How to Donate
Before contacting us regarding a hardware or software donation, please review the frequently asked questions below for tips and general guidelines.
- How do I donate?
- Can I have an electronic copy of the Donation Form to fill out before I bring the donation?
- How do you ensure that no personal information goes to Africa with the computer I donate?
- Can I bring in broken equipment?
- Is my contribution tax-deductible?
- What kind of books can you use?
- What kind of software can you use?
- How do I donate online content for the eGranary?
- Is there any specific way you'd like the materials packaged?
- What other places might find my donation useful?
More questions?
E-mail donations@widernet.org or call 319-335-2200.
You can bring your donation to The WiderNet Project at 201 Communications Center.
View map and driving/parking directions
Please note, there is a short form that needs to be filled out [pdf]. If you call right before you come, someone can come down to assist you with unloading and to give you the form. Otherwise you need to come up to the office.
2. Can I have an electronic copy of the Donation Form to fill out before I bring the donation?
Yes - download the Donation Form [pdf]
Please keep in mind - a value must be filled out. This is just a guess for tax purposes.
You can itemize your donation or just proved a total. It isn't too important, just whatever you're willing to declare on your taxes (even if you don't plan to declare it) and ours.
3. How do you ensure that no personal information goes to Africa with the computer I donate?
The technicians at The WiderNet Project clean every hard drive with a software called "KillDisk", that completely erases and reformats the hard drive.
UI transfer materials go through UI surplus where they use their own methods of completely erasing the hard drive.
Our technicians use this automatically, but if you want to be absolutely sure, we could loan you a disk and could do it yourself before bringing in your donation.
4. Can I bring equipment that is broken?
No, at this time The WiderNet Project doesn't have the resources to fix equipment that doesn't work.
5. Is my contribution tax-deductible?
Equipment donations made to the WiderNet Project are reported to the University of Iowa Foundation may be tax deductible.
You will need to indicate to us what you think the donation is worth and we'll report this amount to the UI Foundation. The IRS doesn't allow us to determine a value for you.
6. What kind of books can you use?
We can use manuals related to Windows, Microsoft Office Software and UNIX, but not materials for Macs or for specific computers/printers.
We can use the majority of educational books and materials on any topic, such as literature, science, etc. Anything else is on a case by case basis.
7. What kind of software can you use?
In general, we prefer relevant materials online or CDs (not floppies) that are in good condition (not all scratched up and hard for the computer to read).
Sorry, we can't use software acquired under the university's Microsoft license, but can accept software that came with a computer or that was purchased separately.
Here are some titles that we can use:
- Windows Server 2000 and 2003
- Windows XP and XP Pro
- Microsoft Office 2003, FrontPage, PowerPoint, etc.
- CorelDraw, Adobe products, clipart, etc.
- Virus protection, PC and network utilities
- Any educational CD-ROMs that's compatible with Windows 2000 or better adn with relevant and up-to-date content...encyclopedias, tutorials, instructional games, etc.
- Any adaptive software or devices for people with disabilities
8. How do I donate online content for the eGranary?
Please see our Share Your Knowledge page.
9. Is there any specific way you'd like the materials packaged?
We don't really have a preference for this, but when we get items like printers with a lot of small things like extra ink cartridges or installation CDs that would get lost, we put them in a plastic bag, like a grocery or trash bag, tie it closed and label the outside with a shipping label so we know the exact printer type.
If you still have the original box, though, that's fine too. We also put speaker sets in plastic grocery sacks so matching speakers stay together.
You can also tape the power cord for CPUs to the outside with a small amount of clear packing tape or masking tape (but NOT Duct tape!)
10. What other places might find my donation useful?
If your donation doesn't meet our needs, click here for a list of other organizations that accept computer donations.
Please note, that we aren't affiliated with these organizations and this information may not be completely accurate or up-to-date. Contact them for confirmation and/or clarification.
