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Helping students process the ongoing pandemic, racial justice, growing environmental challenges, and more have been a major part of teaching this year. Time and again, we see that expressing gratitude and sharing feelings through art can ground and center us in seasons of uncertainty.

Students Rebuild and the Bezos Family Foundation is inviting students across the world to create awards for the changemakers in their lives. Students can honor those making change around them while learning the value of community connectedness and participation.

Get started

“A changemaker is someone who takes creative action to solve a social problem.”*

Anyone can be a changemaker: Maybe a changemaker is a parent or grandparent, aunt, or uncle. They could be a neighbor or classmate that has made a difference. Their changemaker may be a teacher, community organizer, doctor, librarian, or friend that rises up to help. A changemaker could be someone you admire but haven’t met. It might even be you!

—via Students Rebuild, *changemaker definition from Ashoka.org

For each award submitted, Bezos Family Foundation will donate $5 to causes that support real world changemakers, up to $1 million total. DonorsChoose is a Students Rebuild partner, and a portion of those donations will support requests for community service projects.

Get involved

1. Register to create a Changemaker Challenge team for your students
2. Check out free Students Rebuild resources, including an art guide and lesson plans by grade level
3. Ask students to identify a changemaker to celebrate
4. Facilitate students to create an artistic award for their changemaker
5. Send an image of student artwork with Students Rebuild to have Bezos Family Foundation donation $5 to support changemakers like you

Visit StudentsRebuild.org/challenges/changemaker to learn more and get started!

Although words such as “remote learning” and “distance learning” have dominated our conversations this school year, the heart of every classroom is still the connection between a teacher and their students. With the right tools and resources, that connection can remain infinitely stronger than the wifi networks powering your virtual classroom.

Over 400 teachers from the DonorsChoose community shared their feedback and tips for the most popular programs enabling their students to learn from home. Here’s what teachers across the country had to say about Flocabulary:

What is Flocabulary?

“Flocabulary is a platform that creates R&B/Hip-Hop songs that relate to tons of different concepts across all content areas. They are catchy and my students love to hear the songs that go along with each concept we learn.” - Mr. French, 2nd and 3rd grade

Is Flocabulary a good fit for my classroom?

Flocabulary has content available for all grade levels in a wide variety of subjects, but teachers mostly recommend it for grades two and up. From 3rd grade math to 10th grade English, teachers found creative ways to use Flocabulary in the classroom.

“This tool incorporates hip hop songs to teach about sooo many content area subjects across all areas. There are so many videos for my specific subject area too. I love the fact that I can use music to teach; this is a way to teach students with different learning styles. Flocabulary also has a variety of resources that correlate with the videos including vocabulary words, activities, reading passages, quizzes,  This is probably my favorite of the tech tools I have tried. - Cathy Allen, K-6 Library Media

What do teachers think of Flocabulary?

“Whether you're teaching elementary or high school, Flocabulary has content related to your subject in the form of videos, songs, and activities.” — Mrs. Fields, 5th grade ELA

“The songs are great and get the students drawn in. Plus you'll be singing all day as well.” - Mr. French, 2nd and 3rd grade 

Will my students like Flocabulary?

We think so! Mrs. Fields (5th grade ELA) had one student say it was “the most fun I've ever had learning!"

“We were learning multiplication facts using the songs from Flocabulary. We were taking a facts quiz and my student was singing the song to remember the facts. He was so proud when he passed the test!” - Mrs. Knight, 5th grade math and science

“My 5th graders love the water cycle video; they all aced the unit test, singing it under their breath while testing.” - Ms. Bright, K-5 Special Education

Flocabulary Tips and Tricks

“If you upload your class, you can assign individual videos to students that need it. There are also online activities that support learning.” - Ms. Prue, 3rd grade

“It is best to actually do a walk through with students the first time so they understand all the components and know what is expected of them.” - Mrs. Fields, 5th grade ELA

Flocabulary Cost and Subscriptions

Teachers, you can get a Flocabulary subscription without having to reach into your own pocket. Flocabulary is available on DonorsChoose through our vendor AKJ Education. Get started on a project today.

Other remote learning resources you may find helpful:

• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with BrainPOP
• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with Nearpod
• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with Breakout EDU

You know what your students need, especially during this time of remote learning. The DonorsChoose community is here to help you get it. 3 out of 4 schools in the U.S. have a public school teacher who’s used DonorsChoose - that’s over 1.8 million classroom project requests funded. Yours could be next. Start your project today.

Although words such as “remote learning” and “distance learning” have dominated our conversations this school year, the heart of every classroom is still the connection between a teacher and their students. With the right tools and resources, that connection can remain infinitely stronger than the wifi networks powering your virtual classroom.

Over 400 teachers from the DonorsChoose community shared their feedback and tips for the most popular programs enabling their students to learn from home. Here’s what teachers across the country had to say about Nearpod:

What is Nearpod?

