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The back-to-school season is well underway — with all of the excitement and energy that comes with it! As students settle into their classrooms, teachers’ plans begin to come into focus. They’re seeing wiggly students who would benefit from a balance ball or wobble stool, planning the books their students are excited to read, and learning who in their class lights up during hands-on science experiments. We’re thrilled to work with school district leaders like you to empower teachers seeking extra resources to help their students thrive.

We’ve also had a busy back-to-school season! Along with our usual work raising support from donors and corporations across the country, we’ve put a renewed focus on listening to you — the district leaders and administrators who make school possible.

To learn more about the unique needs, goals, and challenges of America’s public school administrators, we’ve teamed up with AASA, The Schools Superintendents Association, the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders. We talked to AASA leaders and members, learning about how individual districts can help teachers use DonorsChoose to support district-wide priorities and about the challenges that K–12 crowdfunding poses to administrators.

We’re thrilled to have joined forces on two new resources that we hope will support your district through this school year and beyond.

The Back-to-School Crowdfunding Toolkit for District Leaders

In collaboration with the AASA, we've built a toolkit designed specifically for district leaders as they prepare for the school year ahead. You'll find:

• K–12 crowdfunding best practices
• A breakdown of the controls and transparency measures baked into DonorsChoose and how to take advantage of them
• Case studies of administrators using DonorsChoose to support district priorities

Dive into the Back to School Crowdfunding Toolkit.

Administrative Tools on DonorsChoose for District Leaders

This new resource page provides tools that give you insight into your teachers' use of DonorsChoose, while ensuring they can get the most out of our platform. On this page you can:

• Sign up for free, regular reporting on your teachers DonorsChoose use
• Send us your district technology guidelines so we can direct your teachers to request only district-compatible technology resources
• Access teacher training materials
• Learn about funding opportunities from our corporate and foundation partners that your teachers can leverage

Access the tools you need to get your district set up.

We’re thrilled to work with you to bring your teachers’ classroom dreams to life. If you have any questions about how we can support your district goals and priorities, reach out to ksmiley@donorschoose.org.

With district technology guidelines built into the shopping experience, teachers can ensure they’re requesting technology on DonorsChoose that’s compatible with their district’s IT requirements.

Last school year, teachers created more than 32,000 classroom project requests for technology on DonorsChoose, seeking everything from laptops and tablets to e-readers, projectors, robots and more. While getting technology into the classroom is often the biggest hurdle, ensuring it works seamlessly with the other technology and IT systems at school can be another challenge. Mac or PC? Dell or Lenovo? What about Chromebooks? And tablets?

Many districts need teachers to use specific devices that are compatible with district-wide applications, licenses, and networks. To help teachers, district leaders, and IT administrators align on the right tech for their classrooms, DonorsChoose has introduced a new feature in the teacher shopping experience: district technology guidelines.

District leaders and IT administrators can now submit their technology guidelines to DonorsChoose to incorporate into the teacher project creation process. Once guidelines are uploaded, teachers shopping at technology vendors will see a message with the district’s recommended technology, as well as tech items or brands to avoid. Teachers have the option of clicking over to a more extensive district tech policy to be sure the items they’re requesting comply with district guidelines. Teachers will also see the the district recommendations in their final project cart.

“Every district will be a little different in how they want to handle this,” said Mark Racine, Chief Information Officer of Boston Public Schools. “We try to stay platform-agnostic and love the idea of giving advice as to which devices will be the most successful for teachers in our district.”

“Educators and students benefit from the generous support of outside donors and the opportunity to integrate technology-based tools in the classroom,” said Guadalupe Guerrero, Superintendent of Portland Public Schools. “By clarifying upfront both the relevant district-level policies and system requirements of any hardware or software, new technologies can more seamlessly and effectively be introduced into the school environment to support excellent teaching and learning.”

Jody Brooks, an Atlanta teacher who has had 35 projects funded on DonorsChoose, including many for technology items, will be one of the thousands of teachers who will see these guidelines during the upcoming back-to-school season. She knows first-hand the power of getting the right technology for her students. “When my class gets technology funded, the world opens up and all of the answers to our questions get a little bit closer.”District leaders and IT administrators can submit their technology guidelines via a brief form. The district guidelines feature will only be seen by teachers if their district administrators have submitted their recommendations to DonorsChoose.

