What to expect
Inventory first
Model, quantity and drive status is enough to start.
Bulk pickup
Available in all states.
Data certificate
Request one for your records.
Drives in or out
Either is fine. Tell us which.
Planning a data center donation
What decommissioned gear can do
Servers, storage and network equipment can run a nonprofit's systems, train IT students in a lab, or supply parts. Equipment that is a generation or two old is often exactly right for these uses.
What to include in your inventory
For each item: make, model, quantity, rack units, drives included or removed, and rails and bezels. Note any UPS units or batteries separately, since they have special handling rules.
Tell us the site address, loading access and the dates you need the space cleared.
Drives and data
Many data centers remove and destroy drives before equipment leaves. If drives remain, we wipe them before reuse and can provide a certificate of data destruction.
Receipts and the tax side
Giving Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, provides a written acknowledgment listing the equipment received. For equipment your business depreciated, the deduction is generally limited to its remaining tax basis, so fully depreciated equipment may deduct little or nothing.
Starting with the 2026 tax year, C corporations can deduct charitable gifts only above 1% of taxable income, up to 10%. Ask your tax advisor how a donation fits your situation. Our tax guide explains the rules in more detail.
From list to pickup
We review every donation before anything moves. We can't promise acceptance or a timeline, but we'll reply with next steps.
- 1
Send your list
Counts by type, brands, condition and an estimated value. A spreadsheet or photos are fine.
- 2
We review it
We let you know what we can use and plan the next step with you.
- 3
Pickup or shipping
Bulk donations are picked up in all states. Smaller ones ship after approval.
Your data
Every device is wiped with Acronis before it's reused. Businesses can request a certificate of data destruction for their records.
If your policy requires it, you can remove drives before donating. Just note it on the form.
Data and wipe guidesReceipts and taxes
Computers with Causes is a program of Giving Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We provide a donation receipt. We don't appraise equipment or promise a deduction amount, so ask your tax preparer what applies to your business.
Read the tax guideCommon questions
Tell us on the form what help you need, and we'll discuss it when we plan pickup.
Ask us first. Large batteries have special handling rules.
Tell us. We consider them case by case.
Tell us your dates on the form and we'll plan pickup with you.
Yes. Tell us they're empty.
List it and we'll review.
Tell us what you have
Fill out the form and our team will review it. Every donation is considered case by case.