“Nearpod is an interactive presentation tool that allows you to do it all in one place. You can teach using modeling, visuals, written information, 3D models, videos, and virtual trips. Then you have the opportunity to engage students with polls, quizzes, questions, and games. Everyone can participate, every time. You can make your own or choose from a full library of lessons. It's all in one spot.” – Miss DeLisa, 6th Grade

“A phenomenal platform to deliver engaging lessons both synchronous and asynchronous. Nearpod has single handedly saved me during the pandemic! I can deliver live lessons simultaneously to kids at home and those sitting right in front of me. Students are constantly engaged and the data reports provide me with thorough information in a one spot hub for all who joined my lesson!” – Ms. Fliegelman, K-5th Grade

Is Nearpod a good fit for my classroom? 

Teachers recommend Nearpod for all grades! For any lesson in which you would use a slideshow presentation, you can swap in Nearpod to get added engagement and real-time feedback.

“I thought my seniors would find this cheesy and "kid-like," but they are my most engaged class so don't be afraid of trying it with older students.” – Ms. Sloane, 7th-12th Grades

What do teachers think of Nearpod?

“I wholeheartedly recommend this tool for teachers to use! It made it so much easier to have students complete a variety of activities without losing instructional time for them to get to those different links” – Ms. Reed, 11th-12th Grades

“I wish I had harnessed these tools sooner. I started out making very basic lessons because I thought it would be ‘hard’ to design special activities. Boy, was I wrong!” – Mrs. Kleinschmidt, 3rd-5th Grades

“Nearpod is a way to make presentations interactive. You can add games, matching, fill in the blank, quizzes, videos with questions, and more. It has taken my classes up a notch as the students are so much more engaged.” – Ms. Sloane, 7th-12th Grades

But will my students like Nearpod?

“Yes. Students really love the game Time to Climb and ask ‘can we play?’ everyday. I incorporate it for lesson assessment to check for understanding and really do try to play daily. It helps with 100% student engagement and motivation in my classroom.” – Mrs. de Lara - Staunton, Elementary

“My students love the variety of activities in Nearpod, especially ‘Time to Climb’ and ‘Matching Cards.’ There is no limit to the variety of ways they can be combined!” – Mrs. Kleinschmidt, 3rd-5th Grades

“One of my students stated that “I feel like I am actually learning now, when I don’t get it you show me, then I can show you.” – Mrs. Coba, 3rd-5th Grades

“Students’ weekly appearances to my tech lessons were evident enough as to how much they liked it! I did hear from teachers that students would remind each other to be on time for our tech lesson so they wouldn’t miss out on anything :)” – Ms. Fliegelman, K-5th Grades

Nearpod Tips and Tricks

“I wish that I had started using it earlier--DonorsChoose project helped fund the Platinum license as the free version doesn't have enough storage space for a year's work.  Take advantage of the student paced option for more than just when students are absent.” – Ms. Reed, 11th-12th Grades

Nearpod works great when you’re teaching - and even when you’re not! If you’re prepping some just-in-case lesson plans for an unanticipated day out, Nearpod can make it easier to hand off the class to a substitute teacher.

“There are so many possibilities and it’s a great tool to leave for a substitute. Students get the knowledge and are accountable even when the teacher is out.” – Mrs. Rochon, 5th Grade

Nearpod Cost and Subscriptions

You can get a Nearpod subscription without having to reach into your own pocket. Nearpod is available on DonorsChoose through our vendor AKJ Education. Get started on a project today.

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Other remote learning resources you may find helpful:

• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with BrainPOP
• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with Breakout EDU
• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with Flocabulary

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You know what your students need, especially during this time of remote learning. The DonorsChoose community is here to help you get it. 3 out of 4 schools in the U.S. have a public school teacher who’s used DonorsChoose - that’s over 1.8 million classroom project requests funded. Yours could be next. Start your project today.

Although words such as “remote learning” and “distance learning” have dominated our conversations this school year, the heart of every classroom is still the connection between a teacher and their students. With the right tools and resources, that connection can remain infinitely stronger than the wifi networks powering your virtual classroom.

Over 400 teachers from the DonorsChoose community shared their feedback and tips for the most popular programs enabling their students to learn from home. Here’s what teachers across the country had to say about Breakout EDU:

What is Breakout EDU?

“This tool is a platform to access standards based "escape rooms" for all grade levels and content areas - plus some just for team building and seasonal fun!  There are games that you can play with a kit - but there are also many digital versions.” – Mrs. Vedros, 8th and 11th Grade

Is Breakout EDU a good fit for my classroom? 

Teachers recommend Breakout EDU for everyone! Breakout EDU includes content appropriate for all grade levels.

What do teachers think of Breakout EDU?

“I definitely recommend it because it makes students engage in contact and collaborate with others. They can also create their own breakout rooms to show their knowledge of new content learned.” – Mrs. Pierce, 6th and 8th Grade

"During distance learning we have worked all together to breakout and I have assigned breakouts in Google Classroom for them to complete alone. Additionally, I mailed them one to complete at home through a Google form. They LOVE trying to solve the puzzles! 

