The Problem (The Digital Divide)

TechFIN seeks to address an alarming trend in America. Millions of low-income families lack access to a computer in the home. This lack of access contributes to a growing digital divide where completing schoolwork, or college and job applications becomes increasingly difficult. Yet, in this environment, U.S. companies dispose of millions of functional computers every year, per their upgrade cycle. In a solution that is both sustainable and beneficial, TechFIN diverts some of these machines from the scrap heap to the living room.​

Millions of low-income families lack access to a computer in the home. This contributes to a growing digital divide where completing school work or college and job applications become increasingly difficult.

  • According to the Pew Research Center, 46% of households with incomes below $30,000 per year don’t have a traditional computer.
  • In what has become known as the “homework gap”, nearly half of the students in the bottom income bracket rely on smartphones to complete assignments due to the absence of a computer at home.
  • Teachers in schools with a high percentage of low-income students or schools with more than 75% of students of color are more likely to say that a majority of their students do not have home access to the internet or a computer.

Our Mission

Tech F.I.N. aspires to help narrow the digital divide by addressing a major hurdle to computer hardware ownership: its cost. By collecting used PC-based laptops and desktop computers, in bulk, from corporations, we are able to revitalize these machines and distribute them to low-income households at no cost to them. Our solution is sustainable, scalable, and cost-effective.

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How We Do it

Tech F.I.N. aspires to help narrow the digital divide by addressing a major hurdle to computer hardware ownership: its cost. By collecting used PC-based laptops and desktop computers, in bulk, from corporations, we are able to revitalize these machines and distribute them to low-income households at no cost to them. Our solution is sustainable, scalable, and cost-effective.

1.
TechFIN sources used, but unwanted computers from generous corporate donors

2.
The working machines are picked up, in bulk, and delivered to our storage facility. There, the machines are cleaned, tested, and loaded with software by our IT staff, then set aside for distribution.

3.
TechFIN partners with non-profit organizations that already work closely with low-income families. These nonprofit organizations then identify and nominate appropriate recipients.

Our Impact

DEVICE DISTRIBUTED

LBS OF E-WASTE DIVERTED

100% of recipients did not have a working computer at home.

80% had been unable to complete assignments due to a lack

of access to a computer.

23% used the computer for online classes or tutorials.

96% said the machines were used for homework.

TechFIN In The News

Notable deployments.

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Reach out:

Contactus@tech-fin.org

1.530.208.0690

Location:

68 34th Street, Suite B517
Brooklyn, NY 11232 US