I am thrilled to join DANEnet as their new director of development! I've landed at a great organization doing life-changing work. The staff and budget are small (I'm working 60% and am the only member of the development "team"), but the improvements to people's lives are huge.

Wednesday, October 8 was my first day on the job. That's a photo of me and Shawn Steen, my new boss (who I've known and respected for many years). I'm hoping you will make her seem very clever for hiring me! I'm aiming for $2,500 in donations to launch me on the path toward our $100,000 yearly goal.

Though I've done a lot of fundraising/development work in my career, I consider this a career change—this is my first job as a director of development. It will mean a lot to me personally to have your donation and vote of confidence as I start.

And here's what your gift to DANEnet will achieve:

Making the goal of $2,500 will pay to refurbish 50 laptops so they can be given to low-income households without computers that need them for accessing jobs, improving job skills, educational success, telehealth, and other resources for helping them stay safe and thrive. Refurbishment costs an average of $50 per laptop and this covers the cost of needed power cord or battery replacements as well as discounted licenses for Windows and Office.

Those laptops are distributed as part of the Digital Equity Project. DANEnet partners with direct service providers (social workers, caseworkers, educators, and healthcare staff) at partner agencies to identify vulnerable families and adults, then provides them with refurbished computers and information about affordable internet. The need is great: In Wisconsin, 30% of households do not have a computer.

“She's been using her laptop for things like, doing her taxes, staying in touch with her doctor to get her medication refills, setting up other important appointments, and ordering groceries. [Another client] has utilized the computer to obtain employment, find resources to fix her vehicle, shop for groceries for her family, for virtual medical and housing appointments, and on many occasions she's used it to find resources that help her children. This mother has 4 children ranging in age from 6 mos to 5 yrs old. Having a vehicle and a job are necessary to keep her household afloat, and without this free laptop, it would have been highly inconvenient and probably not possible to accomplish all that she has.”
—Caseworker, Salvation Army

Thank you for considering giving to DANEnet!

Find out more about DANEnet.

NOTE: Our Refurbished Laptop Program does not distribute laptops to the general public; they are distributed through direct service providers at existing partner nonprofits. Please do not call DANEnet looking for a laptop. We only work with direct service providers at partner agencies in Dane County, Wisconsin.

Jonathan's first DANEnet fundraiser!

By DANEnet, Inc

Jonathan's first DANEnet fundraiser!

Support digital equity & my new job as DANEnet development director