Donors Choose
What is DonorsChoose?
The short answer: One of the greatest tools an educator can and should take advantage of! The long answer: A website where public school educators can create a project based on their classroom needs, and donors from all over the nation can help fund it! Projects can range from funding basic supplies (pencils, paper, and scissors) to all types of technology, and even field trips or class visitors. Click through the slide below for tutorials to get you started! |
Click here to see my DonorsChoose page and see details from my three past projects that were successfully funded. |
How Does it Work?
The DonorsChoose website is very user-friendly and takes you through each step of the way. Here's a quick outline so you can get an idea of what the process entails: You make a free account through their website. Although your email address does not have to be your school email, you will have to find your school in their database when signing up to verify that you are a public school educator. Then you create a project based on the needs of your classroom. You'll need to do a little writing so potential donors can hear about your school, your students, the materials you want, and how this project would benefit your classroom. Click here for some stellar examples. After that, you select the items you want for your project through their partnering vendors. This is so your potential donors can see exactly what materials you want and how much they cost. After that, you publish your project and spread the word to family, friends, and colleagues! Donors can donate $1 or more towards your project, and there is often a promo code for 1:1 matching for the first week that your project goes live. You will get email updates each time someone donates so you can track your progress and say thank you along the way. Your project will be eligible for donations for four months. When your project is fully funded, DonorsChoose will fulfill your order and ship your materials straight to your classroom! This model has proven to be hugely successful, as over 75% of teachers reach their funding goal.
One thing to keep in mind: DonorsChoose automatically takes 15% of a donor's donation and puts that towards overall maintenance, labor, overhead, and teacher outreach to keep this nonprofit working. Although there is no way for you to opt out of this when you create your project, individual donors may choose a lower percentage or opt out of this option altogether during the checkout process. Get more details here.
You'll notice that once you sign up, you start off with a few points. The points system is intended to keep educators on track with using DonorsChoose. You spend points each time you submit a project. This amount ranges from 1 - 6 points, depending on what you are requesting (materials, class trip, etc). Educators can potentially earn 3 points upon completion of a project. First, you earn a point back when your project is fully funded! You also earn a point for successfully completing their Thank-You package requirements. You earn an additional point for completing the Thank-You package by the agreed upon due date. If you miss the Thank-You package due date, you will lose 1 point. I've never had any issues with losing points or having too few points to start a project. Just remember to stick to those Thank-You package deadlines!
There are a few teacher responsibilities to note once your project is posted. You can read about those here.
The only drawback to DonorsChoose is that the materials purchased through DonorsChoose are considered property of the public school classroom. This means that if you find yourself moving to a new school, any items obtained through DonorsChoose should be left at the school site. If you leave, the materials stay. However, there is an exception! If your new site is a public school that still meets DonorsChoose criteria (read more here), AND your principal gives their permission, then you may take your DonorsChoose materials to your new school/classroom. Different districts and schools have their own policies, so be sure to inform yourself about the policies that will affect you!
One thing to keep in mind: DonorsChoose automatically takes 15% of a donor's donation and puts that towards overall maintenance, labor, overhead, and teacher outreach to keep this nonprofit working. Although there is no way for you to opt out of this when you create your project, individual donors may choose a lower percentage or opt out of this option altogether during the checkout process. Get more details here.
You'll notice that once you sign up, you start off with a few points. The points system is intended to keep educators on track with using DonorsChoose. You spend points each time you submit a project. This amount ranges from 1 - 6 points, depending on what you are requesting (materials, class trip, etc). Educators can potentially earn 3 points upon completion of a project. First, you earn a point back when your project is fully funded! You also earn a point for successfully completing their Thank-You package requirements. You earn an additional point for completing the Thank-You package by the agreed upon due date. If you miss the Thank-You package due date, you will lose 1 point. I've never had any issues with losing points or having too few points to start a project. Just remember to stick to those Thank-You package deadlines!
There are a few teacher responsibilities to note once your project is posted. You can read about those here.
The only drawback to DonorsChoose is that the materials purchased through DonorsChoose are considered property of the public school classroom. This means that if you find yourself moving to a new school, any items obtained through DonorsChoose should be left at the school site. If you leave, the materials stay. However, there is an exception! If your new site is a public school that still meets DonorsChoose criteria (read more here), AND your principal gives their permission, then you may take your DonorsChoose materials to your new school/classroom. Different districts and schools have their own policies, so be sure to inform yourself about the policies that will affect you!
Tips for a Successful Project
So far, every DonorsChoose project I have posted has been successfully funded! In my first year of teaching, I published my first project to acquire art supplies, books on CD, and some tools for my overactive students. Last year, I posted two projects. The first was for 5 Chromebooks and the second was for 4 iPads and cases. I couldn't believe that I fundraised for that much technology in one school year! But it was so easy and SO WORTH IT. Part of that is thanks to some very generous friends and family members, along with my students' families. However, I really do think a big part of it has to do with how I presented the project and little things I did to make sure I had the highest chance of getting donations.
