Our Mission
Through electronic reuse, PCs for People provides the opportunity for all individuals, families, and nonprofits with low income to benefit from the life-changing impact of computers, internet, and digital skills.
PCs for People is a national nonprofit social enterprise working to get low-cost quality computers and internet into the homes of individuals, families, and nonprofits with low income. By recycling and then refurbishing computers, PCs for People provides a valuable service to businesses, families, and the planet by keeping computers out of landfills and repurposing them to advance digital inclusion.
Through electronic reuse, PCs for People provides the opportunity for all individuals, families, and nonprofits with low income to benefit from the life-changing impact of computers, internet, and digital skills.
Founded in 1998, PCs for People is a national leader in digital inclusion. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, every project, program and initiative at PCs for People is centered on getting low-cost computers and affordable broadband internet into the homes of people and organizations with low income.
What started in 1998 as a humble one-man effort in Mankato, MN, to provide computers to kids in need has become a national organization with nine physical locations and an online presence in all fifty states. Through an unwavering commitment to the communities we serve, since 1998 we have made a difference in the lives of 825,000 people through computers, internet, and digital skills training. Digital inclusion efforts such as ours are essential in today’s society, where it is increasingly hard to access education, healthcare, or employment opportunities without access to a computer and the internet. Our model is a self-sustainable social enterprise centered on building community value in every part of our program.
PCs for People’s model contributes to environmental sustainability by intercepting usable computers before they reach landfills and refurbishing them for reuse. Businesses typically retire computers long before their usable life is over and this has contributed to America becoming the largest producer of electronic waste in the world. We offer businesses a certified secure electronic recycling service. This IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) service is free and offers benefits such as privacy and total data security that businesses would ordinarily have to pay for. Any usable computers obtained through this service have their data securely wiped using our NAID AAA certified process and are then refurbished for distribution. Our environmental certifications ensure that all electronic waste we cannot reuse is recycled sustainably with zero-landfill impact. In creating our recycling workforce, we have built an award-winning partnership with MSS (formerly Midwest Special Services), a nonprofit that supports adults with intellectual and physical disabilities to help them reach their personal goals and achieve their full potential. MSS clients are provided hands-on experience through work training, internship, and volunteer opportunities within our electronic waste recycling processes.
Everything at PCs for People starts with our values. These brand values are inherent in everything we do; from sourcing to refurbishing to distribution to support. They’re what make us who we are and we strive to communicate them to customers, clients, partners, and the public through our actions and words whenever they interact with our brand.
Together we transform our communities! Our model requires teamwork and staff that genuinely care about people. We want to maintain an all-are-welcome Tree House for Nerds culture. We recognize that all people are unique and believe everyone should be valued, respected, and treated with dignity regardless of differences. We go above and beyond for our teammates and customers making PCs for People a great place to work and a positive force for each community we serve.
We are goal oriented with everyone on every team knowing their daily goals. We are tracking those goals and we push to improve our work every day.
We look for ways to impact each community we serve that can be built into our model. For example, workforce development training, zero landfill policy, KidsTek, volunteer program, and digital skills. Decisions are not focused just on the bottom line but on impact and we are driven to work harder than our competition because our mission matters.
To maximize our impact, we build our systems, processes, and tools internally. Additionally, equipment we need will often come in from our recycling partners and we have a refurbisher mindset to reuse vs buy new.
We bring energy and passion to do it all. We operate with a total building, team, and brand mentality including leadership from all levels to pitch in together to complete tasks.
We exist because of and for our customers so we prioritize maximizing the value we can bring to our customers in the decisions we make.
We are honest in our words, actions, and intentions, and always do the right thing, even when no one is watching. We are transparent, maintain a high level of ethics, and take responsibility for our actions. This forms the foundation for building trust, credibility, and strong relationships internally and externally.
PCs for People relies on valuable community partnerships and volunteers to grow our reach and mission. Whether you are an individual looking to give back, a nonprofit seeking tech for your members, or a city official interested in low-cost internet solutions, we would love to work with you!
Your financial support makes digital inclusion a reality. Donations can be made by individuals and companies alike. Please consider joining our mission and making an impact with us.