Convincing Companies into Donating Old Computers?

tevk asks: "I work at a large corporation, and today I noticed the sysadmin was throwing a bunch of machines out. When I asked if I could take one, he said it was against company policy. When I asked if we could donate them to a school where my mother works, he said he would love to, but the red tape is almost impossible to work through. Apparently, due to legal concerns, it's easier just to throw the machines out! Does anyone know of any activism sites that might have tips on how to convince the company I work for to donate machines? Failing that, does anyone know any organizations who donate to schools? My mom's school is in rural Maine, so money is tight, and they don't see much in the way of Silicon Valley castoffs."

Comments

Wait until they're officially "thrown out"

[Rude Turnip]

...then nab'em. Since this guy *would* like to give you the computers but can't, work out a WWNNSNMSNM (1) system where the computers can be put in a "disposal area" ready for the cleaners to carry off. For effect, make sure some old boxes and garbage is thrown around them. At that point, the computers are officially garbage and you can help the cleaners carry them out.

At my company, it's different. A while back we did a partial company upgrade to Dell PIII's from old P166's and 200's. The older computers were raffled off and given to the lucky winners. Another day, the network room was being cleaned out and they put a bunch of old parts and systems outside the door. An email went out effectively saying "come and get it!!!" Since my office is just a few feet from the network room, I had an early Christmas :-)

(1) Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more, say no more.