In the classroom setting, this tool is much more valuable. Students work collaboratively to solve the puzzles which promotes powerful team building skills! " – Miss Purcell, 6th Grade

“I highly recommend Breakout EDU! The students love the challenges and they're content and standard based. It is serving two or three purposes in one and the students are always engaged in it!” – Mrs. Dragoo, 6th Grade

“I definitely recommend this tool. I went around and switched classrooms with other teachers and did breakouts with their students, just to show them how much fun and engaging they are.” – Ms. King, Grades 9-12

But will my students like Breakout EDU?

“I was worried that the students would not have the same enthusiasm opening digital locks as they do with actual locks - but I hear squeals of excitement and can see them throwing their arms up in victory when they finally figure out a lock.” – Mrs. Vedros, 8th and 11th Grade

“My class absolutely loves being able to do Breakout EDU games. It is a fun way to use what we are learning to escape. With Breakout EDU, students develop essential life skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication.” – Ms.Ghusein, 4th-8th Grades

Breakout EDU Tips and Tricks

“Just do a practice run the first time you do an activity, so you can work out some of the kinks.” – Ms. King, Grades 9-12

“Make sure that you have all the clues made correctly and that you have plenty of time to set up each breakout box because you have to change lock codes, etc. Plus you have to have time to set it up for the next group, so it’s time-consuming at times.” – Mr. Starling, 9th-12th Grades

“I started using this as a Fun Friday activity for those who had their work done for the week since we are virtual and it was motivation to stay on track with their grades. Now I have started giving one to the class in different breakout rooms once every two weeks to work on social skills since we are still virtual and most of these students have never met since they are coming to middle school from three different elementary schools.” – Mrs. Dragoo, 6th Grade

Breakout EDU Cost and Subscriptions

You can get a Breakout EDU subscription without having to reach into your own pocket. Breakout EDU is available on DonorsChoose through our vendor AKJ Education. Get started on a project today.

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Other remote learning resources you may find helpful:

• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with BrainPOP
• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with Flocabulary
• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with Nearpod

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You know what your students need, especially during this time of remote learning. The DonorsChoose community is here to help you get it. 3 out of 4 schools in the U.S. have a public school teacher who’s used DonorsChoose - that’s over 1.8 million classroom project requests funded. Yours could be next. Start your project today.

Your classroom has had to be more flexible than ever this school year. We’ve updated our shipping policies to match. You can find all the details in our Help Center, but the short story is: we’re here to help you get the resources you need, right where you need them.

Read on for some clever ideas from your fellow teachers for getting much-needed materials into the hands & homes of every student.

The DIY (Deliver-It-Yourself) Method

When you create your project, one option is to have your classroom materials shipped directly to your school. From there, you can distribute items to your students by personal delivery or drive-through pick-up. This works great for larger items, expensive materials, and technology (or if you just want a chance to wave at your students from the car instead of the screen!).

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!
Mrs. Elchyshyn, Grades 3-5, California

Request:

• Dr. Seuss Party Paper Hats, Mini Memo Pads, Beveled Erasers, and Pencils
• “I Love to Read” Rubber Bracelets
• Dr Seuss Oh The Places You'll Go! Bookmark Assortment Set

"Even though we are still learning from a distance, we want to be able to plan for the future and celebrate our love for reading. We want to celebrate [Dr. Seuss’s] birthday in March with a school wide party and family night. Students will be inspired to write like Dr. Seuss with their hats, pencils, notepads and erasers. We will have a special drive through event where they will pick up their goodie bags. Then teachers will Zoom on a special night, sharing his literature and having the students complete exciting activities."

Helping Students With Food Deficits!
Mrs. Williams, Grades 9-12, Alabama

Request: 

• 100% Recycled Paper Bags
• Welch's Fruit Snacks, Bulk Variety Pack
• Mott's 100% Apple Juice
• PLANTERS Salted Cashews
• Frito-Lay Ultimate Snack Care Package, Assorted Chips, Cookies, Crackers & More

"My students are from a school in Alabama where ninety percent of the students are on free or reduced lunch. I am now teaching my students on Google Classroom, and they have no choice except to work from home.

Once I received the snacks from DonorsChoose, I selected a date to deliver them to the students. I sent them an email and told them the date that I would deliver them. Because it rained that day, I took some to the drive thru lunch line and I delivered some to their homes. The students were so surprised, it was like they hit the lottery. Their parents thought that this was the greatest gesture, some of them even posted it on Facebook."

The Snail Mail Approach

One of our top trending items: Stamps! You can add postage stamps or pre-paid shipping supplies to your project or create a separate project just for these items. On DonorsChoose, you can find postage stamps through Staples. When the materials arrive at your classroom, you’ll be all set to mail your students exactly what they need.