‍Are you a district administrator interested in submitting your district’s technology guidelines? Fill out this form, and learn more at www.donorschoose.org/administrators.

With district technology guidelines built into the shopping experience, teachers can ensure they’re requesting technology on DonorsChoose that’s compatible with their district’s IT requirements.

Last school year, teachers created more than 32,000 classroom project requests for technology on DonorsChoose, seeking everything from laptops and tablets to e-readers, projectors, robots and more. While getting technology into the classroom is often the biggest hurdle, ensuring it works seamlessly with the other technology and IT systems at school can be another challenge. Mac or PC? Dell or Lenovo? What about Chromebooks? And tablets? Many districts need teachers to use specific devices that are compatible with district-wide applications, licenses, and networks. To help teachers, district leaders, and IT administrators align on the right tech for their classrooms, DonorsChoose has introduced a new feature in the teacher shopping experience: district technology guidelines. District leaders and IT administrators can now submit their technology guidelines to DonorsChoose to incorporate into the teacher project creation process. Once guidelines are uploaded, teachers shopping at technology vendors will see a message with the district’s recommended technology, as well as tech items or brands to avoid. Teachers have the option of clicking over to a more extensive district tech policy to be sure the items they’re requesting comply with district guidelines. Teachers will also see the the district recommendations in their final project cart. District guidelines are already available on DonorsChoose for teachers in the following districts:

• Atlanta Public Schools (Georgia)
• Barron Area Schools (Wisconsin)
• Boston Public Schools (Massachusetts)
• Elmore County Schools (Alabama)
• Gaston County and Guilford County Schools (North Carolina)
• Mesquite Independent School District (Texas)
• Moore Public Schools and Tulsa Independent School District (Oklahoma)
• Portland Schools (Oregon)
• Seattle Schools (Washington)
• West Ada Schools (Idaho)
• Worcester Public Schools (Massachusetts)

“Every district will be a little different in how they want to handle this,” said Mark Racine, Chief Information Officer of Boston Public Schools. “We try to stay platform-agnostic and love the idea of giving advice as to which devices will be the most successful for teachers in our district.” Educators and students benefit from the generous support of outside donors and the opportunity to integrate technology-based tools in the classroom,” said Guadalupe Guerrero, Superintendent of Portland Public Schools. “By clarifying upfront both the relevant district-level policies and system requirements of any hardware or software, new technologies can more seamlessly and effectively be introduced into the school environment to support excellent teaching and learning.”Jody Brooks, an Atlanta teacher who has had 35 projects funded on DonorsChoose, including many for technology items, will be one of the thousands of teachers who will see these guidelines during the upcoming back-to-school season. She knows first-hand the power of getting the right technology for her students. “When my class gets technology funded, the world opens up and all of the answers to our questions get a little bit closer.”District leaders and IT administrators can submit their technology guidelines via a brief form. The district guidelines feature will only be seen by teachers if their district administrators have submitted their recommendations to DonorsChoose.Are you a district administrator interested in submitting your district’s technology guidelines? Fill out this form, and learn more at www.donorschoose.org/administrators.

You’ve decided to give this DonorsChoose.org thing a whirl and you want to make sure your classroom project will be funded. Here’s everything you need to know about funding your projects and getting your students the resources they need! Since 2001, public school teachers have been posting projects on DonorsChoose.org and telling folks about those projects. They’ve collectively developed and refined the ways they go about this, helping to fund more than one million classroom projects. Now, we’ve distilled all of this success into four essential steps you can take for your project.

