Is it possible to get computer equipment donated?

Summary:

A posting from the early years of the FAQ which may offer some useful suggestions.

Answer:

The way to get donated equipment is to ask.

1) Institutions/Businesses: Find a nearby bank, university or company
that is upgrading, going out of business or downsizing and simply ask --
nicely -- for a donation of their still-working 386's or better. Make
sure you have someone knowledgable check it out so you don't end up
having to add a lot of things.

Contact local colleges and universities which may have recycling
programs in place for computer hardware and software. If none, suggest
they start one. In Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon Univ. has started a
recycling program through the campus computer store with the stated goal
of marketing older computer equipment ot local nonprofits. For info on
how the CMU program was started/works contact: ps00+@andrew.cmu.edu.

2) Individuals: Some potential donors like the idea of donating
something tangible. Maybe one (or a family, or several) can be persuaded
that the very mission of the organization can be carried out so much
better, efficiently and effectively with better use of volunteer and
paid personnel that they'll give the system.

3) Grants: Though few and far between, more and more foundations are
funding grants for hardware and software -- especially for the more
"popular" social service areas. They recognize the long term program and
financial benefit. [See elsewhere for Grants Resources or check The
Foundation Directory in your library.]

Seek out THE DIRECTORY OF COMPUTER AND HIGH TECHNOLOGY GRANTS by Richard
M. Eckstein (Margate, FL) and various Research Grant Guides at a
Foundation/Nonprofit Resource Center.

4) There are services that help with finding used computers. See http://www.nonprofits.org/npofaq/05/19.html

5) The following corporations may donate hardware:

Apple Computer

Apple Community Affairs

20525 Mariani Ave, MS:38J

Cupertino, CA  95014

408-974-2974

Type of gifts: Donates computers to environmental organizations and
schools nationwide. Also gives equipment and cash to nonprofits working
with young people in the San Francisco Bay area.

BUT, Brad Lewis [Mailto: brad@taimyr.colorado.edu] wrote in May of 1995:


Just for an update on Apple Computer's hardware donation program, I
received news from Apple Community Affairs that they are only giving to
K-12 educational institutions at this time. They will not consider any
other applications for grants or other aid at this time. I thought this
may save someone the time and trouble of contacting them. Deadline for
the K-12 program was in Feb., 1995.

Brad E. Lewis, Projects Coordinator, Southern Rockies Restoration
Project

AST Research

Corporate Contributions Program

16215 Alton Parkway

Irvine, CA  92718

714-727-8144

Types of Gifts: Cash and computers to schools and nonprofits providing
health care and social services.

Gateway 2000

Donation Committee

610 Gateway Dr.

North Sioux City, SD  57049 

800-846-2000 ext. 6910

Types of Gifts: Cash and computers to environmental groups, national and
local. Aids nonprofits in Sioux City region.

Silicon Graphics

Jan Houghton

Community Relations Representative

2011 North Shoreline Blvd.

Mountain View, CA  94043-1389

415-390-1642

Types of Gifts: Cash and used computer equipment to nonprofits providing
job training and social services, as well as used equipment to schools.
Gives new equipment to higher education institutions, especially those
with computer science depts.

Sun Microsystems  

Corporate Affairs 

2550 Garcia Ave.

Mail Stop PALl-516

Mountain View, CA  94043

415-336-5337

Types of Gifts: Cash grants to groups in the San Francisco Bay area and
the Merrimack Valley in Massachusetts to support business development
and job and leadership training for low-income people. Also (in those
areas) to schools that provide economics instruction and programs to
motivate youth to attend college. Gives software and hardware to
colleges, universities and other nonprofits that support academic
research. To apply for hardware aid, contact the Academic Equipment
Grant Program at 415-336-0814.

Other Equipment:

McCaw Cellular Communications (since Spring '95: ATT Wireless)

Corporate Contributions

5400 Carillon Point

Kirkland, WA  98033

206-827-4500

Types of Gifts: Provides cellular telephones and free phone service as
well as cash to nonprofits in the 20 areas where the company has
operations.

Octel Communications Corporation

Melanie Hancock

Employee Services Specialist

890 Tasman Dr.

Milpitas, CA  95035-7439

408-321-6988

Types of Gifts: Provides Voice-mail telephone systems and cash to a wide
range of nonprofits in the 14 US cities where it operates as well as to
groups in its international locations.

NOTE: This list was prepared in the mid-'90s. Much of the information is probably no longer accurate. Corrections and updates should be sent to editor@nonprofits.org. Thank you.

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Minor changes 8/4/01 -- PB