Where to Donate Electronics Before Your Move

A big part of packing and moving is going through what you own and getting rid of the things that you don’t need any more. Some things are trickier to get rid of than others though, and that includes electronics. Fortunately, there are a ton of charitable organizations that will help you put those old electronics to use—a much better alternative than simply recycling them (or worse: letting them end up in a landfill). Here’s who to reach out to when you’re trying to figure out where to donate electronics before you move to your new place.

Human-I-T

Human-I-T is a national organization that helps eliminate e-waste by making it easy for people to donate electronics. They’ll even pick it up for you (for free). Recipients of unwanted tech include low-income households, charitable organizations and not-for-profit schools, veterans, and people with disabilities. You can donate a wide array of items in any condition, from computers and computer accessories to handheld devices and office equipment, so schedule a pick-up and donate all of your unwanted technology in one easy place.

For more information, visit Human-I-T.org.

World Computer Exchange

This international organization accepts working computers, monitors, scanners, and more and distributes them to schools in more than 70 developing countries. Most of their donations come from libraries, universities, and businesses, but individuals are able to donate electronics as well. Simply ship your items to World Computer Exchange, 936 Nantasket Avenue, Hull, Massachusetts 02045 and you’ll receive a tax receipt in return. Click here to see the entire list of what the organization accepts.

Cell Phones for Soldiers

Help the troops by donating your old smartphone, tablet, mp3 player, or more to Cell Phones for Soldiers, an organization that will then either sell the device to a refurbisher (if it’s in good working condition) or have it properly recycled. Proceeds from the device sales are used to purchase prepaid international calling cards for active members of the military and to provide emergency funding to veterans in need.

Computers with Causes

Donate laptops, desktops, servers, gadgets, and other tech equipment in any condition to Computers with Causes, an organization that refurbishes donated electronics and then gives them away to schools, foster homes, veterans, and more. Donations are accepted on a case-by-case basis, so you’ll have to fill out the form telling them what you have and wait for your items to be accepted. They accept donations from all 50 states—just head to the site and click on the map to see details for donating where you live.

ZealousGood

ZealousGood isn’t an electronics donation site itself, but it is a general donation site where you can list the items you’re interested in donating and local organizations in your area can request them for pick up. It may be that your local animal shelter is need of your old air conditioner or perhaps there’s a senior services center that could really use that fax machine you haven’t touched in a few years. As long as your items are in good working condition, you should be able to find someone who needs them.

For more information, visit ZealousGood.com.

PickUp Please

As the name suggests, PickUp Please will come right to you and take your old TVs, game consoles, computers, etc. off your hands. Even better—you can usually schedule a pickup for within 24 hours, so if you left this to do item until the end of your list, you’re in luck. The organization is part of Vietnam Veterans of America, and donated items are generally sold with the proceeds going toward helping veterans and their families. They currently offer pickups in 13 states, so check out the site to see if you’re in an area that qualifies.

For more information, visit PickUpPlease.org.

National Cristina Foundation

Donate used computers and other used pieces of technology and select the local charity or school that you would like to receive them. The National Cristina Network facilitates donations between consumers and hundreds of charitable and educational organizations around the country, so you should have no trouble finding the perfect place to receive your donated tech. To donate, head to the locator page and type in your zip code. You’ll see exactly which organizations are looking for donations and what particular items they need.

For more information, visit Cristina.org.

Goodwill

Contact your local Goodwill and see if they’re one of the many locations that are a part of the Goodwill E-cycle program. Much like other items you donate to Goodwill, if the tech is in good working condition the store will sell them to further their cause. If the items aren’t in working condition, they’ll safely recycle them for you through their partnership with Dell’s Reconnect program. And since there’s likely a Goodwill wherever you are, it’s an excellent option if you’re short on time or other options.

For more information, visit Goodwill.org.

Secure the Call

If you have an old cell phone to donate, consider sending it over to Secure the Call, a national organization that provides free, emergency-only cell phones to domestic violence centers, senior citizen centers, and police and sheriff departments. The phones are wiped completely clean by high school kids in Maryland (for credit) and set up to only call 911. These can be essential lifelines for people in distress, and are a great alternative to simply letting old phones sit around in your desk drawer.

For more information, visit SecureTheCall.org.

Tips for donating electronics

Wipe your data. Pretty much any organization you donate electronics to will take care of wiping the data off of the device, but if you want to be extra sure it’s done (and done right), do it yourself before making your donation.

Contact the organization before donating. Most organizations will clear donations with you first, but if not, take the initiative and reach out to them yourself. This way, you can make sure they will accept the exact item you have to donate in its exact condition.

Include accessories. Don’t forget to send along any product accessories, especially those that are required for the item to work. Chargers, attachments, and other add-ons should all be included with the item donation.