Snail Mail: A Contemporary Flat Stanley Inspired Project
Mrs. Rodriguez, Kindergarten, New York

Request: 

• Postage Stamps
  Copy Paper
• Unpadded Large Shipping Envelopes 
• Thermal Laminating Pouches

"Although we are not physically in school I am still looking for ways to engage and have fun with my children. My students will be thrilled to attend a bedtime story of Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown, then excited to know that they will receive materials to create their own Mrs. Rodriguez adventures. 

The requested stamps, postcards, laminating sheets, and Exacto knife will help me create a modern-day Flat Stanley project for my children. In this book Flat Stanley goes on adventures as a "flat" boy and although 'special' he goes through exploring life with his family and learns new things and goes on a new adventure every day.

I would like to send each of my children a laminated Bitmoji of me on a popsicle stick that they can explore with and write about daily. In order to create these, I will need the laminating sheets, knife, hot glue, and popsicle sticks. I will send them postcards along with my Bitmoji that they can take outside, make new clothes for and read with. Each week they will use one of the postcards to write about an adventure they had with me and mail it to me. I cannot wait to see their postcards and to respond."

Mail Rewards and Certificates During Distance Learning!
Mrs. Flores, 5th Grade, California

Request:

• Postage Stamps
• Thinking of You School Themed Blank Postcards

"Many of the traditional rewards that teachers use in the classroom do not work very well during distance learning. Simple stamps, postcards, and envelopes allow me to mail them a reward that is tangible to my students.

During the course of a school day, teachers are usually able to give small and tangible rewards to students for their work. For example, we place stickers on their work, or stamps with accolades. We give them reading certificates when they reach goals that they are then able to take home. Because of distance learning, this type of incentive is much more difficult to get into the hands of students. These tangible rewards help motivate students and make them feel accomplished and successful during distance learning. This project will provide the stamps and envelopes needed to mail student certificates, postcards, and other incentives through the mail.

I want them to feel the excitement of receiving a piece of mail that is theirs with a prize for their work. I want them to get something physical, not just something that they can view on the computer."

The Custom Student Care Package

In your physical classroom, you often make accommodations for one student who needs some extra space, customized curriculum, or access to a particular resource. DonorsChoose can help you do the same for students learning from home. Create a low-cost project (we recommend $350 or less) on behalf of one student who needs a boost. You’ll have the option to select a custom address if you would like the materials sent directly to them.

Books for Boredom
Ms. Schmidt, Grades 6-8, Wisconsin

Request:

• A Kid's Guide to Latino History
• Women Who Dared: 52 Stories of Fearless Daredevils, Adventurers, and Rebels
• Matilda, Bridge to Terabithia, and Where the Red Fern Grows

"One student doesn't seem like much, but one student matters. At school, [this student] is a voracious reader who chews through books like no tomorrow; however, since the COVID-19 pandemic began, she doesn't have access to books.

For her, books are like air filling her with life, escape, and freedom. For this young lady, the library is a limited option. They have no way of getting to the library as their only vehicle is utilized by her father to get to and from work.

I believe that by helping to grow this young lady's library, that she will continue to grow in her academic skills as well as her English Language Skills. She has a younger sister that I know she reads to, so these books would serve the entire family.

Please help me to give this young lady the library that she has always dreamed of having in her house."

Coping Using Copic Markers
Mr. Tsukuda, Grades 9-12, New York

Request: Copic Ciao Double Ended Marker Set

"Many of our students have been under a tremendous amount of stress during this pandemic, but one particular student has suffered multiple losses since the Spring. He loves art and finds it therapeutic. This set of Copic markers will be delivered directly to his home so that he can release some anxiety and express his creativity through his drawings. Scores of anime, manga, and comics artists as well as landscape, product, architecture, and fashion designers prefer Copic markers because of their ultra-blendable, low odor, alcohol based inks. I know my student will enjoy experimenting and creating with these markers."

And an extra gold star for this project, because aren’t we all that one student?

Supplies for Middle Schoolers
Ms. Katy, Grades 6-8, California

Request: Help me give my students notebooks, pencils, pens, markers, crayons and squishies (and one student an alarm clock so they don't miss class!)

As you’re considering delivery options, remember this materials ownership tip: if your project explicitly states that materials are to be given to the students to use and own (such as take-home books, Warmth, Care & Hunger supplies, or other consumables), you don’t have to worry about collecting back the materials at the end of the school year. Your students can keep them!

Check out our new Coronavirus landing page for all the ways DonorsChoose is adjusting to meet the needs of teachers and students during this unusual year, including more info on flexible shipping options.

Although words such as “remote learning” and “distance learning” have dominated our conversations this school year, the heart of every classroom is still the connection between a teacher and their students. With the right tools and resources, that connection can remain infinitely stronger than the wifi networks powering your virtual classroom.

