How Non-Profits Can Gain Access to Copiers That Fit Your Budget

There is a very good reason 501c3 non-profit organizations are tax exempt; the funds they spend go directly towards bettering their community, the people that live in it, and our world as a whole.

It’s precisely because of these philanthropic missions that non-profits are often afforded services and tools at little to no cost — and this is why some businesses that supply office technology offer copier and printer donation programs.

EQUIPMENT DONATION PROGRAMS

The purpose of an equipment donation program is to provide organizations with access to technology they would otherwise not be able to afford.

We won’t pretend like this is an option most office and copier suppliers provide — but some do. Equipment donation programs do exactly as their name suggests; the business offering the program will donate a used copier and/or printer to your non-profit organization so you can have access to affordable technology.

Some donation programs offer the equipment at no charge, or at a steeply-discounted price. The only cost your organization will be responsible for is the cost of your service contract.

WHERE DOES THE EQUIPMENT COME FROM?

Imagine you are the CTO for a Fortune 500 company. Inevitably, throughout the day, one of the thousands of employees who are on your business’ network will print or copy a sensitive document, like healthcare information, trade secrets, or your quarterly reports. And as the CTO, you’re responsible for managing your business’ cybersecurity.

Every few years, the built-in security of copiers and printers is upgraded to meet new industry or government standards, as protect against the ever-evolving tools bad actors use to break into your organization’s network. As the CTO of this Fortune 500 company, you want to make sure your employees are always using top-of-the-line, up-to-date security measures. So, after about three years, it’s time for that Fortune 500 company to get a new copier.

This is a driving factor behind many big businesses preferring shorter lease terms for their copiers, so they always have access to the most secure models.

However, after three years of use, a copier, while definitely not out-of-the-box new, is still a reliable piece of machinery that, with the proper care, can be useful for many more years to come.

In an effort to reduce electronic waste, and to provide organizations with limited budget the tools they need to succeed, some copier dealers offset these quick copier lifecycles by donating used copiers to non-profit organizations.

THE BENEFITS OF COPIER DONATION PROGRAMS

Not only does donating used copiers to non-profit organizations reduce electronic waste, it’s also the most reliable method for actually receiving a copier right now. You’ve probably already noticed, but with the worldwide microchip shortages, and global supply chain delays, manufactures and retailers are struggling to meet supply and demand.

As of the fourth quarter of 2021, it takes an average of six weeks for a copier to arrive at your office after actually signing a lease agreement.

For organizations that need a copier now, these wait times can be a major bump in the road. But, for non-profits with access to copier donation programs, this is mostly a non-issue.

To learn more about the delays plaguing almost every industry across the world, read our blog, Chips, Ships, and Office Technology Tips.

To learn more about our specific copier donation program, visit our Technology Grant page.