Donate Devices, Transform Lives
Repurpose your organization's retired devices to create digital opportunities for our community
Making Opportunity More Accessible
In today's rapidly evolving digital world, access to technology is access to opportunity. Yet, over 110,000 households in Franklin County lack access to a computing device beyond a smartphone.
This “digital divide” creates significant barriers to education, employment, healthcare, and civic engagement, disproportionately affecting our most vulnerable communities.The ConnectUS Device Donation Program offers a streamlined and secure solution for your organization to easily recycle unused devices and put them in the hands of community members in need.
Your organization’s retired technology holds immense potential.
Instead of becoming e-waste, these devices can be securely refurbished and given a new life, directly empowering students, job seekers, and families across Central Ohio.
Seamless, Secure & Impactful
We facilitate all necessary agreements, logistics, and reporting, ensuring a no-cost and minimal-effort donation process for your IT staff. Our refurbishment partners coordinate seamless pick up or drop off appointments.
Our trusted Refurbishment Partners adhere to the highest industry standards (R2v3 and NIST), guaranteeing proper data sanitization and environmentally responsible asset disposition. You’ll receive a Certificate of Destruction for data-bearing devices.
Your donated devices create a direct credit toward refurbished technology that we distribute to community members and nonprofit organizations in need, ensuring your contribution makes a measurable difference.
Your Donation, Our Community
Discover the real-world impact of corporate device donations.
Chemical Abstract Service (CAS), a local employer specializing in scientific and chemical research, contributed retired laptops to the program. This donation resulted in 67 fully refurbished devices, which were distributed to Community Refugee & Immigration Services (CRIS).
CRIS then provided these devices to New American and refugee families, enabling them to access essential online resources, educational opportunities, and employment tools as they integrate into our community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Donation Process & Logistics
What can I donate?
We will take anything! The Device Donation Program is designed to be a plug-and-play solution for all of your technology disposal needs.
The Device Donation Program will prioritize refurbishing high-quality, large-screen devices (laptops, tablets, desktops). All other donated materials will be securely recycled.
Is there a cost to participate in the Device Donation Program?
There is no cost to the donating organization. *Select CRT and LCD monitors will incur a small disposal fee.
How are devices refurbished?
ConnectUS has partnered with Columbus Micro Systems, a local IT recycling, hardware, and technology systems firm to provide end-to-end device collection, data destruction, e-recycling, and refurbishment services.
Does my IT team need to prepare the devices in-house?
No. The Device Donation Program is a turn-key service designed to minimize the burden on the donating organization. Release of liability, secure data erasure, and asset tracking will be provided for all donated devices.
Please do not pull hard drives from donated devices. All data will be erased in a secure manner. Destroying the hard drive negates the ability to refurbish the device.
What ITAD (IT Asset Disposition) vendors do you work with?
The Device Donation Program has partnered with Columbus Micro Systems, a local IT recycling, hardware, and technology systems firm to provide end-to-end device collection, data destruction, e-recycling, and refurbishment services.
If your organization works with another ITAD vendor, the Device Donation Program team can coordinate a donation pathway with your existing vendor.
Device Refurbishment & Security
Is my organization's data secure?
Yes. All donated materials are subject to comprehensive R2v3 certified processing methods. As an R2v3-certified recycler, Columbus Micro Systems, guarantees that all data is securely erased onsite in accordance with industry standards, including but not limited to NIST 800-88 and DoD 5220.22-M ECE.
How does Columbus Micro Systems process the material?
All processing takes place onsite under camera surveillance at 5087 Westerville Road, Columbus, OH 43231. Each device is scanned into an itemized inventory, including details such as make, model, serial number, asset tag number, processor specifications, and results from both visual and hardware inspections.
What documentation will Columbus Micro Systems provide throughout the process?
Columbus Micro Systems will provide a Release of Liability, Certificate of Destruction, and a scan-in document of all donated devices.
Community Impact
What devices does the community need?
The Device Donation program focuses on refurbishing large-screen devices: laptops, tablets, and desktop devices.
Who is receiving the refurbished devices?
Franklin County residents and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for devices.
Devices are distributed to qualified nonprofit organizations who work with residents living at 200% or more below the federal poverty level. Selected nonprofits distribute devices to residents who lack a large-screen device in their household.
Will all donated devices be donated back into the community?
A portion of donated devices will be distributed back into the community.
All donated devices are assessed for operability. Some devices cannot be refurbished due to irreparable hardware failures, software issues, or other technical limitations.
What is the goal for the devices that are refurbished and prepared for donation?
The Device Donation Program aims to provide 7,500 no-cost devices to Franklin County residents and nonprofits by the end of 2027. All recipients will receive a large-screen device (e.g. laptop, tablet, desktop) that is “like new”.
I don't own devices, but I want to be part of the program? How can I contribute?
Supporters are encouraged to provide monetary donations to finance the refurbishment of additional devices. It costs $50 to fully refurbish one device