Talk:Stats and Testimonials

Quantifying our accomplishments: (brainstorming possible stats that would need to be gathered.)

• Free Geek has properly disposed of X tons of hazardous materials (lead, etc) which would have likely ended up in landfills. (in what time period?)

• Free Geek has assisted X aspiring computer professionals in successfully (and affordably!) obtaining Linux certification. (in what time period?) (Note: According to Reid Leike, the "who passed" stat is considered proprietary by LPI, so the only way to get it would be to poll all FG test-takers.)

• Free Geek has "graduated" X volunteers from the Build program, providing workforce skills at no monetary cost. (in what time period?)

• Free Geek has been assisted by X number of volunteers. (in what time period?)

• On average, X volunteers worked 25 or more hours in a month during the last calendar year. This has increased from X in 2000.

• Free Geek has received $X in donations from private citizens. (In what time period?)

• Free Geek has received grants from organizations like DEQ, Meyer, McKenzie River Gathering Foundation... (dates? amounts?) Successful Grants

• Free Geek has made thus-and-such successful steps toward financial sustainability. (increases in dollars-from-recycling, dollars-from-thriftstore...)

• Free Geek efficiency score ( what % of each $ goes toward admin cost) get rated by charity navigator.com

kinds of measures We want to present Free Geek in a positive light in terms of the following. we could use stats and/or testimonials supporting each of these points.

• we recycle a lot of stuff that would be in landfills
• we point the way toward larger-scale recycling, for other organizations or gov't agencies
• we give people an opportunity to get free computers
• we give people an opportunity to buy computer stuff at super low prices
• we give people an opportunity to learn job skills
• we give "ordinary folks" an avenue toward open source software, which makes available a wide variety of opportunities, not limited to finacial "free-as-in-beer"ness
• we grease the wheels of other nonprofits (hardware grants, etc)
• we make Portland a better place to live (umbrella: GAPs, expertise nexus, ...)
• your monetary contribution will be put to good use, and not frivolous administrative costs
• we have a good long-term plan (including cash reserves!) so we'll be around for a while

debunking FUD In fall '04, some dude named JG said on the Willy Week forum that, basically, Free Geek makes all the computers they distribute useless by putting Linux on 'em. He was chastised from all quarters, but still, I think it would be good to have stats handy that could easily prove him wrong. For instance, what percentage of FreekBox adopters are still running Linux a year later? Maybe some GAP stats too. --Pete 22:28, 4 Dec 2005 (PST)