1. Set the stage
First, I talked up the project to my students - we discussed all the ways these new materials would change our classroom and transform our learning. I wanted THEM to come up with their own ideas of how this would make learning even better! They were so eager to use the technology to research, to practice typing, and to create blogs. As a bonus, the students are always so eager to share their excitement with their parents - so families heard about our upcoming DonorsChoose project from their own children first.
2. Time it right
Then I published my projects with strategic timing. Too close to the beginning of the school year means parents just spent money on back to school supplies and, likely, a hefty school donation. Plus they haven't gotten a chance to know you and how much you care about their children. Too close to the holidays means money is usually spent on gifts or vacations, and opportunities for donations may be slim. November and March have been perfect timing for me. The first week of funding is critical; this is when the 1:1 matching promo code is available. Any donation amount helps build momentum and increases awareness of your project, bringing you closer to full funding.
3. Take advantage of promo codes
More importantly, the first week is when you are eligible for a promo code that matches any donations 1:1. Be sure to advertise this and remind donors to use the promo code during checkout. I have had multiple donors forget to use the code (or just missed that step during the checkout process). If that happens to you, encourage that generous person to email DonorsChoose letting them know that they wanted to use the promo code but forgot. This happened to me a number of times, and each time DonorsChoose was incredibly helpful and matched the donation via gift card with no questions asked.
4. Spread the word!
Lastly, I spread the word in as many ways as possible. When the project goes live, I immediately email students' families telling them how excited I am about the project and explain exactly how it will impact their children. Transparency builds trust. I always include a direct link to the project page and any codes for a match offer. I also email my own extended family and friends in addition to posting on Facebook and Twitter. I'm always pleasantly surprised at how much support I receive through social media, and the word spreads FAST. Your project will be funded before you know it!
If creating these emails or social media posts intimidates you, don't worry! One option is to turn on Facebook automatic updates so the work is done for you. DonorsChoose also has free templates to help share your project. They even have variations from formal to casual. Check them out here.
Want to hear tips from other teachers on how they got funded? There's plenty more advice from the DonorsChoose Blog.
1. Set the stage
First, I talked up the project to my students - we discussed all the ways these new materials would change our classroom and transform our learning. I wanted THEM to come up with their own ideas of how this would make learning even better! They were so eager to use the technology to research, to practice typing, and to create blogs. As a bonus, the students are always so eager to share their excitement with their parents - so families heard about our upcoming DonorsChoose project from their own children first.
2. Time it right
Then I published my projects with strategic timing. Too close to the beginning of the school year means parents just spent money on back to school supplies and, likely, a hefty school donation. Plus they haven't gotten a chance to know you and how much you care about their children. Too close to the holidays means money is usually spent on gifts or vacations, and opportunities for donations may be slim. November and March have been perfect timing for me. The first week of funding is critical; this is when the 1:1 matching promo code is available. Any donation amount helps build momentum and increases awareness of your project, bringing you closer to full funding.
3. Take advantage of promo codes
More importantly, the first week is when you are eligible for a promo code that matches any donations 1:1. Be sure to advertise this and remind donors to use the promo code during checkout. I have had multiple donors forget to use the code (or just missed that step during the checkout process). If that happens to you, encourage that generous person to email DonorsChoose letting them know that they wanted to use the promo code but forgot. This happened to me a number of times, and each time DonorsChoose was incredibly helpful and matched the donation via gift card with no questions asked.
4. Spread the word!
Lastly, I spread the word in as many ways as possible. When the project goes live, I immediately email students' families telling them how excited I am about the project and explain exactly how it will impact their children. Transparency builds trust. I always include a direct link to the project page and any codes for a match offer. I also email my own extended family and friends in addition to posting on Facebook and Twitter. I'm always pleasantly surprised at how much support I receive through social media, and the word spreads FAST. Your project will be funded before you know it!
If creating these emails or social media posts intimidates you, don't worry! One option is to turn on Facebook automatic updates so the work is done for you. DonorsChoose also has free templates to help share your project. They even have variations from formal to casual. Check them out here.
Want to hear tips from other teachers on how they got funded? There's plenty more advice from the DonorsChoose Blog.
What if the Project is Not Fully Funded?
You have four months to spread the word and reach your funding goal. Unfortunately, DonorsChoose is an "all or nothing" deal; they will not purchase some of your materials if you raised only a portion of the money. If your goal was not met, don't worry! You can still make it work. All the donors that contributed so far will automatically be sent an email from DonorsChoose. The donors can then reallocate their money to an active project on the site or donate to you in the form of a gift card for your next project. And guess what - your "next project" can simply be your original project re-submitted. Voila, four more months for donations!
You have four months to spread the word and reach your funding goal. Unfortunately, DonorsChoose is an "all or nothing" deal; they will not purchase some of your materials if you raised only a portion of the money. If your goal was not met, don't worry! You can still make it work. All the donors that contributed so far will automatically be sent an email from DonorsChoose. The donors can then reallocate their money to an active project on the site or donate to you in the form of a gift card for your next project. And guess what - your "next project" can simply be your original project re-submitted. Voila, four more months for donations!