Over 400 teachers from the DonorsChoose community shared their feedback and tips for the most popular programs enabling their students to learn from home. Here’s what teachers across the country had to say about BrainPop:

What is BrainPOP?

“BrainPop is a virtual library designed to assist teachers in exposing students to content in all subject areas: science, social studies, mathematics, health, and so much more. BrainPop provides teachers with quizzes and additional activities that engage students and are motivating. BrainPop is a mini movie theatre that your students will constantly ask to visit!” – Ms. Pearson, 1st Grade

Is BrainPOP a good fit for my classroom? 

Teachers largely recommend BrainPOP for Kindergarten - 8th Grade students, though high school teachers note it can be a great review tool and early education teachers recommend BrainPOP Jr.!

What do teachers think of BrainPOP?

“I absolutely love using Brainpop as a way to introduce a topic or at the start of a unit. The students get excited when they hear the “Beep Beep” sound that Moby makes when I start a video. The program also comes with many extras such as a short quiz, worksheets, etc. I use it as a whole group tool most of the time, but in this time of distance learning, it also allows you to use BrainPOP as an assignment. ” – Mr. Starken, 9th grade

“The content is up to date and the resources are phenomenal, which include professional development and lesson plans.” – Mrs. Stoufer, 3rd Grade

“Depending on what we are learning about we may check in with Moby on BrainPOP or BrainPOP Jr. They put subjects in plain and easy to understand terms.” – Mr. French, 2nd/3rd Grade

But will my students like BrainPOP?

“My students see Moby the Robot as their friend and love the funny jokes between the little girl and him. My students love the BrainPOP music and dance along with it when it begins the videos.” – Mrs. Charleston, 1st Grade

“My kids love BrainPop! Often when I go to play a video my students have already found it on their own and watched it prior to a lesson.” – Ms. Geddes, 4th-6th Grades

BrainPOP Tips and Tricks

“Make sure to explore all the different categories. There is so much available if you take your time.” – Mr. French, 2nd/3rd Grade

“Text is read aloud to facilitate comprehension and closed captioning is available!” – Mrs. Charleston, 1st Grade

“There are layers of information. I highly suggest doing the professional development always being offered.” – Mrs. Stoufer, 3rd Grade

“I just learned of a feature that allows students to create their own videos. They love it and I use the videos to assess their understanding.” – Ms. Ghusein, Grades 4-8

BrainPOP Cost and Subscriptions

You can get a basic BrainPOP subscription without having to reach into your own pocket. BrainPOP is available on DonorsChoose through our vendor AKJ Education. Get started on a project today.

Other remote learning resources you may find helpful:

• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with Breakout Edu
• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with Flocabulary
• DonorsChoose Teachers Review Remote Learning with Nearpod

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You know what your students need, especially during this time of remote learning. The DonorsChoose community is here to help you get it. 3 out of 4 schools in the U.S. have a public school teacher who’s used DonorsChoose - that’s over 1.8 million classroom project requests funded. Yours could be next. Start your project today.

Welcome back, teachers! We hope the renewed energy you’re feeling now carries you well into 2021.

While you’ve got the post-holiday boost, here’s what you can do right now to set up yourself (and your fellow teachers!) for the most seamless spring possible.

For Returning DonorsChoose Teachers: Refer a fellow teacher

Collaboration and idea-sharing will get all teachers across the finish line of this school year. Share your DonorsChoose successes with a fellow teacher and help them get started on their own request. When they create their first project on DonorsChoose, you’ll have unlocked two guaranteed donations — a $50 jumpstart for them, and a $25 credit to apply toward your own projects.

Sharing is caring! Here are 3 easy ways to share DonorsChoose at your school:

• Send a link to the completed project that had the biggest impact in your classroom along with a short explanation of its success. (Your thank-you note to donors works perfectly for this!)
• Share an idea from another teacher that inspires you – maybe one of these projects for teaching civics or bringing social-emotional learning to the classroom?
• Ask what one item would make the biggest difference for their students. Now that the wheels are turning, offer to show them how to make their classroom wish a reality!

For First-Time DonorsChoose Teachers: Post your dream project

During the month of January, we’re extending our warmest winter welcome of all — a $50 kickoff donation applied to your first-ever project plus a Teacher Friends & Family Code that will double all subsequent donations up until 7 days after your project is approved.

You know your students’ needs and motivators best, but if you need a brainstorming partner, a few experienced DonorsChoose teachers have volunteered their best project ideas for this unconventional school year:

• What teachers need for remote learning at every grade level
• Five things you can use for your students whether your school is in-person or remote
• Ideas to prepare for your classroom to go virtual

Inspired? Start your first project now!

And finally, a few back-from-break reminders for all teachers:

Projects are getting funded faster than ever. 

Generous donors are flocking to the site to support teachers like you. Now is the perfect time to post a request and help a colleague post one, too!

Shipping is flexible. 

Whether you’re teaching from home or from your classroom, your supplies can be sent right where you need them.

Your fellow teachers want to help. 

