Digital Opportunity: Computers

Thousands of New Mexicans face barriers to opportunity because they don’t have a computer.

You Can Help! Donate Your Used Devices

The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) is encouraging agencies, businesses, and individuals to donate used computer equipment to DiverseIT, a New-Mexico-based non-profit, to be refurbished and distributed ​to community members in need of a device. 

To learn more about how you or your organization, agency, or business can donate used technology, visit the DiverseIT​ website below:
To schedule a time to drop off used technology donations at the DiverseIT headquarters in Albuquerque, call  505-881-8324

Donate Used Technology to DiverseIT:

✅ Can Accept:
  • Laptops and desktop computers
  • Monitors
  • Keyboards and mice
  • Cables and accessories
❌ Cannot Accept:
  • Printers
  • Televisions
  • CRT monitors

Device Distribution Pilot

The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) teamed with DiverseIT to pilot the TechUp New Mexico initiative to distribute laptops to community members in need and to provide digital skills training to help community members learn to use technology more meaningfully, effectively, and safely.
Diverse IT TechUP New Mexico
Device Distribution and Training Events
  • February 26, 2026 – Mesilla / Doña Ana County 
  • February 27, 2026 – Las Cruces / Doña Ana County
  • March 25, 2026 – Los Lunas / Valencia County
  • March 27, 2026 – Socorro / Socorro County
  • April 1, 2026 – Rio Rancho / Sandoval County
  • April 22, 2026 – Moriarty / Torrance County
  • April 29, 2026 – To’Hajiilee
  • May 6, 2026 – Grants / Cibola County
  • May 20–late May 2026 – Albuquerque​
DiverseIT is an initiative of the New-Mexico nonprofit Adelante helping people get started in tech. DiverseIT provides computers to people with disabilities and local nonprofits, as well as receives computers as donations, scrubs the hard-drives, completes repairs as needed, and gives them away for free to people with disabilities and to local nonprofits for distribution to community members in need of technology.
Federal Legislation
​Recent Federal Legislation Promotes Device Donations and Refurbishment!
The Computers for Veterans and Students Act is a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger and signed into law in December 2022 to provide federal surplus and repairable computers to non-profit computer refurbishers to repair and distribute to veterans, students, and others in need of a device. Additionally, the new law requires each nonprofit computer refurbisher receiving computers to provide training programs in the use of this technology. Learn More.
Building New Mexico's Computer Donation & Distribution Network 
Building a Computer Donation and Distribution Network
New Mexico is building a network to connect community members with computer support resources, organizations, and distribution events.
Stakeholders are collaborating to increase the number of New Mexicans with an effective computers by increasing the supply of no cost and low-cost computers in our communities. The New Mexico Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) is collaborating with Digitunity, local refurbisher DiverseIT, and a wide range of agencies and community organizations to:
  • Engage local business and government 
  • Expand individual and corporate computer donations
  • Empower and promote local refurbishers and distribution organizations
  • Establish effective pathways for community members and organizations to obtain computers and related support

​
Meet Collaborating Champions in New Mexico's
​Growing Computer Donation and Distribution Network
Initial Events

Friday, September 20 ~ Mescalero
Cabinet in Your Community Service Expo and Town Hall
Location: Inn of the Mountain Gods Event Center 
​287 Carrizo Canyon Rd. Mescalero NM 88340
Time: Service Expo: 3pm-7pm  
​Town Hall: 5:30pm-7:30pm 
Meet with Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) and Digitunity team members to learn more about broadband, as well as opportunities to donate and access devices.
​
Saturday, September 21 ~ Ruidoso
Cabinet in Your Community Service Expo and Town Hall
Location CHANGE:  Ruidoso High School 125 Warrior Drive ​Ruidoso, NM 88345
Time: ​Service Expo - Sat 11am-4pm 
Town Hall -  1pm-4pm 
​Meet with Office of Broadband Access and Expansion (OBAE) team members to learn more about broadband, as well as opportunities to donate and access devices.
​
October 9, 2024 ~ Ruidoso
​OBAE Digital Equity Emergency Response Computer Distribution Event with DiverseIT
Dell Computers donated by the Workers Compensation Administration and refurbished by DiverseIT, an Albuquerque-based refurbishing program stewarded by the nonprofit Adelante, will be distributed to local pre-registered recipients with assistance from the Methodist Community Church and local stakeholders supporting fire and flood recovery in the region.
​Donate Tech: https://newmexico.donatetech.com
Training Videos
Event Photos
Event Press
Spring 2025  - Mescalero
OBAE Digital Equity Emergency Response Computer Distribution Event
 Computers distributed to local recipients with assistance from the Mescalero Community Library.
Donate Tech: https://newmexico.donatetech.com​
​

Donate Computers

The New Mexico Computer Donation and Distribution Network supports easy and cost-effective ways for individuals and companies to donate used technology equipment to nonprofit organizations that can refurbish and distribute technology to community members in need of a computer. The New Mexico Computer Donation and Distribution Network also encourages agencies and businesses to consider tech sponsorships and bulk donations of used technology, especially in the wake of federal legislation passed in 2022.

Frequently Asked Questions:

General Donations
What technology can be donated?
Laptop and desktop computers, Chromebooks™, tablets, and webcams. Also: pc desktop and laptop systems, mac desktop and laptop systems, copiers, digital and web cameras, pen/drawing tablets, hard disk drives, keyboards, monitors, switches/routers, mice, network interface cards, tablets, printers, and sound/video cards. 

What are the minimum requirements for donated equipment?
Needs vary. Generally computers less than eight years old are accepted. Hardware needing repair is considered on a case-by-case basis dependent upon available technical support. For detailed minimum device specifications, please visit digitunity-minimum-device-specs-survey-results.pdfDigitunity's Minimum Device Specifications.

What if my equipment does not meet the minimum requirements for donated devices?
It is important to make sure you are recycling technology correctly and safely. Learn more about responsible recycling from the EPA.
Individual Donations
Are there tax benefits for technology donations by individuals? Technology donation may be tax deductible for the year in which the recipient organization(s) acquires the equipment if the organization is a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation or qualifying entity. It is the responsibility of the donor to determine the fair market value of their donation, and donors are encouraged to consult a tax advisor for additional information.
Corporate Donations
What if my corporation wants to donate technology? Business donors will be matched with a  qualified nonprofit refurbishers who will manage the logistics of a business technology donation.
What are the tax benefits to corporate donors? Companies may receive a tax deduction in the year donated for property donated to a charitable organization in accord with applicable IRS rules and regulations. An acknowledgement letter is provided upon the completion of the donation process. It is the duty of the donor to establish the fair market value of the device contributions. Warehousing and shipping costs may also be tax deductible under applicable rules and regulations. Consult your tax advisor for more information.
​​CONTACT: [email protected]
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​Whistleblower Protection Act, please CLICK HERE
​
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