Frequently Asked Questions

Recipient FAQ

1. What does the National Cristina Foundation do?
2. Is there a charge for your services?
3. Are you a Not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Public Charity?
4. How can an organization or school receive equipment?
5. If I am an individual who has a disability or is economically disadvantaged, will the National Cristina Foundation provide a donated computer to me?
6. My organization/school/public agency is seeking monetary support. Does the National Cristina Foundation provide financial grants?
7. My organization needs computers to help our fundraising efforts and/or to run our office administration. Will the National Cristina Foundation help us?
8. I have computer equipment that I would like to donate to the National Cristina Foundation. How do I do this?
9. What equipment can I donate?
10. What are the minimum requirements for donated equipment?
11. How do I wipe my hard drive of personal information?
12. I'm not a company, can I still donate computer equipment?
13. Are there tax benefits for donations by individuals?
14. What are the tax benefits to corporate donors?
15. Will my equipment definitely be accepted?

1. (Back to Top)What does the National Cristina Foundation do?

   The National Cristina Foundation directs donations of used computer equipment to non profit organizations, schools, and public agencies throughout the United States. These organizations train people with disabilities, students at risk and economically disadvantaged persons to lead more independent and productive lives.

2. (Back to Top)Is there a charge for your services?

   No, the National Cristina Foundation does not charge donors or partner organizations for its services, although donors may occasionally be requested to cover shipping costs.

3. (Back to Top)Are you a Not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Public Charity?

   Yes, the National Cristina Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) publicly supported foundation dedicated to the support of training through donated technology. Eligibility for equipment grants is established through our online Grant Application process. There is never a charge to donors or recipients.

4. (Back to Top)How can an organization or school receive equipment?

   To be added to our network of partner organizations, organizations with not-for-profit 501(c)(3) status, and public schools or public agencies need to submit an online Grant Application, which is available on line at https://www.cristina.org/oga.

5. (Back to Top)If I am an individual who has a disability or is economically disadvantaged, will the National Cristina Foundation provide a donated computer to me?

   Unfortunately, the National Cristina Foundation can only donate computers to registered nonprofit organizations, schools, and public agencies. It cannot donate equipment directly to individuals seeking support.

6. (Back to Top)My organization/school/public agency is seeking monetary support. Does the National Cristina Foundation provide financial grants?

   No. The National Cristina Foundation provides donations of used computer equipment but does not provide financial awards.

7. (Back to Top)My organization needs computers to help our fundraising efforts and/or to run our office administration. Will the National Cristina Foundation help us?

   No. The National Cristina Foundation targets their donations to organizations that will be using the equipment for purposes related to training, job development, educational programs and other related projects that focus directly on improving the lives of people with disabilities, students at risk, and economically disadvantaged people.

8. (Back to Top)I have computer equipment that I would like to donate to the National Cristina Foundation. How do I do this?

   1. Click on How to Donate from the site’s main navigation.
   2. Follow the instructions on the site. Each step of the donation process will provide directions on how to fill out the donor submission form.
   3. Once your donation is submitted, our staff will notify partner organizations in your area about the availability of your equipment. They will contact you by email when they are able to find a home for your donation. They will also email you if, for some reason, they are not able to place your equipment.
   4. Someone from the organization that your donation has been matched with will contact you to make arrangements for pick up or delivery of the equipment.

9. (Back to Top)What equipment can I donate?

   The National Cristina Foundation accepts a wide variety of items and can usually place useful equipment with one of its partner organizations around the United States. A list of common donation items might include: 

   PC Desktop Systems, PC Laptop Systems, Mac Desktop Systems, Mac Laptop Systems, Answering Machines, CDROM Drives, Copier Machines, CPU (Partial System)s, Digital Cameras, Docking Stations, Pen/Drawing Tablets, Fax Machines, Flatbed Scanners, Floppy Disk Drives, Handheld Scanners, Hard Disk Drives, Keyboards, Miscellaneous Items, Modems, Mice, Monitors, Network Devices, Network Interface Cards, Plotters, Printers, Softwares, Sound Cards, Video Cards, Tape Backup Drives, and Zip Drives.

   Companies in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and Delaware can participate in a pilot program to donate e-scrap in need of destruction. Click here for more information.

10. (Back to Top)What are the minimum requirements for donated equipment?

    Pentium III & Higher CPUs (486 & Pentium I and Pentium II are no longer accepted). Alternative CPUs accepted if Pentium III equivalent or better. Hardware needing repair is considered on a case-by-case basis where partner organizations have repair capabilities. 

11. (Back to Top)How do I wipe my hard drive of personal information?

    Before delivery/pickup of your equipment, you will need to back up any necessary data and remove all data from your hard drive. You are responsible for the deletion of all data that may be contained on the computer hardware. There are several products on the market for data removal and cost for these software solutions vary (many are free). Here are some links for more information:

    Download.com "Disk Wiping" Search

    Download.com has links to many products designed to help you backup and erase your hard drive.

    Google "Disk Wiping" Search

    A great place to start doing research on data removal solutions is by searching Google. You'll quickly get a sense of what's involved and thousands of links to available software.

    If you have them, please be sure to include your operating system software on CD or diskette, the Certificate of Authenticity, end-user license agreements and manuals that came with your system.

12. (Back to Top)I'm not a company, can I still donate computer equipment?

    Yes! In fact, individual donors like you are what allow us to help so many people all over the country. We provide information to support your tax deductions based on fair market value for individual donors as well as large companies. Shipping costs are also tax deductible under applicable rules and regulations.

13. (Back to Top)Are there tax benefits for donations by individuals?

    For individuals, the charitable deduction for contributions of technology equals the fair market value (retail used value in the current market place) of the donated property. We provide a receipt letter upon the completion of the donation process. The donation is tax deductible for the year in which our partner organization receives the equipment. Shipping costs are also tax deductible under applicable rules and regulations.

14. (Back to Top)What are the tax benefits to corporate donors?

    The IRS code provides for a tax deduction for property donated to a charitable organization such as the National Cristina Foundation under applicable rules and regulations. For Corporate donors, tax deductions are usually limited to the amount of the donor's tax basis in the property contributed. A receipt letter is provided upon the completion of the donation process. That letter will reflect the year in which our partner organization receives the equipment. Confirm eligibility for the deductions with your own tax advisor. Warehousing and shipping costs are also tax deductible under applicable rules and regulations.

15. (Back to Top)Will my equipment definitely be accepted?

    While we make every effort to place all equipment, we cannot guarantee that this will happen. Due to a number of factors, including the quality of the equipment and the needs of our partner organizations, we will not be able to find homes for some donations.