For first-time advice or pro tips, the DonorsChoose teacher community has your back.

Whether you’re drafting your first or your fifteenth project, posting a request now will pay off in a big way — for everyone!

At DonorsChoose, US public school teachers across the country request resources to help their students learn, and donors and partners give to the projects that inspire them. As the most trusted crowdfunding platform for teachers, donors, and district administrators alike, DonorsChoose vets each request, ships the funded resources directly to the teacher, and provides thank-yous and reporting to donors and school leaders.

Every day, district administrators work hard behind the scenes to help bring learning to life. Our Advocacy and Public Partnerships team works closely with these administrators to help them reach their goals for teachers and students alike. Beyond partnering with education associations like AASA, NSBA, and CoSN, we also partner with 100+ school districts through our free District Partnership Program.

We team up with districts to do even more

The District Partnership Program is designed for district leaders who want to leverage DonorsChoose as an intentional part of their fundraising program. Since the launch last fall, DPP districts have received nearly $37 million in donations to project requests, reaching over 6 million students.

Innovative districts of all sizes have joined the program, from Howard-Suamico School District serving 6,103 students, to our most recent 100th member NYCDOE, the nation’s largest public school district serving more than 1 million students. Many administrators encourage teachers to request resources through DonorsChoose in line with district-wide initiatives, like 1:1 technology or college readiness.This free program provides the following benefits to district leaders:

• A customized fundraising landing page
• Central office reporting
• First notification of funding opportunities
• Annual report for district leaders
• and more!

In total, more than 6.1 million of the students we reach benefit from this enhanced support through our District Partnership Program. Learn more about how we partner with public school districts across the country.

In-store point of sale (POS) fundraising campaigns have been a mainstay of corporate social responsibility for decades. These campaigns are traditionally the domain of big box retailers that have the technical capacity to build a donation request function in their POS systems, at a national scale. Yet, when customers give a dollar or round up their purchase and donate the change, they see no impact beyond a line item on their receipt and have no idea where or how their donation will be used.

Meanwhile, small local businesses like cafes, salons, and independent specialty shops—which constantly seek ways to connect with their surrounding communities—are left with ineffective options like coin jars or complicated fundraising nights. Even when these collections are effective, owners have to spend time tabulating dimes and quarters, writing checks, and mailing funding to the nonprofit they support.

Democratizing Point of Sale Fundraising with Clover

DonorsChoose, Clover, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation identified an opportunity to democratize POS fundraising and empower small businesses across the country to easily and directly support their local communities. 

DonorsChoose is the most trusted nonprofit crowdfunding platform for giving to public schools across the country. Teachers request resources for their classrooms, and donors, companies, and foundation partners support those requests. Clover designs and builds POS devices that makes accepting payments simple and easy for small business owners.

We worked with the team at Clover to launch Round Up for Schools, a free Clover app that gives customers the chance to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar, in support of a DonorsChoose project from a teacher at a nearby school. To help us kick off the campaign and generate excitement among merchants, the Gates Foundation doubled every round up.

Round Up for Schools Inspired $107,294 Towards Learning Requests In the First Year

Primarily, our teams were interested to see whether this type of turnkey, hyperlocal philanthropic engagement would be compelling for small businesses in both the long and short term.

We launched the app on July 15, 2019, and here are our results from the first 12 months:

• 2,256 merchants downloaded Round Up for Schools
• 716 merchants collected at least 1 donation through Round Up for Schools
• $53,647.04 in total was raised through Round Up for Schools, which, in combination with the Gates match, led to $107,294.08 total applied to learning project requests

Giving Trends and Motivations Vary by Industry

Overall, the food services industry was the most valuable industry for round ups; 45% of merchants were of this industry, but it provided 53% of round ups. These businesses have a high number of daily transactions, giving staff ample opportunity to ask customers to round up.

Interestingly, clothing & community retailers showed higher than average donation rates (though fewer total transactions). Our hunch is that these types of businesses offer an ideal setting for pitching a round up. At these merchants, an ask to round up doesn’t compete with a potential tip. These retailers tend to have a more relaxed, slower paced environment than food services, giving customers more time to talk with a store owner or associate who can strongly advocate for DonorsChoose prior to checking out.

We spoke to the merchants who were most successful at fundraising using the app. These business owners tended to care about supporting their community, local schools, or education more broadly. Many of them trained their staff on how to engage with customers about making a donation and almost all even tapped the donation screen on the customer's behalf to make it a customary part of their checkout process.

We also uncovered a spectrum of motivations for using the app. The majority of merchants we spoke to shared their altruistic reasons for running Round Up for Schools, while others used it as a hook to get community members in the door.

COVID Impact Rippled to Round Up for Schools

Small businesses have been hit especially hard during the COVID-19 crisis, and that impact was felt in Round Up for School donations as well. Donations dropped sharply in March when the pandemic hit, but — optimistically — they have not stopped completely. Donations and merchant participation were lowest in April, but slowly and surely increased each subsequent month.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on the Round Up for Schools app as areas begin to reopen so that we can see how small businesses are tapping into local giving as a way to build trust and support from their communities.