1. Post a project for $600 in resources (or less)

When you create a classroom project, you’re online shopping through our site (at places like Amazon, Lakeshore Learning, and more than 15 other vendors) and then writing a couple of paragraphs about your students (so donors get a sense of your classroom). As you create your project, here’s how to set it up for success: Keep your shopping cart total to $600 or less.Teacher Dave Stuart Jr. explains: “Smaller projects are easier to get funded than larger projects.” Keeping your shopping cart below $600 allows you to get those resources to your students on the double. (If you need a lot of materials, don’t worry. You can simply post multiple $600 projects.)Create your project now>>>

2. Send 4 emails

Once you submit your project, it’s time to make sure people know about it. Email is the most effective way to spread the word. However, there’s an email secret that our most successful teachers use: The best email plans have two parts.Part one: Send an individual email to three people who care about you and your students. Let each person know why you thought they might be excited to check out your project. (For example, maybe your mom always supported your dream to be a teacher or your best friend is always asking what you’re up to with your students.) These three emails will jumpstart your project in a huge way. Now for part two: Send a fourth email to 5-10 additional people who care about you and your students. Ask them to spread the word about your project. “I believe most people want to help students and teachers but either don’t know how or have a limited budget,” explains teacher Michelle Ramos. “I always tell them that it’s fine if they can’t contribute. Instead, I ask them to post the link to our project on their social media and many are happy to do so.” (And if they donate, even better.)Just a few ideas for your email list: Your extended family, your running group or book club, that one friend who is amazing with social media, your principal, your students’ parents, your old college buddies, the head of your neighborhood association... the list goes on.

3. Create at least one post for your Facebook page

Let your wider group of acquaintances know about your project. Tell them about your students and give a little preview of the amazing things you're up to. They may be inspired to donate or help spread the word.One terrific moment to post is when you first submit your project. For example, you could start you post with, "I just submitted a request for my students on DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit that helps support public school teachers. Check it out: <<insert project link here>>".

4. Thank every single donor (right away)

When a donor gives to your project, respond with a quick, thoughtful thank-you. This doesn't just get your gratitude endorphins flowing (though it'll do that too). It also helps you fund this project — and maybe even the next one.Your message lets a donor know how much you appreciate their donation. It also implicitly encourages help with any projects you might post in the future. Bonus: Prospective supporters can see that you’re super engaged with your project and are more likely to donate. A solid thank-you note is the crucial final step in any project’s success. These techniques have helped over 400,000 teachers bring materials to their students. Follow all four and your project will be next.“Being a DonorsChoose.org teacher means being part of a whole network of generous people: teachers who share ideas and donors who support projects,” says Dona Helmer. “I am always amazed by the folks who reach out and and are willing to help me and my kids by donating to my projects.”

"Late last night, the crowdfunding website DonorsChoose.org featured more than 35,000 requests from teachers seeking cash — for field trips, computers, musical instruments, and even an incubator for chicks. But when the clock ticked past midnight, those requests vanished. All the teachers’ needs had been answered by a single donor — a company specializing in cryptocurrency."Read the full story on Chronicle of Philanthropy.

What was the book that turned you into a lifelong reader? Teachers have used DonorsChoose to request over 20 million books to help nurture the next generation of bookworms. After this fall’s #FillEveryShelf book match, we got a chance to sit down with an incredibly generous citizen donor, Elsa Brule. Her impact speaks for itself: Over the past 8 years, she’s supported tens of thousands of classroom projects. She’s also a book-lover of the highest order, and she enjoys supporting teachers who are helping students fall in love with reading. We asked her how she picks projects, why reading matters, and about the books she loved as a kid. Happy reading!

What does Elsa look for in a book project?

Elsa starts by looking for titles that kids will recognize as “relevant in their world.” A few of the titles she’s seen students especially engage with include Amulet, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and Baby Mouse. The latter works especially well for students who aren’t yet reading at grade level, she says, because “it's thicker, it looks like a chapter book,” which helps make sure students who haven’t caught up to their peers yet aren’t embarrassed. Elsa also supports projects with non-traditional reading materials, like graphic novels and cookbooks. Why cookbooks? It’s “empowering” for younger kids to learn to make their own food, and “it makes them feel a little bit older, a little more mature.” Kids need to practice reading, and to get them there, “we have to give them things they love to read.” When Elsa looks at a classroom project request, she looks for teachers who can paint a compelling picture of what their classroom is like. She recalls a recent project where the teacher noted that “one student using his mother's purse as a book bag.” And that kind of specific image sticks in the mind. Elsa said she “hardly had to read any more [of the project]. Anything [that teacher] wanted, I wanted to provide.”

What book turned you into a lifetime reader?

