Project Tips

You already know your chances for full funding are much higher when project cost is low. But how do you pull this off without sacrificing materials that your students need? We’re inspired by the creative ways DonorsChoose.org teachers keep their costs low and success levels high. Breaking Up is Wise to Do This back-to-school season, Mrs. Smithpeters funded $1210 worth of books for her classroom. She must have posted an impressive project! Except she didn’t. She posted four impressive projects. Mrs. Smithpeters divided her book needs into groups, each priced well under $400. Now her room is stocked with engaging favorites like Nate

Who are the five people who have most influenced your life?  A college professor of mine asked our class to write down our answers to this question on the first day of the semester a few years back.  When we were done, he asked those whose lists included at least one teacher to raise their hands. Everyone in the class put a hand up. In about a month, the corporate and foundation partners who contribute many millions of dollars to classrooms on DonorsChoose.org will be gathering in San Francisco for our annual Partner Summit.  I’ve been nagging Charles, our CEO and

It’s been more than six years since I first stepped into a DonorsChoose.org office as a young associate on our Partnerships team. (For a trip down memory lane, here’s the blog post I put up in 2010 celebrating our 10 year anniversary.)  We’ve grown a lot since then, but funding your first (or twenty-first) project can still feel daunting. I’m here to offer three ways you can optimize your request and increase your project’s likelihood of success. First, let’s back up. My experience comes from wearing several hats: Partnership Manager, kickball team captain, babysitter, exterminator, moving service, and serial runner-up

Between them, these amazing educators have posted 298 fully-funded projects. Now, they’re giving you the inside scoop on the best way to set your project up for success.  All four of the teachers below began their DonorsChoose.org journey as novices, unsure how to bring resources to their students through the site. We wanted to know how they got from there to here, so we asked them: What’s the one thing you wish you’d known before creating your first request?  Here’s what they had to say. Break It UpMr. Stuart  I wish I’d known that smaller projects are easier to get funded than larger projects. At first, I was asking

DonorsChoose.org is one of the only crowdfunding platforms where you don’t have to exclusively fundraise from your own network.  On our site, perfect strangers who have never met you or your students but care deeply about education line up to contribute to the work you do.   Some of the most generous of these strangers are our corporate and foundation partners. Last school year alone, these folks collectively contributed more than $50 million to classroom projects.  You can use these funding opportunities whether or not you know exactly what you want to request for your classroom. Here’s how. Don’t know what you’re

Mary works with our incredible DonorsChoose.org volunteers and our Screening team to ensure all projects meet eligibility guidelines. It may sound cliché, but a photo really is worth a thousand words—especially when it comes to your classroom. A distinct photo for your DonorsChoose.org teacher page and projects helps donors connect with your classroom and are a powerful tool for creating long-term connections. Check out these tips for creating a dynamite photo and some examples of classroom photos we love: Tip 1: Take a photo! A classroom photo should ideally be just that—a photo! Although it can be tempting to use colorful clipart, taking

Ali Austerlitz is a former Pre-K teacher and current DonorsChoose.org Partnerships Director. The first time I walked into my classroom, I was thrilled! It was filled with colorful carpets, little desks and chairs stacked as high as the eye could see, and boxes and garbage bags of toys and books. Then the custodian came in.   Little by little, he emptied the classroom of every shiny bookshelf and newish kidney table. As it turned out, Room 6 had been used as storage over the summer while the other rooms’ floors were being waxed.  By the time he was done and I

There are resources you just need again and again. Whether it’s consumable items like paper and pencils, books to refresh your classroom library, or science materials that get broken or worn-out—sometimes you need to post a project similar to one you’ve already posted. But how can you do this easily in a way that respects your time and that of your donors? Follow these four steps to submit a quick, repeat project. 1. Use your old project for reference. Was your explanation of how tissues and paper towels make your classroom a healthier, happier place absolutely perfect? Was your description

Greg Carere works on the DonorsChoose.org Screening team, offering feedback to teachers so they can submit clear, eligible, and persuasive projects. There isn’t One Big Secret to writing an incredible project essay—each one is going to be a unique reflection of the specific teacher and request—but there are a couple of things to keep in mind if you’re hoping to tell the best possible story. Whether this is your first DonorsChoose.org project or you’re a seasoned vet, we’ve got four essential tips for putting your request into words. First up, let’s take a look at this project essay from the very handsome Mr.

It’s no secret that DonorsChoose.org puts your classroom wishlist on the radar of millions of potential donors, giving anyone the opportunity to be your classroom supporter.  But did you know we also partner with corporations and foundations throughout the year to help you fund your projects? One of the keys to DonorsChoose.org success as a teacher is mastering these partner match offers. When you know what match offers are available to you, you’re able to get your ideas front-and-center for our partners—who are some of our most generous donors.  Every year, our team launches exciting campaigns with our partners that