Detailed Information on Donations

Computer and Networking Equipment and Software

If you have used computers, networking equipment, or software to shake loose, please consider making a donation to our African Universities Linkage Project through the University of Iowa Foundation.
Our volunteers will test and package the equipment and arrange to have it shipped to participating universities in Africa. The recipient universities are asked to pay for shipping, although donations to help defray shipping costs are, of course, welcome.
We can use parts and pieces to upgrade computers as well as whole computers and equipment for networking and creating multimedia. Of course, we do not need the latest and greatest gadgets: just good functioning equipment or software that will get the job done. (Of course, the more documentation you can provide, the better.)

For more information, please see our FAQ page, call WiderNet at 319-335-2200 or email donations@widernet.org.
If you are interested in donating your talents and time, please see our Volunteer and Staff Opportunities Web pages.
For more information on what we could use internally, please see our listing at iReuse.com.
To donate money, see Monetary Donations. To donate or suggest content, see Suggesting Content.
A special thank you for all of our donors is available via our: List of Donors, Donor Logos and Sponsors Web pages.

Stuff We Need:

» Whole systems (Pentium 4 desktops or Pentium laptops or better, this includes Pentium M and some Celerons) -- we wipe all hard drives
» Assistive devices for persons with disabilities
» Books: please see here for more information
» Book boxes: very sturdy, 1x1" book boxes (unused or used once)
» Cable (especially Category 5), coaxial, USB, Internet
» CD databases for any discipline
» CD versions of significant educational or computer support Web sites
» Digital cameras
» Ethernet network hubs (100 mbit or better), routers, switches
» Flat-screen monitors - WE LOVE THESE!
» Hard drives -- we wipe all hard drives
» Industrial shelving for organizing donations
» Industrial, stacking storage containers that open at the front (large, not small)
» Keyboards and mice as long as they work
» Modems (14.4 to 56K)
» Motherboards (Pentium 4 or better)
» Network cards
» Office supplies (see our listing at iReuse.com for more information)
» Power conditioning and battery backup equipment (220v system)
» RAM
» Scanners
» Security cables» Tape backup units
» Tutorials and training software
» Video cards
» Virtually any fairly recent software, especially educational material or programming languages
» Working non-laser printers (220 to 240v) - please try to put each in a bag or box with all necessary cords, disks, etc. and label the outside

Stuff We Can't Use:

» 3-1/2" floppy diskettes - sometimes we accept thse, but don't currently need any
» Apple/Macintosh computers - Sorry, but our partners in the developing world have a hard time finding spare parts.
» Cellular phones - please see the Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom for the Iowa City/Johnson County Cell Phone Recycling Program.
» Computers that have all useful hardware removed - Thank you, but we don't really need empty cases.
» Damaged monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, speakers, etc. - We do refurbish computers, but only the CPUs (the tower part).
» Extra Monitors (without a computer) - due to the large volume of monitors we have been receiving without CPUs, we are now only able to accept monitors (without CPUs) with a $10 donation each to cover costs associated with disposing of monitors if necessary. See below (Computers, Printers and E-Waste Recycling) for information on how to dispose of the monitor yourself in an environmentally-friendly way.
» Game consuls
» Laser printers or printers that don't work!
» Materials that are too dirty - Sorry, but if you painted your computer, we don't really have the ability, time or resources to clean it. The same is true for computers exposed to a lot of cigarette smoke or other such situations. If you can clean it off beforehand, then it's fine (just be careful not to damage it), but otherwise, there isn't much we can do with it. However, we CAN remove stickers and unnecessary labels, etc.
» Pentium III or older computers or motherboards - if you aren't sure what type of computer you have, look at the tower (the CPU, the large box where the discs go) for a sticker that says "Intel Inside". Below these words, it should say what type of Pentium the computer is. If you still aren't sure, please call usa at 319-335-2200 and ask or bring it in and we can tell if it is usable.
» Printer cable cords without the corresponding printer.
» Windows software older than 98 and any software on floppy disks or that can't run on Windows 98 or better

Directions to the Communications Center

Donations made to the University of Iowa Foundation may be tax deductible. The account is The WiderNet Project Gifts-in-Kind (30-260-015).

University of Iowa

The University of Iowa has decided that departments can no longer make donations to the WiderNet Project to support our partner universities in Africa. However, equipment used within the University that does not belong to the University, such as computers purchased through fundraisers by non-departmental groups for the sole use of that group, as well as items personally owned by the staff members, may be donated. Please follow the standard instructions to make these donations. Thank you.