# Free Geek

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Organization

Free Geek Founded 2000 Founder Oso Martin Type 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Focus Sustainable technology reuse, digital access and technology education. Location Portland, Oregon Region served Portland Metro Exec. Dir. Juan Manuel Muro, Jr. Employees 30-40 Volunteers 2000+ active Website freegeek.org

**Free Geek** is a technology related [non-profit organization](/source/Non-profit_organization) based in [Portland, Oregon](/source/Portland%2C_Oregon), launched on April 22, 2000. It started as a public event at [Pioneer Courthouse Square](/source/Pioneer_Courthouse_Square). In September 2000, it opened a permanent facility as a drop off site for electronic waste. In January 2001, local newspaper *[The Oregonian](/source/The_Oregonian)* ran an article advertising their free computer program for [volunteers](/source/Volunteers), which became so successful that they had to start a waiting list.[1] They currently have over 2,000 active volunteers per year.[2][3]

## Free software

Free Geek's refurbished computers run [Linux Mint](/source/Linux_Mint) and other [free and open-source software](/source/Free_and_open-source_software). The use of free software gives a wide range of software without the need to manage [licenses](/source/Software_license) or payment.

Free Geek was a joint winner of the first Chris Nicol FOSS Prize awarded by the [Association for Progressive Communications](/source/Association_for_Progressive_Communications) (APC) in 2007.[4]

## History

As part of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic), the company received between $350,000 and $1 million in federally backed small business loan from [Columbia State Bank](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Columbia_State_Bank&action=edit&redlink=1) as part of the [Paycheck Protection Program](/source/Paycheck_Protection_Program). The company stated it would allow them to retain 47 jobs.[5]

## See also

- [Empower Up](/source/Empower_Up)

- [World Computer Exchange](/source/World_Computer_Exchange)

- [Digital divide in the United States](/source/Digital_divide_in_the_United_States)

- [Global digital divide](/source/Global_digital_divide)

- [Computer recycling](/source/Computer_recycling)

- [Electronic waste in the United States](/source/Electronic_waste_in_the_United_States)

- [Telecentre](/source/Telecentre)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Plug into Portland | Free Geek"](https://www.freegeek.org/free-computers/plug-portland). *www.freegeek.org*. Retrieved 2025-10-31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** MacKinnon, Merry (March 2006). ["Computer nerds, and proud of it"](http://wiki.freegeek.org/index.php/Lifestyles_Northwest_article). *Lifestyles Northwest*. Retrieved 2006-12-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Forsyth, Pete](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Author:Pete_Forsyth) [at Wikisource] (May 4, 2001). ["Free software, older computers help group narrow digital divide"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/en:Free_Software,_Older_Computers_Help_Group_Narrow_Digital_Divide). *The Portland Tribune*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Free Geek has been keeping the needy nerdy for seven full years"](http://www.apc.org/en/node/1862/). *APCNews*. 16 October 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-proj_FREE_5-0)** Syed, Moiz; Willis, Derek (7 July 2020). ["FREE GEEK - Coronavirus Bailouts - ProPublica"](https://projects.propublica.org/coronavirus/bailouts/loans/free-geek-39fe3bd741ef429e68e6825502546797). *ProPublica*. Retrieved 8 July 2020.

## External links

- [Free Geek](https://www.freegeek.org/)

- [BoingBoing article](https://web.archive.org/web/20070813074918/http://www.boingboing.net/2004/08/15/recycle_your_old_ele.html)

- [another BoingBoing article](https://web.archive.org/web/20080517081530/http://www.boingboing.net/2006/11/20/portland_freegeek_ri.html)

[45°30′37.27″N 122°39′21.63″W / 45.5103528°N 122.6560083°W / 45.5103528; -122.6560083](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Free_Geek&params=45_30_37.27_N_122_39_21.63_W_region:US)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Free Geek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Geek) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Geek?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.