A classic children’s novel kicked off Elsa’s lifetime love of reading: The Borrowers Afield by Mary Norton. But it wasn’t love at first sight. Here’s how Elsa describes meeting her first really challenging book: My older sister, who is 9 years older than I, gave them to me as a Christmas gift. She told me that she explained to the clerk that I read well above my years. I was not an advanced reader, but that compliment from my sister was a carrot that was dangling out there. I remember the day I sat down with The Borrowers Afield and I could hardly get through that first page. It took me a while, even as an adult, to truly get into the flow of that book. Again, however, I was determined that I was not going to disappoint her faith in me that I was a good reader, and after I pushed my way through those first two, three, five, six pages, I was engaged with the story and I loved it.

Why is reading so essential?

Teachers go to a lot of trouble to find that magic book that will kick off a student’s love of reading. As Elsa puts it, “Trying to match up the right kid with the right book is a little bit of a game, but if you give them a buffet, they'll choose.” That’s why she believes it’s important to help teachers build out a wide-ranging classroom library, to make sure every student can find the right book. Elsa describes reading as a “lifelong companionship,” and especially essential when “we feel powerless in the face of all the problems of the world.” She points out that reading provides each child “a resource within themselves,” and she articulates a feeling that will be familiar to all of us book lovers: “You'll never be lonely, you'll always have that comfort of a good book.”Thank you Elsa for helping so many students find the magic in a great book!Want to channel Elsa and see all of the ideas teachers have for life-changing book projects?

See All Book Projects

Project cost is the #1 factor that determines whether a teacher's project will succeed on DonorsChoose. If you keep the cost of items in your cart to less than $500, your project is more likely to receive full funding. (Check out the breakdown of success rates here.)"But Emilia!" you say. "Keeping cost down is easier said than done."You're right—but fear not! Here's a 1-minute rundown of the easiest ways to keep your dollars-needed low without sacrificing the materials your students need.

For more ideas, check out these awesome project cost hacks from fellow teachers. Amazing animation by Lynn Overmyer.

Social media is a many-headed beast. Though the sheer amount of noise on social can make it difficult to navigate, it also affords great advantages and advice when you need a hand. Here are a few ways to use social media efficiently and effectively. Leverage that beast!

Connect with other teachers

Social media is a great place to get classroom and project ideas. “On Facebook, we will usually just exchange ideas like, ‘Have you tried this?’ or, 'I have this student that has this particular difficulty,' and then people will share resources that they’re trying with own students,” explains teacher Rosey Hernandez.The conversational nature of Twitter makes it great for exchanging ideas, and many Facebook communities for teachers have sprung up as well. (If you’re looking for project ideas or support, the DonorsChoose.org Teacher Facebook Community is one place to go.)

Pro Tip: “Edchats” are scheduled frequently on Twitter for teachers to touch base. Here’s a list of chats coming up soon.

Reach your project goal

Many teachers with funded projects have reached their project goal using social media. Here at DonorsChoose.org, we see the most donations come in through teacher's Facebook pages above all other social media platforms.

Pro Tip: Fundraising through social media is most effective when used in tandem with email. Send 3-5 emails to make personal requests from your most ardent supporters. Your Facebook post then serves as a follow-up reminder to those supporters and let’s others know you have a project up.

Join a campaign

Several times a year, we run social media campaigns to spread the word about the site, encourage new donors to help, and remind repeat donors to give. Some of these are predictable (like #TeacherAppreciationWeek in spring and #GivingTuesday around the holidays) while others are a surprise (think #BestSchoolDay). These campaigns serve as perfect moments to tell folks what’s happening in your classroom and even link to your current projects. Ultimately, the more people are aware of educational inequity and the amazing enrichment activities teachers execute, the more willing they are to help.

Pro Tip:Hashtags are a helpful tool even where there’s no campaign running. For example, if you have a STEM project up on the site, add #STEM to the end of your post to get it in front of folks who know STEM is important in the classroom.

Show impact & say thanks

When we survey donors, they tell us they give to DonorsChoose.org because they can see exactly where their money is going. The same is true for those donors you know. Once you have your materials, post a few times about the exciting things you and your students are doing. Are they enjoying reading time on that new rug? Is that new iPad coming in handy?  Instagram is a great platform for sharing these photos, but Twitter and Facebook also work—anywhere your supporters can see your project in action.“I have repeat donors that I’ve never ever met,” says Amani Abuhabsah. “So making the impact felt on your Facebook wall, on your Twitter—and even via email if that’s the only way to get in touch—is important."Really, there’s no wrong way to say “thanks”.

