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First, we are a Michigan Nonprofit Charity Organization that offers free
recycling services to organizations so we can obtain computer equipment to
refurbish (as much as possible) and to recycle the rest into base material
forms for individual category recycling.
Our focus is on putting the products back into use, either through sales at
our thrift store (which is our only source of income at this time to be able
to afford the overhead by which to operate) or through the donation of items
to Churches, Schools and other Nonprofit Organizations (whose names /logos
are posted in our store on our Giving Wall display). These donation products
in the latter consist of Desktop Computer Systems in the Pentium 3 include a Desktop CPU box,
15” Monitor, KB, Mouse and power cords. We generally get the organization to
do the final outer cleaning of the items in order to get the people of the
organization more involved than just picking the items up at our location
and then handing them out to someone. We will preload Win 98se, the free
version of office, OpenOffice (providing equivalent to Microsoft Word,
Excel, PowerPoint, Access, & Paint) as well as Free Brand Name Versions of
Anti Virus, Anti Spyware, and Anti Adware programs that include free
updates.
The computers all have High Speed Internet Ethernet Connections (not the
slow dial-up modem type).
Our program allows usage of these donated items to be ONLY WITHIN the USA at
this time; perhaps in years to come a change might include out of the US
usage, but not in the foreseeable future.
The paperwork we require from the requesting organization is the same as is
required by most foundations when they are considering donation requests.
Typically, three items are needed: proof of current status as a valid as a
State and Federal Nonprofit and a Letter of Request with specific info
relative to the items and their intended use.
LETTER
The letter must be written (preferably typed format) on an Original sheet of
Corp Letterhead paper (usually color with Logo) with an original signature
of the LEGAL head of the organization. The signature cannot be a rubber
stamp, and only the” Executive Director” type person is to sign.
The letter must state who your organization and the person writing it, a
written request for our help, what items/services, state how many needed,
when needed by, what the items will be used for (explain the program fully),
who will use them, when they will be used (dates and times), at what
address, how will having them help, will end users get to own them after the
program, state that you will shoot photos of the items being used by the
intended program recipients and provide these photos to Silicon Alley
Recyclers for our public exhibition (to be able to show the general public
how we are helping to make a positive difference in our community), provide
an invitation for Silicon Alley Recyclers to attend/view the program in
operation when/where the items are to be used, state the organization is
both state and federally currently valid as a nonprofit and mention the
attached proof sheets from Sate (MI) and Federal (IRS)
STATE of MICHIGAN NONPROFIT STATUS PROOF
The proof from the State of Michigan can be obtained via the internet:
Go online to
www.mi.gov
Left click once on “Business and Economic Growth” (it is the second bar down
on the left at the top of the page).
Then Left click once on “Michigan Business Entity Search” (it is the sixth
choice down in the Business Quick Links section on the top right side of the
page under the Governor Photo).
Then type in the name of your organization ( in the box stating “Entity Name
or I.D. Number”) and Left Click once on “Search” box directly below.
This should bring up a page with your corp. name, number and type of entity.
Left click once on your entity name.
This should bring up your “Corporate Entity Details” page. It should
indicate “nonprofit corporation” as the “Type of Entity”. It should show
“Active” as your “Status”. If your most recent annual report is 2006 or
older, you should contact the State and correct your filing requirements
with them.
Print this page out on your printer ( two copies, one for us and one for
your records).
FEDERAL (IRS) NONPROFIT STATUS PROOF
To provide proof of your Federal nonprofit status, locate your approval
determination letter indication your 501 type exemption status from the IRS.
( This is NOT your EIN, Employer Identification Number info).
On the 501 approval letter there is a toll free phone number for you to
call. Do CALL that number and request a “current status letter” to be sent
to you. Most of the time a fax is best and easiest for IRS to send to you so
please have a fax number available to give them when you call. If you do not
have any fax number available the request that they mail it to you (or
e-mail). We need a copy of this letter showing your 501 status as being
currently valid.
So, a quick review; three items, First, a written letter of request fully
filled out and signed by the legal person in charge using a piece of
original letterhead paper, Second, the printout of State of MI valid status
via their website and Third, a copy of your current valid 501 status letter
sent from the IRS.
Once all your paperwork is complete, then forward it to us either in person
during our thrift store open hours (tue/wed/thur 10a-8p and sat 10a-2p) or
send it via US mail. If you send it via the post office, we highly recommend
sending it “certified” as the original letter is hard to replace with
another original should it be lost in regular mail.
Upon receipt of your request information, a staff member will review it to
determine if all the required information has been supplied. If it IS NOT
complete a staff member will contact you inform you what is still needed.
If the info IS complete the packet is forwarded to our review board for
final approval. This board meets two to three times a month, as time
schedules allow. Upon final approval by the board, the items are processed
to fill the request and a staff member contacts you to arrange and schedule
their pickup by your organization at our thrift store.
Should you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact our
Executive Director, Ron Bryant, @248.613.1419.
Thank You for your consideration and help in our ongoing endeavor.
Download a Printer Friendly Copy of The Donation Program
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