The Refurbished Computer Initiative (RCI) Program

• About the Refurbished Computers
• How Does RCI Work?
• Which Organizations Are Eligible to Participate?
• Program Goals
• Program Highlights
• The TakeBack Program
• How Organizations Have Benefited
• Becoming an RCI Donor or Refurbisher Partner
• More Questions?
• The TechSoup GreenTech Initiative
• Contact Us

If your nonprofit organization needs more computers, but your budget is tight — TechSoup has a solution.

Our pioneering Refurbished Computer Initiative gives nonprofits nationwide a chance to get high-quality refurbished computer systems at a discount. The first nationwide refurbishing program geared strictly to nonprofits, RCI also provides an environmentally friendly alternative to used equipment disposal.

About the Refurbished Computers

TechSoup offers only high-quality computers formerly used by large corporations. These are machines that are typically phased out after two to three years of use and are in very good condition. Each one is loaded with a new Microsoft Windows operating system and a Microsoft Office suite and comes with a 90-day swap warranty.

View products offered through this program.

How Does RCI Work?

Our donor partners donate their used computers, which are then refurbished by our refurbisher partners. The refurbisher partners also acquire computers from their own sources. TechSoup distributes all of these refurbished computers to qualified nonprofits for a low administrative fee.

Which Organizations Are Eligible to Participate?

To participate in the program, a nonprofit organization must meet the requirements specified in the Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3) and must operate in the United States. U.S. public libraries must either have valid 501(c)(3) nonprofit status or be listed in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) database. For a complete list of requirements, see the RCI program guidelines and restrictions.

Program Goals

With the RCI program, we aim to increase the supply of donated and refurbished computer systems to U.S. nonprofit organizations. By maximizing the life cycles of these systems, TechSoup and its donor and refurbisher partners hope to significantly decrease the disposal of still-useful computers while acting to reduce harmful waste. In the future, we will provide incentives to nonprofits to trade in refurbished RCI equipment that has reached the end of its useful life cycle, or has become obsolete, for a further discount on newer refurbished machines.

Program Highlights

• Participants may choose from a range of donated Windows desktop and notebook computers and monitors.
• Organizations may request and any number of products each fiscal year (July 1 – June 30). However, each request may include no more than 10 of any individual product requested.
• Multiple affiliate or branch locations of an organization may receive separate donations in a single TechSoup fiscal year, provided that each location is listed on its parent organization's 501(c)(3) Letter of Determination.

The TakeBack Program

When RCI computers finally reach the end of their useful life or become obsolete, organizations have a no-cost, secure, and environmentally safe solution to dispose of them. All RCI computers distributed after January 2009 have a Recycle Me Free! sticker that makes them eligible for free recycling services and pickup, provided at no additional charge by each of our refurbishing partners.

To Request TakeBack

To request TakeBack, fill out a request form at one of the following two TakeBack Program web pages, depending on which sticker your machine has.

If your computer has the sticker below, go to the Redemtech TakeBack Program page.

If your computer has the sticker below, go to the InterConnection TakeBack Program page.

How Organizations Have Benefited

Here are some examples of how nonprofit organizations have made use of computers received through the RCI program.

• One Economy's Digital Connector program brings digital technology into low-income homes and communities.
• The Early Childhood Mental Health Program offers mental health services to children from birth to 6 years old and their families.
• Housing Hope provides housing and related services for low-income families.

Become an RCI Donor

Please read Become an RCI Donor to find out how to donate used computer systems to the RCI program.

More Questions?

Please read our frequently asked questions about RCI.

The TechSoup GreenTech Initiative

See TechSoup's GreenTech Initiative page to learn more about technology choices that can help to reduce our overall impact on the environment.

Contact Us

Click here to send us an email.