old computers to support local charities. You can ensure that your old computers are refurbished and passed on to help various causes, such as students, hospices, volunteers, veterans, schools, and the homeless. There are set minimum requirements for the equipment they accept. This is to ensure that the computers can be refurbished to a high standard.
Donations can be made by attending IT appeal events across the UK, dropping off at their Kent location, or using a courier service recommended by them. Your personal data will be removed from the computer.
World Computer Exchange
The World Computer Exchange provides an opportunity for you to contribute to bridging the digital divide. You can donate old computers that are part of the i Series or newer, as well as other items like tablets, eReaders, smartphones, digital projectors, and digital microscopes designed for school labs.
They accept RAM and hard drives that meet specific criteria and USB drives, but not printers due to travel issues. If you have items to donate, you can either drop them off at a local WCE chapter or mail in laptops and cell phones using a free shipping label they provide for reusable items. They have a specific list of accepted items, and if your donation doesn’t meet these criteria, they advise on proper disposal through local recycling programs to prevent environmental harm.
St. Louis Bwork
St. Louis BWorks is another place where you can donate old computers. Here, students are empowered through their Earn-a-Computer program, where donated computers help to have access to technology for learning and fun. They accept any desktop and laptop computers but prefer certain specifications such as DDR2/DDR3/DDR4 RAM, DuoCore processors or newer, and SATA hard disks of 80GB or larger.
They also accept various networking hardware, media such as USB flash drives, and software licenses for Microsoft Windows and Office. Donations can be made at their location on specific days and times. However, they do charge fees for CRT monitors, flat screens with a 4:3 ratio, and printers, due to costs by recycling companies.
Kansas City Federal Reserve
Many lower-income American households, about 41%, don’t have a computer at home. Thus, the Kansas City Fed initiated a project in 2018, donating 25 laptops to PCs for People—Kansas City, supporting community development. This act of donation turns old, decommissioned laptops into vital tools for education and personal growth, benefiting single moms and students among others.
My Recovery Day
My Recovery Day in Cleveland operates with a similar spirit to give out computers to schools and other organizations in need. They also give out computes to eligible students. You can donate old computers, which contributes to the digitalization of people. They accept a wide range of computers and even offer pickup services for your convenience.
Moreover, these donations can provide you with the maximum verified deduction under the new donation caps approved in the 2020 CARES Act.
Youth Technology Corps
Are you looking to give your old computers a new lease on life? Donating them to the Youth Technology Corps (YTC) could be a meaningful option. When you choose to donate old computers or technology equipment to YTC, you’re not just keeping it out of the landfill—you’re contributing to a larger cause. YTC’s Leadership Team guides students in refurbishing these devices, which are then passed on to fellow students and organizations who need them.
YTC’s doors are open for a variety of technology equipment. They welcome everything from modern desktops, laptops, and tablets to smartphones. Specifically, you can donate Windows or Mac computers that are at least as current as CORE2 with Windows 7 or newer operating systems. They also accept working flat-screen monitors, USB flash drives, blank CDs and DVDs, and power adapters. All the computers you donate will be securely erased to protect your privacy. As an added benefit, your donation is tax-deductible.
PCs for Refugees
At PCs for Refugees, they accept computer parts and equipment donations, even items that are broken. Their process ensures that any donated computers, laptops, or hard drives are wiped clean using Department of Defense standards to safeguard your sensitive data. They can repurpose nearly everything, and what can’t be fixed is responsibly recycled.
If you’re unable to drop off a donation, they can arrange a pickup, and if you have no equipment to donate, financial contributions are also welcome.
Human-i-t
Human-I-T points out that recycling often doesn’t prevent electronic waste from ending up in landfills, which can lead to soil and groundwater contamination.
Through computer donation, you help reduce toxic landfill waste and support community members who can use these devices to improve their education, job prospects, and connections with family. Human-I-T will completely destroy any sensitive data according to stringent regulations when you donate your old computers.
Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition
Where can I donate old computers? The answer is Baltimore, the Digital Equity Coalition rallying the community to gather, refurbish, and donate thousands of old computers to students and families. This initiative addresses a critical need, with over 70,000 households without a computer. They also support environmental sustainability by keeping computers out of landfills as part of Baltimore’s Zero-waste initiative.
