Donors Choose

Story time in a classroom (Wix)

Did you know that many public school teachers in the US have to dip into their own pockets to pay for items in their classrooms?  This is not a new phenomenon in our country. I wonder how many people know the extent to which teachers themselves pay for items they need in the classroom.

According to a 2022 article in Nea Today, over 90% of public school teachers spend their own money on school supplies and other items their students need.  Prior to the Pandemic, educators spent about $500 on classroom supplies over the school year. 

According to adoptaclassroom.org, teachers now spend an average of $895 each year on necessities.

Teachers use their own salaries to pay for school supplies.

Educators don’t make large salaries, and expecting them to open their own pockets to pay for things like cleaning supplies, tissues, books for their classroom libraries, basic shelving, and carpets for little learners to sit on, is inexcusable.

While I can’t supply every classroom or reimburse every teacher, I can help supply them with the items they need, so they can focus on teaching.  Donors Choose is the website I pull up when I have money to donate.

Donors Choose

Founded in 2000, by Charles Best, ‘Donors Choose empowers public school teachers from across the country to request much-needed materials for their students.’  Best himself was a high school teacher in the Bronx prior to starting Donors Choose, and he saw firsthand what and where the needs were.

The Donors Choose website.

I remember reading about Donors Choose around 2010.  I was still tutoring kids in English back then and volunteered in the local middle school as a reading buddy as well.  After doing some research on the mission of Best’s organization, I decided to make a donation.

Making a Donation

The entire process can be done on line in a matter of a few minutes.  If you are looking for a specific school, project, or subject matter there are tools to help narrow your search.  One of the areas that I like to fund are rural, high poverty, and Title I schools.

During recent wildfires and floods throughout the country, I was able to locate teachers trying to build back their classrooms.  Knowing what those teachers, kids, and families endured made it easy for me to open my wallet and give.

Making a donation in honor of a loved one. (Wix)

Each year at Christmas time, I select projects that align to my family members' interests. I then fund the projects and give them a printed copy of the project as their gift. This started when the girls were in high school and they enjoyed knowing that someone else with their passions was helped.

If I've inspired you already you can click here to make a donation right now.

The Teacher’s Process

The process begins when a teacher contacts Donors Choose to ask for help funding a specific need.  Teachers submit proposals and include specific lists of what they are asking for.

A staffer then reviews the applications and places them on the website.  This is where the magic of giving really happens.

Donors like me are able to review and donate to multiple requests.  You can either fully fund a project or donate an amount towards its completion.  I love this because it allows everyone to contribute, no matter the amount they can give.

School supplies that often run out. (Wix)

When a project is funded, the teacher is notified and they receive their items.  At this point the kids in the classroom are told that donors helped provide the items.  They do not give out the names and addresses of donors.  The students then write, or draw, a thank you notes to donors.

I have received many thank you notes and drawings over the 16 years I’ve been a donor.  I never know when the packet will come in the mail from Donors Choose head quarters in New York City, but opening them always makes me smile.

Not All Projects Get Funded

Each project gets a certain amount of time to secure funding. If a project isn’t fully funded then all the donations made go back to the donor’s in the form of a credit.  Donors then can review available projects.

Over the years, I have helped fund numerous classroom libraries, cubbies to organize kids work, musical instruments, sports equipment, chemistry sets, and even financial literacy information for high school seniors. 

No matter where the donation goes, I know with confidence that my money will directly benefit students.  I like the thought that I am helping the teachers who are educating the next generation.

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