Easy How-To For Desktop Donation

 

The progression of computer technology has given us more powerful systems at lower prices. Every time we buy an upgrade or new model, we are left with a used computer that may no longer meet our needs. You may just store that used desktop computer system in an out-of-sight location like the closet or basement. There are better solutions, particularly if the computer in question is still working and is less than five years old.

A computer donation to a nonprofit organization, like Giving Center, maybe the right choice for you.

Desktop computers that are older than five years may be able to be donated, however, charities tend to take these on a case by case basis. It also tends to become increasingly difficult to find software for old systems and, with the number of computers being donated, some charities no longer need to accept slower machines.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Create a brief description of the desktop computer including brand, processor, hard drive capacity, audio, or video specifications to the best of your knowledge. Include all the accessories like keyboards and mice.
• Contact the charity to determine if the computer will be of use to them. Remember, exceptions for computers older than 5 years can be made. To see if you can donate a computer with Giving center, fill out the online donor contact form.
• Package everything carefully to mitigate any damage during transportation.
• Do not forget the receipt. Charities are required to give you a receipt of donation upon receiving your generous donation.
• Be sure to get a donation receipt from the charity you choose. This will be handy come tax time. Giving Center can provide you with all the necessary receipts and tax documentation required for a tax deduction.

Keep in mind, the more complete the system is, the easier it will be for the charity to put the computer to good use.

TAX BENEFITS
Most charitable donations can be tax-deductible and computers are no exception.

It is important to keep good records of every transaction.  Placing a value on the computer is usually up to you, and it is important to find a reasonable fair value. IRS regulations allow you to deduct the fair market value of items donated to a qualified 501(c)(3) organization. Make sure to check with your tax professional for advice on the tax implications of computer donation.

Preparing Your Computer for Donation
Making sure you rid your computer of personal data is an essential step for both peaces of mind and for your protection. Charities usually will wipe clean hard drives before gifting them back out. If you would like, there are ways you can permanently delete your data yourself.

With today's standards, emptying the recycle bin and deleting the files is simply not enough. In reality, when you delete a file from a hard drive, the operating system only deletes the information that tells you where the file is located. It is relatively easy to restore a file that has been deleted, even for non-experts. Overwriting data with randomized zeros and ones is not good enough either. Nor is reformatting the hard drive. An expert can usually restore data even after the drive has been overwritten or reformatted.

However, there are relatively simple and permanent data erasing solutions are available and some of them are free. These specialty software permanently remove files from your hard drive and does not leave a trace that could be used to restore them. This is done by writing random characters and binary data to the drive.

Even if you feel you do not have any secret or personal files, you still should run an erasing application before you make a computer donation. Critical information such as passwords are stored on a hard drive.

Donating your old computer to charity helps people in need, can keep dangerous stuff out of our landfills, improve your mood, and can even put some money in your pocket.