Reboot's Computer Donation Blog

Studies have shown that the adoption of technology has significant effects on the economies of developing countries. For example, technology has assisted in resolving issues such as reducing national production costs, establishing literacy rates, and enabling long-distance communication. We have seen the positive effects of the rapid growth of technology in the U.S. and other developed countries, such as how technology has influenced the alleviation of poverty, the ease of information dissemination, and an increase in access to information via the Internet. While the majority of public schools in the U.S. have computer labs to teach typing skills, literacy, and Internet search tools, the need for computers in international schools remains a persistent issue. 

Computer literacy rates are becoming increasingly important as technology around the world continuing to grow. This is particularly important in countries like Jamaica, where computer literacy is not prevalent throughout the nation. According to the Jamaican government, Minister of Mining and Telecommunications, Derrick Smith, has suggested that Jamaicans prioritize computer literacy in the near future, as it is a primary way in which the country will thrive economically. He also warned that individuals who are not computer literate will likely unfortunately be limited in their endeavors.

Getting rid of extra furniture and electronics can be stressful - particularly when you're moving. It is no secret that getting rid of a used sofa, mattress, or computer is difficult. However, it is important to remember that there are many different options for what you can do with excess items in your home, so it shouldn't be as daunting as it might seem at first. Here are a few of the most efficient and productive ways to get rid of extra furniture and electronics:

1.) Donating Has Financial and Personal Benefits for You

According to the U.S. Department of Education, more than 40% of low-income schools don't get an equal amount of state and local funds. Statistics like this one combined with the abundance of several other challenges facing American public schools present restrictions on the possibility of socioeconomic mobility for low-income families. Furthermore, growing income inequality is continuing to put strains on families in need. Some of the biggest discrepancies are apparent through factor such as the amount of money that some parents are able to spend on books, extracurricular activities, computers, and other forms of technology for their children. Donating to schools of these low-income individuals is one of the easiest and most effective ways of making a difference. 

When donating an electronic device such as a laptop or a computer to a nonprofit organization, it is often up to the donor to determine the value of the item being donated. This can be difficult, as every computer history and situation is different and owners are frequently not experts on assessing the conditions of their own computers/laptops. However, it is important to determine an accurate value of your laptop or computer because you will receive full tax-deductibility in the value that you assess for your electronic upon making the donation. Here are 4 tips for evaluating your computer's donation value:

1.) Assess the year in which the computer was made

• If the computer was made within the past 10 years of the time of donation, then it is likely that the computer is still functioning.

2.) Assess the model of the computer

• It is important to determine if your laptop or computer model is still in existence and if upgrades are still ongoing. If this is the case, then the value of the computer may remain more stable over time as opposed to declining at a faster pace.

3.) Assess the condition of the computer

• When assessing the condition of a computer, may nonprofit organizations require donors to categorize their usage abilities into categories such as "poor, fair, good, and excellent." Although these tools can be helpful from a general perspective,  it is also great to assess the computer from the user perspective. Essentially, if the computer is able to be used to word processing and internet browsing, then it is very likely that the computer is able to be donated and that there is a significant value associated with the unit.

4.) Use comparable laptops to find your laptop's donation value

• Similarly to the assessment of value of tangible items such as real estate and cars, electronic items can also be easily assigned an estimate value due to comparable figures. For example, if you have a used 2012 MacBook Pro laptop, it would be beneficial to search the value for other used 2012 MacBook Pro laptops and determine the value of your laptop based on search results. When in doubt, provide the nonprofit to which you are donating with as much information as possible so that they can help you to find your laptop donation value.

If you already have an older computer and would like to determine what to do with it next, please download this FREE Checklist of What To Do With An Old Computer:

While many people are enthusiastic about donating their used computer or laptop, the process also presents several concerns regarding security and safety. Here are a few tips about how to prepare for your donation:

We live in an age of rapidly growing consumer technology. New devices are constantly being created and upgraded due to tremendous innovation efforts in the technology space. While this is certainly a positive phenomenon for those of us who are able to purchase and use these devices, there is a large population of those who do not even get to use the most basic of technology. In the U.S. alone, approximately 18% of households reported not having a computer in the last year. In developing countries, this statistic is significantly higher and it is an important factor contributing to slow economic growth and low quality of life for these populations.