Pro Tip: Tag your supporters when sharing photos of your completed project. Even the corporations and foundations who provide match offers love to see the impact they’ve had. (Have a question about a partnership or match offer? Our contact form will get you the speediest possible response.)

How do you use social media as a teacher? Let us know in comments.

You know what your students need and you're determined to bring those resources into your classroom. Sounds like you're ready to submit a DonorsChoose request! But how can you be sure it'll get funded? Below are the three essential steps to give your request a leg up... before you create your project, while you're in the process, and after you hit "submit".

1. Before you post:

‍Funding is a collaboration between teachers and our team. We raise just over half the funds on our site from our corporate and foundation partners; you let your own network know about your request. Before you create your project, check in with us to see what funds may be available for you. Most often, this funding comes in the form of match offers—when every donation you receive is doubled. We keep this handy list of funding opportunities for you, including all of the guidelines to make sure your request qualifies.

2. While you post:

‍You've checked the funding opportunities and started creating your project. Now it's time to shop for your students! During this process, it's important to keep your project cost low. For example, a project under $600 is more likely to be fully funded than a project for $2000. But how do you keep your total down when you really need those resources? Here are some teacher-tested tips:

a. Focus on the big stuff

If you need a "big ticket" item, only request that item. Need an iPad? A classroom rug? A SMART board? Make sure it's the only item in your cart. If you need other resources, create a second project for those.

b. Shop around.

Before you commit to one vendor for an item, peruse a couple of others to compare prices. Not sure where to look? Check out this guide to commonly requested items and where to find them.

c. Break your project up.

If you're creating a project with lots of "smaller" items, divide the items from that one big project into three smaller projects. For example, you may need to fill your empty classroom with leveled readers and engaging picture books. Instead of creating one $1200 project, divide the books up and create two $600 projects. The projects will have a higher likelihood of success and you'll give three happy donors—instead of just one—the chance to finish off your request. Many donors love making that final donation on a project. They tell us there's nothing quite like it!

3. After you post:

‍Reach out to friends, family, and others who care about you, your school, and students. First, send an email with your project link to five people who would be keen to get a glimpse into your classroom. (For more on email, check out this post.) Then, create a post about your project for your Facebook page. Email and social media are the perfect combination for advocating for your classroom!

Additional research by Claire Sampson

Not sure how to get your new project funded? Have an older request that needs a boost? When your project receives a few initial donations, it increases the likelihood that donors you’ve never met will find and support your classroom. Here’s everything you need to know to get your project off the ground. Presenting... the 60-Minute Project Power-Up!

Your #1 Tool (30 Minutes)

“If there’s people you think would be interested in donating, just send them an email,” says Ohio teacher Lisa Frank. Many of our most successful users agree: Nothing beats a personalized ask. Take 30 minutes to send individual emails to the four people you think would be most game to contribute to your classroom. Reach out to friends, family, local businesses, or other folks who care about your students.  (Don't forget to include your teacher page link!)

The Jelly to Your Peanut Butter (15 Minutes)

The chips to your fish! The Garfunkel to your Simon! When you use social media alone, your posts can get lost in the black hole of the internet — but when you use it in combination with email, social media can work wonders. Put your teacher page link in your social media profiles and email signatures. Then, create a special Facebook post about your project. Friends may be inspired to donate or help spread the word.“Definitely endorse yourself on social media,” says Illinois educator Amani Abuhabsah. It’s the easiest way to keep potential donors in-the-know about your project, and it only takes 15 minutes.

The Resource You Didn’t Know You Had (15 Minutes)

With your final 15 minutes, print your ready-to-use, personalized flyers and business cards. You can send them home with your students, post one at the local coffee shop, and have a stack for school events. Put a few business cards in your wallet for when an opportune moment arises!“When I’m in conversation with someone, I’m like, ‘Oh hey, did you see my project?’” says Virginia teacher Katherine Kirdahi. Your natural excitement about your students and classroom will shine through and inspire curiosity about your request.

