Annual Report

2024

Greetings, Human-I-T’ers!

As we step into 2025, I can’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come. Looking back at 2024, it’s clear—it wasn’t just a year of progress; it was a year of record-breaking impact. We set bold goals, not as challenges, but as opportunities to set ourselves apart, to show the world what’s possible when a team like ours is driven by purpose and passion. And we delivered.

2024 was a year of milestones. Our Programs Team led more events and distributed more free laptops and devices than ever before outside of 2020’s pandemic, strengthening our role as the leader in Digital Equity. Our Operations and IT teams redesigned how we inventory, refurbish, and redistribute technology, setting new standards for efficiency and security in ITAD. –And while doing all of this, we stayed true to our mission, by diverting 4 million pounds of e-waste from landfills and officially crossing the 20 million pound milestone since we all started this journey together.

Yes, we broke records in 2024, but 2025 will be our most ambitious and innovative year yet. We’re not just keeping pace with change—we’re driving it. We’ve adapted internally, creating a virtual workspace with Gather to enhance collaboration and efficiency. We’ve embraced AI—not just to work smarter, but to ensure those we serve aren’t left behind in the next wave of digital transformation. The Digital Divide is evolving, and so must we. AI will define the future of opportunity, and if we don’t prepare people now, the gap will only widen. That’s not an option. Which is why we’re rolling out Hugh, an AI-driven tool developed by our AI Team to help recipients understand and harness AI for their personal goals while protecting themselves from its potential risks. This is what we do best. We are able to see what’s ahead, act and make sure no one ever gets left behind.

In 2025, we’re making sure everyone knows the name Human-I-T. Through targeted communications and public relations, we will no longer be the best-kept secret in social enterprise. Every business, every city, every household looking for an easy way to reduce e-waste while doing good should know that all roads lead to Human-I-T. We’ll share our mission through national media, across the nonprofit, tech, digital equity, and environmental sectors. – in doing so, we’ll expand our corporate sponsor base, and create even more opportunities for impact.

Last year, we committed to executing 100% of our grants with excellence—and we did. Now, we’re poised to elevate our ITAD, technology refurbishment, and digital inclusion services to new heights. To everyone who has supported our mission, worked alongside us, or been part of our story—thank you. At Human-I-T, we move fast, think big, and innovate boldly.

We know that flexibility breeds stability, diverse perspectives drive creativity, and collaboration fuels execution. This is what defines us, and sets us apart. It is also what will define our future, and I couldn’t be more proud to achieve it together.

Warmest regards,

Gabe Middleton
CEO, Human-I-T

Mission & Impact

Operational Excellence

Partners in Progress

Building Stronger Communities

Monetary Donors & Financials

Our Mission

Human-I-T is a social enterprise that bridges the digital divide by connecting people and whole communities with essential technology and digital resources. We transform e-waste into nationwide opportunities, empowering both businesses and individuals to create positive environmental and social impact.

In 2024, our employees, donors, and partners helped us create the following impacts in our communities:

Computers distributed

to people in need nationwide

Pounds of e-waste

diverted from landfills

People connected

to high-speed internet

Digital literacy users

trained with the knowledge to unlock their full potential

Tech Support tickets

resolved

Operational Excellence

People powering progress: When business meets community need

Our Business Development and Operations teams shattered even more records in 2024 than any other year since Human-I-T’s beginning. Their growth stems from their commitment to excellence in both quality and quantity as well as their extraordinarily high level of customer service.

6,383
Pallets of technology turned into digital opportunities

11%
Growth from 2023

While many providers offer automated solutions, our team pioneered a uniquely human approach. Every donor or partner receives dedicated, personalized support from a Business Development Executive who guides them through their entire journey – from initial consultation through impact reporting. And beyond.

This personalized approach yielded remarkable results in 2024, as our team processed 6,381 pallets – the highest yearly volume in company history! This milestone proved particularly significant as it occurred during traditionally slower holiday periods, demonstrating our team’s growing momentum and operational excellence.

Audacious Impact Metrics

2,100 Corporate Donations Secured

115 New Partnerships Formed

1,903 Loyal Returning Donors

31 Nationwide Tech Drives Completed

Our success stems from a fundamental belief that outstanding service and social impact can coexist.

Looking ahead to 2025, we’re raising the bar even higher. With the introduction of a dedicated Customer Success team and ambitious goals for growth, we’re positioned to process 7,400 pallets – a 20% increase that will enable us to serve more communities than ever before. This expansion, coupled with our unwavering commitment to personalized service, will help us continue transforming corporate sustainability initiatives into real-world digital opportunity.

