Excessive College Aspect Hustle Results in Over $1.6 Million Raised

This Aspect Hustle Highlight Q&A options Dylan Zajac, 21, a senior at Babson Faculty. At 15, Zajac had a facet hustle thrifting and fixing computer systems. The gig impressed Zajac to discovered his nonprofit Computer systems 4 Folks, which gives refurbished computer systems to individuals in want. Responses have been edited for size and readability.

^{Picture Credit score: Courtesy of Computer systems 4 Folks}

When did you begin your facet hustle, and the place did you discover the inspiration for it?
I began out by going to thrift shops round Brooklyn, New York, with my highschool mates, simply as a enjoyable passion. We would take the PATH prepare from Hoboken after which skate from thrift retailer to thrift retailer, usually hitting three or extra in a single day. At these outlets, we would sift via piles of outdated electronics, trying to find hidden gems. Once we discovered one thing precious, we would negotiate onerous to get a deal. Some days we purchased so many computer systems we needed to stack them on our skateboards to roll them house.

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As soon as we acquired the computer systems again, we would clear them up, repair them and promote them on Fb Market or eBay. Earlier than lengthy, this passion became an actual enterprise. At one level, my complete bed room was crammed with random desktops and Apple PowerBooks. The margins had been insane, generally as excessive as 80%!

What had been a number of the first steps you took to get your facet hustle off the bottom? How did it evolve into the nonprofit you run now?
One of many key issues that made it doable for me to start out my facet hustle was gaining access to a laptop computer and the web after I was in center faculty. I would spend hours watching YouTube tutorials on easy methods to refurbish computer systems and studying the ins and outs of ecommerce platforms, which helped me attain lots of of shoppers, all from my bed room.

However as I acquired deeper into this, I began noticing an enormous drawback. On my journeys to Brooklyn, I noticed mountains of e-waste — computer systems tossed away by individuals and corporations who had no concept easy methods to get rid of them correctly. On the identical time, I spotted simply how many individuals on the earth (2.6 billion to be actual) haven’t got entry to the digital world. That is when the thought for Computer systems 4 Folks hit me.

I made a decision to show what I would realized right into a nonprofit. Utilizing on-line tutorials, I found out easy methods to incorporate, file for 501(c)(3) standing, create bylaws and get the whole lot up and operating. The plan was easy: Accumulate used computer systems from people and corporations, refurbish them and donate them to individuals and organizations in want. In February 2019, as a 15-year-old highschool sophomore, I formally started my mission to get rid of the digital divide. I have been at it ever since.

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What had been a number of the greatest challenges you confronted whereas constructing Computer systems 4 Folks, and the way did you navigate them?
One of many hardest challenges was ensuring Computer systems 4 Folks might run sustainably with out me. Balancing faculty with operating the nonprofit taught me that there is actually no such factor as stability; you simply should make it work. Many individuals assumed Computer systems 4 Folks would disintegrate as soon as I went to varsity, as most small initiatives like this do. To show them incorrect, I targeted on making a strong construction the place tasks like accounting, HR and program administration had been clearly outlined. I constructed proprietary methods to automate stock, shopper administration, donor administration and federal/state grant reporting, which helped us scale and run effectively.

Securing sufficient funding and laptop donations stays an ongoing problem as we work to fulfill the overwhelming demand for our companies. With lots of of people on our ready record, the necessity usually outpaces provide. To deal with this, we have been diversifying our funding sources, leveraging authorities grants, basis grants, particular person giving and earned income. Moreover, we’re partnering with a number of the largest Fortune 100 and 500 firms to gather their used computer systems, guaranteeing we will proceed successfully bridging the digital divide.

What do the group’s progress and success metrics seem like at present?
To this point, we have now donated 3,668 computer systems to people in want, diverting over 55,000 kilos of digital waste from landfills. Our applications have empowered hundreds to entry training, safe employment and thrive within the digital world. We have raised over $1.6 million via awarded grants and donations, permitting us to scale quickly and develop our workforce to over a dozen full-time employees members.

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What do you take pleasure in most about engaged on this nonprofit?
I like fixing powerful issues, constructing expertise to streamline processes and dealing with a workforce of mission-driven individuals all targeted on the identical purpose. It is also extremely rewarding to obtain messages daily concerning the life-changing impacts of our applications and to see these outcomes mirrored in our information.

What’s your recommendation for others hoping to start out a corporation that makes an impression?
Let neighborhood insights drive your options; do not begin one thing simply because it appears impactful. Guarantee your efforts create a internet optimistic for the world, particularly within the nonprofit house. At first, do not depend on others to deal with the necessities. Learn to handle incorporation, taxes, accounting, operations, expertise, HR and establishing a board of administrators your self. It is important to know what you are promoting and trade in and out. Upon getting a strong basis, construct a workforce that enhances your abilities and consists of individuals who excel in areas like fundraising, accrual accounting or group. Lastly, do not overthink each step: Act quick, make choices shortly and maintain transferring ahead.