PCs for People typically accepts all functioning and non-functioning IT-related electronics. This includes laptops, tablets, desktop PCs, monitors, cables & accessories, circuit boards/cards, mice, hard drives, keyboards, and more. Click here for a complete list of equipment.

Compudopt accepts any laptops, desktops, and flat-screen monitors along with power cords, charging cables, and computer peripherals (keyboards, optical mice, etc.). They do not accept CRT monitors, cell phones, tablets, TVs, routers, appliances, servers or printers.

All donations are tax-deductible. Following your donation you will receive a letter with an official tax receipt at the bottom.

All data-bearing devices are put through a commercial data erasure process to ensure that all data is destroyed. Any hardware that cannot be wiped is physically shredded.  

PCs for People provides data sanitization for every device using Department of Defense, HIPAA, and NIST 800-88 compliant software. A certificate of data sanitization is available upon request. 

All devices which are donated to Compudopt are accessed only by authorized staff members and data bearing devices are wiped using industrial grade disk sanitization software. Compudopt follows National Institute for Standards and Technology NIST 800-88 PURGE guidelines for data destruction on all devices.

Devices that cannot be refurbished are still data-wiped.  Usable components may be used to replace components in other devices while unusable parts are responsibly disposed of through an eStewards or R2 certified organization.

PCs for People sends a truck to pick up devices if the donation includes 15 or more computers. Smaller quantities may be dropped off by the donor.

Compudopt will schedule a free pickup for any amount of computers.

PCs for People is a national non-profit social enterprise working to get low-cost quality computers and internet into the homes of individuals, families, and nonprofits with low income. By recycling and then refurbishing computers, PCs for People provides a valuable service to businesses, families, and the planet by keeping computers out of landfills and repurposing them to advance digital inclusion.    

Compudopt has been providing technology access and education to underserved youth for more than 15 years.  Their programs serve to eliminate the device gap, ensure high-speed in home connectivity, deliver digital literacy training, and inspire the next generation of innovators through their technology centered enrichment programs. By solving the digital divide in communities they help to lay a foundation for economic mobility.  Compudopt operates in nearly 40 cities across 18 US states.  All of their programs are 100% free for all participants. 

PCs for People recipients must be currently participating in a government-based assistance program or have a qualifying household income (less than 200% of federal poverty guidelines or 60% of area median income). Details here. 

Compudopt recipients must not have access to a working computer at home that they own, and must have a child in K-12 education or qualify as opportunity youth up to age 26. Devices provided by the school are not to be counted as they are not owned by the family.

Past PCs for People donors include Palmer House Hilton, Walgreens, Shedd Aquarium, Chicago Housing Authority, Level-1 Global Solutions, Hyatt, and more.

Past Comudopt donors include Dynegy, Fetch Rewards, Walgreens, Alliant Group, JLL, Exxon, HP, the Federal Reserve Bank, Chevron, Lyondell Bassell, Santander Consumer, and others.

Yes! See below for mission-aligned City of Chicago initiatives:

• Climate Action Plan
• Waste Strategy
• Chicago Recycles

By donating used electronic devices, organizations increase their lifespan, reducing pollutants and emissions created while manufacturing new products and keeping them out of landfills longer (EPA). It is estimated that between 2021-2030, a total of 2.5 to 3.7 billion tons of CO2 could be saved from recycling e-waste.

_{Source: Singh, N., & Ogunseitan, O. A. (2022). Disentangling the worldwide web of e-waste and climate change co-benefits. Circular Economy, 1(2), 100011.}

Please complete the pledge form at cloud.citynews.chicago.gov/device_donation and you will be contacted by one of the organizations to arrange for a pickup. Visit chi.gov/DeviceDonation for instructions and more information.

You can take the pledge this month by completing the form at cloud.citynews.chicago.gov/device_donation and can arrange for a pickup anytime afterwards. This opportunity will be on-going. It is not required that donors complete a donation this month. 

Yes, individuals can also donate their old computers by dropping them off at a local site. Please see the list below.

In Chicago: 

SGA Youth and Family Services (Chicago Downtown – The Loop) 

• Address: 11 E Adams St, Suite 240 
• Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (last Fridays of the month close at noon) 
• Contact: Marina Zhang at mzhang@sga-youth.org or 312.927.7293 

Hope TEC (Chicago South Side – Englewood) 

• Address: 1354 West 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60636 
• Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Friday - 10 am - 2 pm 
• Instructions: Call in advance - Enter Loomis Side Door, ring the doorbell 
• Contact information: Mary Bennett at marybennett@hopetec.org or 773.424.0437 

Phalanx Family Services (Chicago Far South Side - Roseland) 

• Address: 837 W 119^th St  
• Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm 
• Contact: 773.291.1086

Northwest Center (Chicago Northwest Side – Belmont Cragin) 

• Address: 3030 N Mobile Ave., Door 14, Chicago IL, 60634  
• Hours of Operation: Monday-Thursday, 9 am – 3 pm  
• Instructions: Enter through door 14 and go to room 605 (last room on the left) 
• Contact: Reyna Rodriguez at rrodriguez@northwestcenterchicago.org or 708.541.2879 

Outside of Chicago: 

PCs for People (Oak Lawn, Illinois) 

• Address: 4535 SW Highway, Oak Lawn, IL 60453  
• Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4 pm  
• Instructions: They can be brought into the retail store or if help is needed to unload, someone on our team can help. 

 Compudopt (Downers Grove, Illinois) 

• Address: 1414 Brook Drive, Downers Grove, IL 60515 (In Oak Commons Office Park) 
• Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm
• Instructions: Call Kevin Baker at 773-232-1196 or complete this form to schedule a drop off appointment.