Want to become an expert? Dive deeper into email fundraising

Between them, these amazing educators have created more than 500 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 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 Up‍

Mr. Stuart

I wish I'd known that smaller projects are easier to get funded than larger projects. At first, I was asking for everything I would want for a given activity or unit — say, all 40 books that I needed — and some projects weren't getting funded. But then I started breaking projects down — say, into four separate ten-book projects — which increased the frequency with which I ultimately received the materials I needed.Breaking up projects is important because I think donors feel that their contribution is most likely to result in a funded project when there's less money left to go. This is challenging for teachers because what we really need is the 100 books for our classroom library or the entire set-up of science lab equipment or what-have-you, and breaking up a request can feel clunky or inefficient. But my one piece of advice would be to figure out how to break your biggest-vision classroom needs down into $100–$200 projects. Whenever my projects have under $100 remaining, they are almost always completed by generous strangers.

(Dave writes about teaching at DaveStuartJr.com.)

Shop Around‍

Ms. Gionti

When shopping for your project, it can be easy to go overboard; there are lots of things we need and can use in our classrooms. While limiting the number of items in your virtual shopping cart can help your proposal get funded, so can comparison shopping. Shop around for classroom items (especially big-ticket items) just as you would for a major personal purchase. If you search for low prices, your total project cost will be lower — and proposals that are under $600 are most likely to get funded. At first, comparison shopping through the online vendors is a bit daunting —so many choices! Although it might seem easier to stick with the vendors you're familiar with, don't be afraid to branch out and explore others. For example, even though I regularly shop on Amazon (and they have amazing prices), sometimes the books I'm requesting for my class can be found cheaper through AKJ Books. You don't need to check out every vendor all at once (although you may want to eventually), but do check out a few different ones when filling your cart.

Feel the Love

‍Mr. Andy

Before I created my first project, I wish I had known how willing my family and friends were to help my students. I did not turn on Facebook notifications at first, but — luckily — a company was willing to help fund my request. Since that first project, you wouldn't believe how many people (some of whom I haven't spoken to in a long time) were willing to support my classroom. DonorsChoose helped me connect with old friends.

I also wished I had known how willing some parents were to help. I only started asking parents when I was in my second year of being a DonorsChoose.org teacher. I always felt that families who have kids that attend public school shouldn't be pressured to contribute money. However, many parents are proactive in their children's education and, if they can't afford to help, will spread the message along.

Write It Down

‍Ms. Baugher

I wish I'd known how to articulate the ways that ordinary classroom supplies impact student outcomes and achievement. I was overwhelmed with excitement when I first learned about DonorsChoose, thinking about all the supplies I wished I could get for my classroom. But when I started creating my first project, I ran into trouble articulating why my request was important: My first-graders need Play-Doh for rainy-day recess, but will donors really understand why it's a priority? Scene-by-scene story cards will help strengthen reading comprehension, but what if donors think it's just an unnecessary game? Putting the impact of ordinary classroom supplies into words took me awhile to master, but I've now received a total of over $6,000 worth of supplies through DonorsChoose.To write about my project, I start by imagining a perfect day in my classroom: what are students doing? What are they learning? And finally, what are the resources and supplies that get them there? The answer to this final question serves as the beginning of the written portion of my project. Once I've written about the supplies I need, I address the other questions I asked myself, explaining how these resources will contribute my vision for my students.Now that I organize my thought process in this way, I can explain, for example, how whiteboard markers facilitate phonics development, which is critical for my students' success in first grade and in life.

Click on any of the teachers' names above to get inspired by their wonderful projects... or create your own!

You go above and beyond for your students. That’s why you landed here in the first place. However, getting others excited about your classroom projects can be a challenge, whether you're time-strapped and nervous or enthusiastic and looking to branch out. Fortunately, there are so many ways to share your DonorsChoose projects that you can advocate for your students in a way that works for you. Which tools are a good fit? Answer the flowchart questions, then scroll down to get your strategies.

Didn’t find the perfect fit? Pick and choose from the ideas above to create your own personal strategy and push your project across the finish line. Ready to begin? Get started with these helpful links: Seize current Funding OpportunitiesCustomize your teacher page and URLShake your fist at the skyRead more about sharing your DonorsChoose.org projects