Truck Grant Proposal

Financial Data

matteo to talk to rfs

History of Programs & Services

Who started your organization and why? What community need does it meet? What are its programs and services? Whom does it serve? How many people does it serve? (limit 200 words)

Free Geek started in mid 2000 by Oso Martin in order to divert usable computers discarded by some and needed by others. The media has coined this as "Helping the needy get nerdy since the beginning of the third millennium."

Free Geek gives the citizens of Portland a space where they can come teach each other how to use computers on many levels, from using a mouse to building a computer from parts. At its core Free Geek has two programs, They are called Build and Adoption. The Adoption Program is a program where as people who volunteer at Free Geek may receive a computer, and a class on how to use it, after 24 hours of volunteering. The Build Program is a peer to peer education program teaching people how to build computers. The Builders in the build program produce computers for those in the adoption program, given out as grants to other charitable originations, and are sold in our thrift store.

Free Geek's programs alone have served over 2500 volunteers in 2006. In the same year we worked with over 200 other organizations that helped us distribute computers around Portland and the world.

Project Goals & Outcomes

What is the need for this project? What are its goals? What steps will be taken to implement the project? What will be different as a result of the project? Who will be served? (Limit: 600 words)

Free Geek was founded with the intent of rerouting older technology from the landfills and placing it into the hands of those who cannot afford state of the art technology. Since its inception is 2007 Free Geek has protected the Portland community from hundreds of tons of electronic waste leeching into our drinking water and has connected thousands of individuals to access to technology and the internet. The service that Free Geek provides is dramatically limited by the availability of only one location to drop off old electronics and to earn a free computer.

In any given week, Free Geek receives an average of six requests for pickup service. Certain trends have emerged from these requests. Individuals frequently face the barrier of living outside of the immediate location of Free Geek; they live in a far corner of the city or in the neighboring suburbs. The individual may possess certain disabilities that prohibit him or her from carrying the cumbersome equipment long distances. Pickup requests from large businesses are largely due to a copious amount of equipment that cannot be delivered to Free Geek without hiring a moving company. Due to these inconveniences, such businesses and individuals will end up merely discarding these items in a non-environmentally responsible fashion.

With the acquisition of a boxtruck Free Geek can increase its positive impact on the community in three significant ways. Firstly, Free Geek will be able to stage "Drop Off" events in neighborhoods throughout Portland and the surrounding suburbs, thus providing a convenient way for residents to responsibly recycle their electronic waste. Secondly, Free Geek will have the opportunity to provide pickup service for large businesses which utilize an abundance of computer equipment for their numerous employees. Such businesses upgrade their equipment on such a frequent cycle that the equipment may be only a year or two old. Consequently, this newer equipment enables Free Geek to increase the quality of the computers we give away. Thirdly, Free Geek will use this vehicle to transport computer equipment to community centers and schools and provide offsite classes.

Free Geek has been unable to partner with various school groups for computer education because school funding for extracurricular activities – especially transportation for these activities – is non-existent. While Free Geek can currently provide offsite opportunities for volunteering, we have been unable to provide transportation of the computer and peripherals as well as an introductory class on how to use their new computer. With the influx of newer, higher quality computers from large businesses, Free Geek will not only be able to simply pass on high quality computers to economically marginalized school districts, but also to deliver them and empower students by teaching them how to use their computers.

Essentially, with the acquisition of a boxtruck Free Geek seeks to amplify diversion of electronic waste from landfills by providing a convenient pickup service for commercial and residential populations while simultaneously increasing the rate of computer reuse to underserved communities. Free Geek plans to acquire the truck and necessary insurance, create staff training, and implement pre-existing plans for neighborhood drop off events and computer delivery service.

Organization Qualifications

Describe the organization's qualifications to undertake or manage the project. If you are requesting technical equipment, please include the qualifications of the person(s) suggesting the particular purchases, as well as the qualifications of the persons within the organization to install, operate, and/or maintain the equipment. (Limit: 200 words)

Free Geek has demonstrated a solid commitment to the community for the last seven years. As an organization, Free Geek is unique and we excel at what we do and have successfully expanded every aspect of our organization. Allow me to demonstrate Free Geek's progressive adaptability through some statistics.

Within the first year of Free Geek's existence 65 volunteers participated in our programs and logged 737 hours of volunteer time. In 2003 there were 1533 volunteers logging a total of 34,690 hours. In 2006 Free Geek's volunteer base had grown to 2660 active volunteers logging a grand total of 54,315 hours throughout the year. If only 75% of all volunteers from 2000-2006 earned a free computer – a conservative estimate considering most individuals volunteer at Free Geek specifically to earn a free computer – that would result in almost 8,000 computers diverted from the landfill and into community members' hands. 23 Portlanders donated their hardware in 2000 and 11,166 donated in 2006. Free Geek recycled 2.22 tons of non-reusable electronic waste in 2000 and 417.7 tons in 2005. Clearly, Free Geek has proven its capability as a reuse and recycling facility; we are ready to take our services to the next level.

Project Budget

Briefly summarize how MMT funds will be used. (limit 50 words)

How did you arrive at the expense amounts? (i.e. bid, catalog, hourly wage, etc.)

Community Involvement

Describe any volunteer or community assistance with the project, in-kind donations, or collaborations with other community groups (Limit: 200 words)

We plan to increase our collaboration with neighborhood associations to help their neighbors get their computers into a reuse/recycle stream instead of a landfill. We will be working with many local businesses to get their old computers reused in the community.

Project Sustainability

Describe how the project will be sustained after the grant period. (Limit: 150 words).

The acquisition of a truck to pickup hardware donations from residential and commercial areas will result in an increase in voluntary cash donations. We predict that the convenience of this service will fuel the desire of those served by this project to voluntarily donate money to Free Geek and that this increase in revenue will be significant enough to fully cover the project's ongoing expenses.