Partners in Progress

Together for tomorrow
Growing our impact through partnerships

In 2024, our Philanthropy team revolutionized how we approach funding digital equity initiatives, transforming traditional grant-seeking into a powerful engine for community empowerment.

We collaborated with

6,383

Partners

Across

States & Provinces

We’ve created unprecedented opportunities for communities historically left behind in the digital age.

This massive expansion of our impact included groundbreaking partnerships with organizations like the:

All of our partners bring unique perspectives and deep community connections to our mission.

The impact of these efforts materialized in remarkable ways. We secured over $6 million in government grants from Wisconsin alone, while maintaining strong corporate partnerships, including AT&T’s five-year commitment to bridge the digital divide. These achievements enabled us to distribute 37,000 computers across North America, each representing a family, student, or individual gaining access to life-changing technology.

Beyond the numbers, 2024 marked a fundamental shift in how we approach digital equity funding. Our team pioneered a new model of partnership, offering grant-writing expertise to community organizations that might otherwise lack resources to pursue digital equity funding. This approach helped underserved communities compete for vital resources while ensuring programs are designed with local needs in mind.

Philanthropic Milestones Unlocked

✅ Secured $6M+ in Wisconsin government grants

✅ Pioneered grant-writing support for community organizations

Our advocacy efforts gained even more strength as we engaged with federal legislators and state broadband offices, positioning Human-I-T as a leading voice in digital equity policy.

Looking ahead, the groundwork laid in 2024 positions us to expand our impact exponentially. With 58 additional funding applications in review and strengthened partnerships across the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors, we’re building a sustainable framework for digital equity that will benefit communities for years to come.

Expanding Reach with AT&T’s Continued Commitment

AT&T strengthened their partnership with Human-I-T in 2024, contributing $5.4 million to support an additional 8,400 individuals with computers through 10 distribution events nationwide. This new commitment builds upon their previous $6.1 million investment in late 2023, which provided 15,300 devices and 14 distribution events.

While AT&T has committed to bridging the digital divide for the next five years, their specific partnership with Human-I-T currently operates on an annual basis. Their continued trust in our work has enabled us to expand our reach from Oregon to Georgia to California, providing not just computers but comprehensive digital navigation services and technical support to communities in need. This strategic relationship provides vital momentum as we work to create sustainable pathways to digital equity across more communities.

Meaningful digital inclusion starts with genuine community connection.

In the heart of Detroit’s historic Seven Mile neighborhood, our Digital Equity Center evolved beyond a retail space in 2024. In year two of this innovative space, the DEC emerged as a dynamic community hub where technology, opportunity, and local culture intersect.

Through strategic partnerships with organizations like Detroit Housing Network, we created welcoming spaces where community members access not only devices and internet connectivity, but comprehensive support for housing, healthcare, and professional development. Our approach recognizes that digital access opens doors to essential services, from telehealth appointments to online housing applications.

“Thanks to Human-I-T, all of our students were able receive laptops to participate in our STEAM enrichment program. More than half of them didn’t have access to a personal laptop at home, making schoolwork a real challenge. Now they can complete their assignments more efficiently and stay on track academically. What’s even more amazing is that their parents were able to get digital resources during the event helping beyond just our experiments.”

– Dr. Alecia Gabriel, The Lab Drawer/Motor City S.T.E.A.M

Looking ahead to 2025, we’re expanding our vision for the Center as a catalyst for community transformation. Our ambitious goal of serving 800-1,000 visitors monthly will be supported by innovative programming like our speaker series, which brings industry leaders directly to community members. These connections create pathways to opportunity, especially for those traditionally excluded from tech spaces.

Through partnerships with local businesses, educational institutions, and community organizations, we’re building an ecosystem where digital equity drives economic opportunity and community resilience. Each connection made at the Center represents another step toward our vision of technology access as a bridge to possibility, not a barrier.

These Organizations Were Critical to Us Building Bridges in Communities Across the Country

In 2024, Human-I-T collaborated with a diverse range of organizations to tackle the digital divide by providing technology directly to communities in need. These efforts have significantly expanded the reach and effectiveness of digital inclusion initiatives. The organizations listed below have played a crucial role in this mission, bringing Human-I-T into their digital inclusion programs to ensure that access to technology leads to real opportunities for those we serve. Together, we’ve made substantial progress towards a more digitally equitable society.

Diverse Perspectives

The Power of Listening

Every breakthrough at Human-I-T begins with listening. We build solutions by engaging directly with the people we serve—employees, recipients, partners, and community members.

