Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 4678

Some people at work and I are starting a charity wherein we accept as donations older computers, refurbish them, install Linux (probably Kubuntu with the appropriate language packs) and then give them away free to needy families with kids in school. We're also going to do fundraisers and take donations to pay for costs (such as providing free dialup service so the kids can use Wikipedia or whatever).

We are already working with Norfolk Freecycle and craigslist and the Hampton Roads Linux User's Group. I dunno the best way to find recipients (go to the schools, I suppose)...nor do I know anything about running a charity...but I mean how hard could it be?

I'd like to know everyone's thoughts on this--legal, technical, whatever.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9171

Setting up a charity legally is long, slow, hard work.

Takes a year or so.

Good luck.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9171

Though, I have a fair few computers on client sites you can have if you are registered.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location:
Posts: 1725

Nice,

These are the reasons that portray my love for open source. How helpful is this going to be for someone who needs it... good luck with everything. Here at UTD you can get on a "Salvage" list where all computers eventually go. The cool thing is that the machine you get from being on that list are likely to only be 3-4 years old.

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Registered: Jan 2002
Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Posts: 1055

I don't know how much you've looked in it, but maybe this link will help you get started with looking in to registering as a charity.

http://www.nasconet.org/agencies#VA

Good for you, and good luck. It sounds like a very cool project.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9171

First stop is to speak to the IRS.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35570

You can man the tech support desks and explain to the lucky kids why they can't install the windows games their relatives bought them from Walmart.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 4678

Holy shit.

This is taking off so much faster than I thought.

Someone in our group spoke to some school board rep she knows...it's going to be brought up at some or another meeting, so maybe finding candidates will not be as difficult as I thought.

I mentioned the idea to my pastor, and people from my church have been dropping by with old comps all day today. Right now we have five usable to semi-usable boxes (nothing below 500mhz)...hurting on peripherals (monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, speakers) though.

Wow...just...wow. Time to get our asses in gear, it would seem!

Smug mentioned tech support--that's going to be the biggest pain in the butt, I'm sure. I have no idea how we're going to handle this--maybe have someone on call to come buy and troubleshoot when shit goes wrong, or maybe a central location (someone's house?) where they can just bring the box for fixin'. Any ideas...let me know...

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Registered: Feb 2004
Location: south afrika
Posts: 16501

quote:

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Originally posted by squee


Smug mentioned tech support--that's going to be the biggest pain in the butt, I'm sure. I have no idea how we're going to handle this

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Registered: Dec 2002
Location:
Posts: 15990

I would suggest that, as regards peripherals such as monitors, bubble jet printers, etc, that once your program is a bit more coherent (have you wrriten your mission statement? or your procedural guide? or your partnership agreement (with other charitable groups)?), that you take that into the local offices of Goodwill Industries. They get a lot of older monitors and sell them really cheaply - they would probably be willing to cross-donate them if they are convinced you are legit.

For that matter, the Salvation Army does a lot of cooperative cross donation of items to other charities. Also, in the area you are going to be operating in, the Daighters of the American Reevolution, and the Daughters of the Confederacy are both quite active. Not too mention the Retired Naval Officers Association, probably the various military affiliated charities.

Last edited by SimpleSimon on 01-17-2006 at 12:50 AM

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Registered: Apr 2002
Location: At Home
Posts: 4074

Good on you Squee.

Charities are not-for-profit or non-profit organisations, but you can still make a good living helping people, I wish more people would choose to make a living this way.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 4678

Wow...thanks for the tips, everyone!

I will keep you all up to date on how this is progressing.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9171

I have a bunch of PIII's here but you have to pick them up soon before I pollute the world by dumping them out back.

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Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Hilbert Space
Posts: 35570

Hey, I might need one of those. Which ones are they?

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9171

They are some home built crap lying around one of my clients.

Throwing them out would be a mercy.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 4678

Goat: Where is "here" again?

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9171

Alexandria / Arlington

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 4678

Alrighty...I have to pick up a couple of boxen from Charlottesville next week, I might just make it a day on the road or something.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9171

Send me a PM and I'll let you know what I have.

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Norfolk, VA
Posts: 4678

Update: four placements completed.

It is astonishing how quickly a 14-year-old Mexican kid will pick up Linux. Perhaps it shouldn't be. In any event, I'm not complaining.

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