FAQ Section:

Below please find a number of Frequently Asked Questions about the Urbantech Project and computer donations. If you have further questions or need additional information, please don't hesitate to email us at urbantech@dca.net or call us at 215-227-0600.

What equipment can the Urbantech Project accept?  
Most donated equipment will be placed in schools and local community nonprofit social service agencies that have little or no prior experience with technology. Consequnetly, we would like to provide Windows 98 capable computers as well as Macintosh systems that can run MacOS 8.6 or better. Our primary goal is to make sure that the computers earned by students and donated to non-profit organizations are useful for at least a few years. We therefore cannot accept any computer equipment that is older than the configurations listed on the donations wish list.

For more details on our equipment needs, visit our donations "wish list " by clicking here.

Will the Urbantech Project pick up donated equipment? 
The CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE - ATLANTIC SERVICE CENTER has "adopted" the Urbantech Project as part of the Philadelphia Promise: Alliance for Youth (Presidents' Summit on Volunteerism). The Service Center will arrange transportation of the first 1000 computers donated by local corporations. In addition, for small equipment donations, a cadre of volunteers are availble for pick ups in the greater Philaldelphia region. However, we always appreciate deliveries of donations at our recycling site.

How will the donated equipment be refurbished?
UrbanTech will target two groups of students to participate in the recycling process. The first will be high school students with minimal or no technology skills. These student participants will attend 20-30 hours of formal workshops in computer science and basic computer repair led by master teacher and expert TECH CORPS volunteers who have already agreed to lend their expertise to the program. They will learn to diagnose and repair problems with computer hardware, as well as install, use, and troubleshoot commonly used software applications. During the course of the program, each student will refurbish 3-4 donated computers. Following successful completion of the training program, student participants will be certified as "Teen Techs." Teen Tech teams, headed by teacher-mentors trained by the master teacher, will be formed at various high schools among participating clusters. Students making up the Teen Tech teams will provide at least 20 hours of first-line technical support for donated computers distributed to community agencies and elementary, middle, and high schools.
A second group of twelve to fifteen students who already possess intermediate to advanced technology skills will be recruited and trained to become Technology Mentors for their peers and teachers for a one-year period. They will receive formal instruction in advanced technology and computer skills, interpersonal skills, and teaching strategies. Student Technology Mentors will participate in the training of teen techs and teacher-mentors, act as second-line technical support for Teen Tech teams, and serve as computer consultants for local non-profit community agencies.

How will the donated equipment be used?
UrbanTech will place reconditioned computers in North Philadelphia nonprofit social service agencies and schools that cannot afford to purchase new computer equipment. Placement of classroom computers will be based on formal applications submitted by area teahcers describing how they will be used. In recognition of their commitment to service-learning, teacher-mentors and their "teen tech" teams will also receive refurbished computers for classroom use. Some of these computers will serve as a "lending library" for team members to take home to practice the skills they acquire during the training program and to share their knowledge and expertise with family and friends.

Are equipment donations to the Urbantech Project tax-deductible?
YES! Our fiscal sponsor is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Therefore, all donations to UrbanTech are fully tax-deductible . The only IRS requirement is that you not receive any good or services in exchange for your donation. We will supply a receipt along with a letter from our fiscal sponsor, making the donations tax-deductible.

How will the value of the tax deduction be determined?
According to IRS regulations, we can not determine the value of your donations. That is between you and your accountant. However, the 21st Century Classrooms Act , signed into law as part of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-34, Title II B, Sec. 224), provides expanded tax incentives to corporations that donate newer computer technology, equipment and software to public and private primary and secondary schools, and to non-profit organizations involved in primary and secondary education.
Under the new law, a "C" corporation making a qualified donation may take a charitable contribution deduction equal to the following: 
Its basis in the donated property (what it costs to build or acquire inventory property, or its depreciated value in the case of usedbusiness property) 
Plus one-half of the amount of ordinary income that would havebeen realized if the property had been sold (ordinary income is market value minus the basis) 
The total expanded deduction cannot exceed twice the basis of the donated property. 
For example, a firm that invests $500 to build a unit (its basis) that would otherwise sell for $1,000 (creating a $500 "ordinary income") can take a deduction of $750 by donating it to an eligible K-12 educational recipient under the new law, as opposed to a deduction of only $500 (its basis only) under the old law. This incentive is similar to an existing tax incentive that encourages donations of high-tech equipment to universities and scientific research organizations.

Will the Urbantech Project accept Macintosh computers?
Yes, but our resources for locating parts for use in refurbishing Mac computers are limited. We prefer to accept working systems only. 

Are you looknig for more volunteers?
Yes, we are always looking for motivated volunteers. Please visit our volunteers' corner for additional information.