They accept a variety of electronics, with a preference for devices less than 7 years old, Wi-Fi enabled, and with intact hard drives. These include desktop and laptop computers, hotspots, monitors, web cameras, certain desktop printers, tablets, Chromebooks, cell phones (less than 5 years old), and associated peripherals like keyboards, mice, and cables.
To donate, you’d start by filling out a form with your details and the equipment you’re donating, followed by dropping off the items at designated locations with near-contactless procedures. For specific drop-off times and locations, like in East Baltimore City or at Wee Chic Lutherville, it’s recommended to confirm via email or check the available hours.
Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition
Free Geek Twin Cities
At Free Geek Twin Cities, you can donate old computers with ease and for free. They repurpose and recycle computers responsibly, and accept both modern and retro computers, regardless of age or condition.
They accept electronics such as desktops, laptops, computer parts, peripherals, smart devices, networking and A.V. equipment, game consoles, original media, and even batteries. They also accept monitors and printers. However, you will make an additional $5 donation to help with recycling costs if these items are broken or obsolete.
Goodwill of Colorado
For Goodwill of Colorado, donating your old computers supports a good cause. You can bring any brand and condition of computer equipment to a local Goodwill of Colorado Donation Center. This donation is tax-deductible, aids in promoting independence among Coloradans, and is environmentally friendly.
The program is a partnership with Dell, ensuring that e-waste is managed sustainably and responsibly, surpassing international environmental standards. So far, their efforts have kept over 400 tons of electronic waste out of landfills.
Cincinnati Computer Cooperative
For those interested in donating old computers, the Cincinnati Computer Cooperative offers a meaningful option. You can donate your relatively current hardware during their business hours or at recycling events, with the possibility of it being tax-deductible. The donated computers are revitalized by volunteers and provided at minimal costs to people and organizations in need.
Cincinnati Computer Cooperative
Minnesota Tech for Success
Donating old computers can be a fulfilling way to contribute to digital equity and environmental sustainability. In Minnesota, a program called Minnesota Tech for Success is dedicated to this cause. They’ve been in operation for 26 years and have provided over 100,000 computers to schools and organizations, as well as IT training to students in underserved communities.
Their efforts not only focus on providing access to technology but also involve engaging STEM programming and ensuring proper recycling of technology that can’t be refurbished. This organization values data security, boasting no data breaches since it started in 1997, and holds a NAID AAA certification.
Mission: Ignite
Mission: Ignite, based in New York, is another organization that invites you to donate old computers, specifically those that are 7 years old or newer. They also ensure data security through strict data destruction processes and support community programs by providing refurbished technology to volunteers, nonprofits, and community organizations at low or no cost.
Their approach includes making technology available to the community at affordable prices and recycling items that can’t be reused according to ethical and environmental standards. For physical donations, items can be dropped off at their Buffalo, NY location.
What to Do Before Donating Old Computers
When you decide to donate old computers, you have to be careful about the personal data, including photos or emails, that you have on them. Before you hand them over to someone else, you should clear out all this private information, even though the programs listed above will do the wiping. Here’s how to do it:
Back up your data
You need to save the stuff you want to keep by copying it somewhere else. You could put it on something like a USB stick or an external hard drive. You can also upload it to the internet, where there are services that let you keep files online in a secure place.
Delete your information on your old computer
Delete everything from your old computer. This means getting rid of all the files, pictures, and even the list of websites you’ve visited. It’s also a good idea to delete all the cookies and saved files that websites put on your device.
Uninstall all your apps
Remember your apps too. You should get rid of them and clear any saved data they have.
Wipe your hard drive
Even after you delete files, they might not be gone for good. That’s why you should wipe your computer hard drive clean. This is a more thorough way to make sure your files are really gone.
Perform a factory reset
Finally, consider resetting your old computer back to its original settings, like it was when you first purchased it. This should get rid of anything left. Each computer has its own way of doing this, so check the instructions from the manufacturer.
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