Questions We’re Still Exploring

Looking forward, we have many curiosities to unpack. We're interested if the average merchant lifetime is impacted more by the pandemic or if it's common for our small businesses to want to run short fundraising campaigns instead of fundraising year-round. 

We’re also currently running an A/B test for the merchants who are still using Round Up for Schools, asking the question of how merchant and customer engagement is impacted when a customer is given the option of leaving a different donation amount. Instead of simply being asked to round up, donors will be given a range of donation amounts. We’re excited to see if this product change will increase donation rates and amounts.

Research shows that teachers know financial literacy is an essential skill but may not know how to bring those lessons to students. To address this issue, Charles Schwab Foundation teamed up with DonorsChoose to inspire and uncover teachers’ best-in-class ideas for helping their students strengthen their financial literacy skills.

We called on teachers across the country to submit their best ideas for introducing these key concepts to students, and financial literacy experts chose the most innovative projects. We asked the public to vote for their favorite project, and the winning teacher, Ms. Bains, won $1,000.

Check out lesson plans for your class from our finalists below!

Finalists & Project Curriculum

Congratulations to Ms. Bains, winner of our public voting!

Entrepreneurs in the Making

Ms. Bains | Grades PreK–2 | Sacramento, CA | Lesson Plan

Ms. Baines is helping her kindergartners build an even brighter future by providing a strong foundation in basic financial literacy principles.

Congratulations to our other finalists below!

💻 indicates that this lesson plan contains a distance learning adaptation!

Making Sense of Money And Becoming Financially Responsible

Ms. Trochez MacLean | Grades PreK–2 | Los Angeles, CA | Lesson Plan  💻

Ms. Trochez MacLean is helping her students develop coin recognition, understand the importance of saving, learn how to determine the values of different coin combinations, and grasp the difference between wants and needs.

Roller Coasters + Rube Goldberg = Financial Literacy!

Mrs. Martel | Grades PreK–2 | Toccoa, GA | Lesson Plan

Mrs. Martel is engaging her students in a combination of science and financial literacy as they budget for, plan, and will ultimately build model roller coasters in class.

Teaching Money Skills and Inspiring Kindness

Ms. R. | Grades PreK–2 | Tucson, AZ | Lesson Plan

Guided by the belief that children often learn best by following the examples of others, Ms. R. will create math and financial literacy lessons based on engaging books with characters who use money to help others and promote kindness.

Classroom Transformation: Classroom Economy!

Ms. Witherell | Grades 3-5 | Greenfield, MA | Lesson Plan

Ms. Witherell wants to turn her classroom into an economic learning center with several stations for students to work on financial literacy. At the end of each activity, the class will debrief together on what they learn from each station, how they were able to save money, and the economic challenges they faced.

Entrepreneurial Skills With Osmo Pizza Co.

Mrs. Brown | Grades 3-5 | Van Buren, AR | Lesson Plan  💻

Mrs. Brown will use her Osmo Pizza kit to teach her students real-world math, financial literacy concepts, and emotional intelligence.

Sustainable Financing

Dr. Robinson | Grades 3-5 | Raleigh, NC | Lesson Plan  

Dr. Robinson will engage her students in developing a business plan for creating sustainable products in class, which they’ll then learn how to market. Their proceeds will ultimately go to support real-life international micro-loans students will help select through the nonprofit KIVA!

Creating a Mini Classroom Economy

Ms. Posluszny | Grades 6-8 | Union City, NJ | Lesson Plan  💻

Ms. Posluszny is bringing real-world scenarios into her classroom, such as, performing jobs to earn (pretend) money to help her students experience first hand the impact of their decisions to save, spend, and budget.

Tales from the Crypto (Currency) Keeper

Mrs. Novicky | Grades 9-12 | Akron, OH | Lesson Plan  💻

Mrs. Novicky's students will experience how blockchain and cryptocurrency work through the development of a token economy, where students will create a cryptocurrency, and then utilize that cryptocurrency in class to manufacture product, ultimately demonstrating cryptocurrency's roll in the transfer of goods.

The Big Deal Behind the New Deal!

Mr. Barbosa | Grades 9-12 | Mission, TX | Lesson Plan  💻

Mr. Barbosa and his students will explore the different ways the New Deal provided for improvements and infrastructure in our National Parks and how the New Deal attempted to address and provide for the different budgetary needs of individuals during the Great Depression.

Thank you to these teachers for their inventive ideas and lesson plans! Inspired to create your own financial literacy project? Get started.

Between learning multiplication, prepping for the SATs, Zoom classrooms, and more, there’s a lot on students’ minds this year; the upcoming election is no exception! Because of the national energy and attention put on civic engagement during the presidential election season, teachers have a rich opportunity to help students learn to use their voices — now, and once they’re able to vote.

