|
An educated Donor is a
smart donor. Donate Computer to Charity Tips..
Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege.
| Computers with Causes takes the
guesswork out of the whole Computer Donation process by
offering easy to understand and useful information
throughout this website. Below we have written the most
common questions we have answered over the years relating to
computer donations. Please do not hesitate to contact
Computers with Causes through our
computer donation contact page. |
What
should you do with your old computer?
Recycling your old computer with Computers with Causes is a
great way to get it into the hands of someone who can use it
to the benefit of those in your community. |
What
computer equipment is best suited for reuse?
Charitable donations of computer equipment that individuals
or companies would like to pass on directly to Computers
with causes should generally be no more than five years old,
(in most cases) in working condition, and Internet-capable.
Up to five-year-old working laptops and laser printers are
in high demand, as are 17-inch or larger working monitors,
mice, keyboards, and cables. |
How can
I maximize the reuse potential of my computer system?
Donate your old computer to Computers with Causes within a
few months after buying your new one. For most people, it is
unnecessary to keep older computers around for parts or as a
backup machine. The effective reuse life of a computer is
only two or three years, so the sooner you get it back into
the cycle, the more useful it can be. |
Can my
donations be used as is or do they have to be refurbished or
upgraded?
Almost all three-to-five-year-old working computers can be
upgraded to do the six things most people do with computers:
Internet browsing, e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets,
presentations, and finances. We often install bigger hard
drives, more RAM, and often a network card for computers
going to charities or schools. Up to three-year-old working
computers are generally useful as-is. |
Where
will my reusable electronic products likely to go?
There are actually two streams of reuse. One is
noncommercial or in the form of direct use (Charitable
programs) and the other is commercial. Generally, Computers
with Causes will utilize as many reusable computers in the
direct furtherance of our charitable programs and those that
we support. |
Can my
non-working computers serve as
training tools for students?
Yes. Your charitable donation to Computers with Causes may
end up in a school lab or community technology centers
somewhere in the community. |
Am I
eligible for a tax break if I
donate my old electronics?
Yes, if you donate it to a library, school, or a nonprofit
program such as Computers with Causes. The tax laws
pertaining to this are
Section 170 of the Federal Income Tax Code, the New
Millennium Classrooms Act, and the 21st Century Classrooms
Act. Business donors can deduct the un-depreciated value of
the computer, and individuals can deduct the current market
value of a computer.
Example: A computer and related software with a purchase
price of $3,000, valued at $500 at time of contribution,
receives a $500 deduction on Schedule A. A written receipt
must be received and Form 8283 should be attached to
returns. The tax receipt that schools or nonprofits provide
should have your name on it, the name and identifying number
of the recipient organization, and the model and type of
equipment donated.
Recipients are not authorized to appraise the value of the
equipment. You are responsible for the determination of the
value of your donated equipment. |
If I
have software on my system and wish to leave it on the
system, do I need to include the
licenses with my system?
Yes. Although certainly not required, older computers work
best with older software, so it's incredibly useful to pass
along any software that goes with your older computer like
restore CDs, documentation, and any other software you won't
use on your replacement equipment. To make sure that the
next user has access to software that goes with computers
legally, include the media (disks or CDs), manuals and any
papers that look like legal documents. The most important
ones are called End User License Agreements and Certificates
of Authenticity. Note that the EULA may be an online
document the user clicked "Agree" to years ago. The
Certificate of Authenticity may be nothing more than some
fancy printing with a serial number on the cover of the
basic User Manual (if the system came preloaded, as many now
do). |
What is
the real story on myths about reuse
-- do systems get dumped on schools that then have to
dispose of outdated materials? Do such systems really get
shipped to China for dismantling in unsafe conditions?
Computers with Causes shall dispose and recycle all obsolete
and non-viable equipment utilizing a “zero landfill”
procedure in which items are de-assembled to their component
level (circuit board, glass, metal, plastic) for recycling
and re-use. |
|