Their voices shape how we evolve. From transforming our Detroit location into a community hub to creating tailored support systems, each innovation springs from real conversations about real needs.

We embrace diverse perspectives because they reveal unexpected solutions. Our commitment to transparency ensures the best ideas rise to the top, regardless of source. This human-centered approach fueled our record growth in 2024, reminding us that meaningful digital equity starts with genuine connection.

Our Monetary Donors

The key to promoting digital access

Principal Donors ($225K+)

AT&T	$5,522,200.00	Foundation
Gilbert Family Foundation	$1,008,400.00	Foundation
Methodist Health Ministries	$631,000.00	Foundation
General Motors	$500,020.00	Foundation
California Public Utilities Commission	$484,460.25	Government
GitLab Foundation	$300,000.00	Foundation
Visa, Inc	$254,336.00	Corporate Sponsor

Major Donors ($10,001-$225K)

Cisco Foundation	$200,000.00	Foundation
Comcast	$142,500.00	Corporate Sponsor
Monterey Peninsula Foundation	$112,500.00	Foundation
TD Synnex	$100,000.00	Foundation
MTE Fund	$85,000.00	Foundation
Munzer Foundation	$60,000.00	Foundation
Microsoft Corporation	$50,000.00	Corporate Sponsor
William C. Bannerman Foundation	$25,000.00	Foundation
Korean American Foundation	$20,000.00	Foundation
Sheila Ortloff	$20,000.00	Individual Donor
Venable Foundation	$15,000.00	Foundation
Michael and Kim Wilkins	$15,050.00	Individual Donor
Verizon Media	$15,000.00	Corporate Sponsor
Accenture	$12,500.00	Foundation
Fox Family KALB Foundation	$50,000.00	Foundation
James Irvine Foundation	$25,000.00	Foundation
Clif Family Foundation	$25,000.00	Foundation
Dell Technologies	$14,985.00	Foundation

Mid Donors ($1K-$10K)

Tides Foundation	$10,000.00	Foundation
Cox Communications	$10,000.00	Corporate Sponsor
Palo Alto Networks	$10,000.00	Corporate Sponsor
Walter Kaitz Foundation	$10,000.00	Foundation
Equinix Foundation	$7,000.00	Foundation
eBay	$6,500.00	Corporate Sponsor
BigCommerce	$5,000.00	Corporate Sponsor
Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation	$5,000.00	Foundation
American First National Bank	$3,500.00	Foundation
Computer Clan	$1,792.00	Individual Donor
Alex J	$1,000.00	Individual Donor

Minor Donors ($1-$999)

Joshua R	$600.00	Individual Donor
Kari Ortloff-Evernden	$500.00	Individual Donor
Kara Torpey	$300.00	Individual Donor
Kristine Neidig	$250.00	Individual Donor
Vicki Scherwin	$200.00	Individual Donor
Amelia Gray	$150.00	Individual Donor
David Jackson	$100.00	Individual Donor
Afzal Amiri	$100.00	Individual Donor
Melinda Buchmann	$100.00	Individual Donor
Thrivent Grants	$84.00	Foundation
John Schaffer	$55.00	Individual Donor
TisBest Philanthropy	$50.00	Foundation
Ashley Brown	$50.00	Individual Donor
Michael Jones	$50.00	Individual Donor
Dan and Susan Harris	$50.00	Individual Donor
Lea Eriksen	$45.00	Individual Donor
Kikei Wong	$30.00	Individual Donor
Cork and Charm	$27.26	Corporate Sponsor
Edgar Morales	$25.00	Individual Donor
Adam Hasz	$25.00	Individual Donor
Kathryn Kirchner	$25.00	Individual Donor
Hope Gillis	$25.00	Individual Donor
Tudor-Cristian Teoteoi	$20.00	individual Donor
Brett Grasich	$15.00	Individual Donor
Vladimir Chuvok	$15.00	individual Donor
Andrea Knoert	$10.00	individual Donor

Financials

2022-2023

Your support will continue to make all the difference.

Over the past ten years, individuals like you have ensured that we had the support necessary to expand the reach of our programmatic services and empower an ever-increasing number of people with access to digital technology.

Now, with one of our most successful years behind us, we ask that you continue to contribute to our mission of creating a world where everyone has equal access to the digital resources, connectivity, and support they need to unlock their full potential.

Annual Report

2024

Greetings, Human-I-T’ers!

Mission & Impact

Operational Excellence

Partners in Progress

Building Stronger Communities

Monetary Donors & Financials