To help teachers get the tools they need to impart these essential life lessons to their students, we’ve partnered with an anonymous Classroom Supporter to provide teachers with resources, funding, and opportunities to drive civic engagement among students this fall. From registering your high school seniors to vote to running a mock election with your 4th graders, you can empower students to have a say now and in the future.

As part of this initiative, we’ve also partnered with When We All Vote, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, to provide teachers with resources and guidance to get their school community registered and ready to vote in November.

Submit Your Most Innovative Ideas for a 2X Match Offer and a Chance to Win

While funds last, donations to qualifying projects that engage students in civic action will be doubled. At the end of the challenge, a panel of judges will select the top 5 projects to receive $5,000 in DonorsChoose classroom funding.

Check out our help center for full details on how to qualify, along with the challenge rubric our judges will use to select the winning projects, and project examples to kick off your brainstorm.

Get started

Register High Schoolers to Vote and Earn DonorsChoose Funding

When We All Vote is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to increasing participation in every election and closing the race and age voting gap. To help make sure high school students are registered to vote in November, high school teachers are invited to participate in the When We All Vote Classroom Rewards opportunity. 

If you’re a high school teacher, when you register to create a My School Votes team, you’ll earn $50 for your classroom in DonorsChoose credits. When you then attend a virtual My School Votes Welcome Call hosted by When We All Vote, you’ll receive an additional $100 in DonorsChoose credits.

Learn more

Resources to Get You Started

Looking for some inspiration? We’ve put together a set of resources to help you bring civic engagement to your students and to your school community.

Teaching For Democracy Alliance

Find lesson plans and teaching resources to guide and inspire your curriculum for teaching about democracy and the election. 

Kickstart Action Civics

Participate in this free, 3 hour professional development course provided by Generation Citizen to help you get ready to engage your students in civics.

Host a Voter Registration Event During When We All Vote’s Week of Action

Rally your high school around voter registration throughout September 21–25 (or any days before the voter registration deadline in our state). Voter Registration events can be as simple as sharing this voter registration link in all senior classrooms!

Create Your Own Voter Registration Page 

With the tool “Register Together” created by When We All Vote, you can generate a personal voter registration page. The page tracks how many people you’ve registered to vote and gives you the opportunity to share why voting is important to you.

Help Students Under 18 Prepare to Vote 

Through Vote.org, students under 18 can pledge to register to vote. They’ll provide a cell number and their birthday, and will receive a text message on their 18th birthday to help register them to vote.

Voting and COVID-19 Information 

Vote.org’s state-by-state guide for how COVID-19 has affected voting. Find your state to share the information with your school community!

The 2020–2021 school year will look like none other, and every student will have a unique experience due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Millions of students will or are already conducting distance learning, and how the rest of the year unfolds is still up in the air. But student athletes and coaches alike are determined to keep school sports — and the valuable lessons they impart — alive, no matter where students are learning from.

To get better insight into what teachers are anticipating and the resources they’ll need, we partnered with DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation to survey coaches within the DonorsChoose community. We asked 400 high school, middle school, and elementary school teachers who serve as coaches and athletic directors to share their thoughts with us.

Here’s what we learned.

Coaches anticipate a decrease in student athlete engagement

Half of respondents are unsure if they will be able to coach or train their teams at all, and 73% are concerned about students’ interest in joining sports teams.

For coaches and students planning to continue with sports this year, uncertainty about the season is weighing heavy on their minds. Coaches, many of whom expect to be training at least partially remotely, are additionally concerned about whether or not remote training will engage student athletes.

“Sports matter! Please don’t allow this crisis to take away sports!” —Middle School Athletic Coach

Individualized training tools are a top need, especially when coaching remotely

Most teachers (70%) are anticipating a decrease in sports funding, which compounds safety concerns about shared equipment and student access to training tools. Teachers shared their top concerns for coaching remotely:

For teachers who anticipate training in person, they’re most concerned about the ability to social distance, the safety of shared training equipment, and a lack of sanitation supplies.

“My school is a low income/Title- 1 school. We reuse our resources year after year and make sure students who make our dance team don't pay a dime. They have been reusing the same uniforms, duffle bags, pom poms, costumes, etc for several years (decades?!). There are no protocols for sanitation and we could really use new resources.” —High School Athletic Coach

When thinking about resources they would likely request through DonorsChoose, both groups listed individualized training equipment and sanitization items as their top needs.

Coaches are hungry for resources and professional development

A majority of respondents (67%) who anticipate remote engagement are interested in professional development about how to train and support sports teams.

Respondents would like to see professional development content about...

• Player safety
• Individualized athlete training/socially distanced training
• How to create and record remote training videos
• Staying connected to team while social distancing, how to be a team while apart

No matter what this school year brings for teachers, coaches, and student athletes, our community is dedicated to helping students thrive. Support a sports project today.