Donate Your Computer the Right Way

If you plan to donate computers to a good cause, you don’t want to regret that decision later. That’s why the most important step you can take is to protect yourself from identity theft by wiping your hard drive. Unless you are giving your computer to someone you would personally trust with your SS#, bank accounts, passwords to all your online accounts, and every other piece of personal data on your hard drive, leaving it up to the recipient to wipe your drive is just a bad idea. SurErase software provides a cost effective way to permanently erase all the information on your hard drive prior to donation. Learn more about the dangers of ID theft and how easy it is to protect yourself here.

Where and How to Donate Computers

After you make the decision to donate your old hard drive and other PC components, the next step is figuring out how to actually get this task done. Finding organizations that accept computer donations can take some searching. We’ve made it easier for you by compiling a comprehensive list of the most popular websites where you can find just the right recipient. These include national non-profits like Goodwill and clearinghouse sites like the World Computer Exchange that match your old equipment with organizations that need it.

To make sure you are donating computers correctly, read through our FAQ and helpful tips pages. Here are just a few of the things you will learn:

• How to keep your personal data secure at all times
• How to document your donation for tax purposes
• What to include with your computer so it will be of the greatest use to the recipient
• Why smashing your hard drive is the wrong method of computer disposal

Why You Should Donate Computers

Organizations that accept computer donations provide a valuable service to society by delivering usable electronic resources into the hands of people who need them. When donated computers are in good working condition, they become important teaching tools for children in schools all over the world, including in developing nations. Keeping reusable hard drives and other components out of the waste stream in the U.S. is another top priority for computer disposal organizations that refurbish and/or recycle your unwanted equipment. Learn more about the benefits of giving away your unwanted computers and hard drives here.

Another reason to give your old computer to a non-profit organization is that you can take the current value of the equipment off your taxes. The process of documenting a donation and listing the deduction on your income tax forms is fairly simple. We’ve put together a straightforward guide about the IRS rules and instructions for computer donations here.

So, take a moment to browse the site and learn how SurErase can help you donate computers the right way.