For a generation of students, the DonorsChoose community has helped level the playing field with one simple idea: If teachers can share what their students need, people will jump in and help. Together, we've filled schools with $1.7 billion in vital supplies.
Our community believes in teachers and kids. They cannot do this work alone, and we’ll continue to empower and celebrate them, especially in the communities that need it most.
Every day, we move closer to a world where every student has the resources they need to thrive. Here are some of the heartwarming, life-changing moments our community of teachers, supporters, staff, and collaborators have created.
2000: DonorsChoose launched in the Bronx by teacher Charles Best
Charles Best, a young history and English teacher in the Bronx, spent much of his modest teacher’s salary on school supplies. Discouraged by the lack of funding his school had access to (and frustrated by his 5am trips to Staples to photocopy pages of classic novels for his students), he started a nonprofit website to connect people with teachers in need. He and his colleagues posted the first 11 projects, sparking a movement to support public school classrooms, one donation at a time. It was crowdfunding before crowdfunding was even a word!
2007: DonorsChoose goes national
After a successful launch in New York, teachers in other states started posting their own projects too! DonorsChoose officially opened for all 50 and Washington, D.C. in 2007. Since then, teachers from almost 90% of public schools across America have requested resources through DonorsChoose.
2008: The first big award
In 2008 the DonorsChoose community received their first major award: an Engage for Good Halo Award for a partnership with Crate & Barrel. Since then, the organization has received a whopping 15 Halo Awards, as well as Shorty Awards and awards from Ragan Communications, PR Daily, Webby, and more.
2010: DonorsChoose Featured on Oprah’s “Favorite Things”
Does it get any more iconic than Oprah’s Favorite Things? Founder Charles Best appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to share the mission of DonorsChoose. Viewers from all over the world rushed to the website in droves — so many, in fact, that the DonorsChoose site crashed under the demand. This moment introduced countless new donors to the power of funding classrooms.
2011: Disaster Relief Work Begins
In May 2011, a catastrophic tornado struck Joplin, Missouri, causing severe damage to the city's schools. In response, DonorsChoose launched its first disaster recovery initiative, enabling donors nationwide to provide affected classrooms with supplies. This marked the beginning of an ongoing commitment to help teachers and students recover after natural disasters. In the years since, DonorsChoose has mobilized support for schools impacted by events such as hurricanes, floods, and fires, including the 2025 California wildfires.
2012: DonorsChoose Helps Launch GivingTuesday
In 2012, DonorsChoose joined other nonprofits as a founding partner of GivingTuesday, a global movement encouraging charitable giving following Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Every year since, the DonorsChoose community has celebrated GivingTuesday with a wave of donations for classrooms nationwide.
2013: Inaugural Partner Summit
DonorsChoose hosted its first Partner Summit in 2013, bringing together corporate and foundation partners to discuss strategies for enhancing support for public school classrooms. This event fostered collaboration and innovation, leading to increased resources for teachers and students. Partner Summit has become an annual tradition, with surprises, celebrations, and guest speakers. Treasured partners such as Google.org, Chevron, and PNC have attended over the years.
2014: Recognized Among Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies
In 2014, Fast Company honored DonorsChoose as one of its "50 Most Innovative Companies", marking the second time the organization received this accolade. This time, founder Charles Best graced the magazine's cover, highlighting the organization's pioneering approach to educational crowdfunding.
2015: Teacher Joins Board of Directors
In 2015, Genein Letford became the first teacher appointed to the DonorsChoose Board of Directors, bringing an educator's perspective to the organization's leadership. Since then, DonorsChoose has consistently had multiple teachers on the Board, ensuring that the voices of those directly involved in classrooms guide the organization's direction.
2015: “Think It Up” National TV Fundraiser
DonorsChoose partnered with the Entertainment Industry Foundation to launch "Think It Up," a national television fundraiser aimed at supporting student-powered, teacher-led learning projects. The event featured celebrities like Justin Bieber, Kacey Musgraves, and Big Sean, generating widespread attention and inspiring viewers to get involved.
2015: Named Among Best Nonprofits to Work For
In 2015, DonorsChoose made its first of many appearances on the Nonprofit Times' "Best Nonprofits to Work For" list, reflecting the organization's commitment to supporting teachers, students, and its employees.
2016: Inaugural #BestSchoolDay
The first #BestSchoolDay campaign debuted in 2016, with celebrities and philanthropists flash-funding classroom projects across the country. DonorsChoose Board of Directors member Stephen Colbert announced the day on The Late Show with a group of surprise donors, inspiring thousands of people from every corner of the country to jump in and donate too.
2018: GMA's “Giving My All” Campaign
In 2018, Good Morning America featured DonorsChoose as part of their "Giving My All" campaign, spotlighting teachers' dedication and the needs of their classrooms. The partnership raised both awareness and funds for schools, empowering viewers to support classrooms directly. Since then, Good Morning America has featured DonorsChoose educators many times, showcasing the life-changing power of amazing teachers.
2018: One Millionth Project Funded
In winter 2018, the community funded its one millionth classroom project (woah!), a testament to the trust teachers and supporters have put in DonorsChoose.
2018: The rebrand (New logo unveiled!)
In 2018, DonorsChoose underwent a rebranding, introducing a new logo and visual identity to reflect its evolution. You can usually see this new logo and look all over the site, but right now you’ll actually see the limited edition 25th Anniversary logo!
2018: Ripple Funds Every Project
The third installment of the #BestSchoolDay campaign in 2018 saw a remarkable contribution from Ripple, a cryptocurrency company, which funded every project on DonorsChoose. This unprecedented donation energized individual, everyday donors and also highlighted the potential of corporate and foundation partnerships in addressing educational needs.
2019: Record-Breaking Day of Giving
In August 2019, thanks to one of many generous match offers from the Gates Foundation, DonorsChoose saw an incredible surge in generosity. A whopping 69,356 individual donors gave to classrooms in a single day, making it the largest single day of giving in DonorsChoose history — a record that stands to this day. Match offers continue to drive contributions, with partners like SONIC Drive-In and Craig Newmark Philanthropies funding sitewide matches over the years to drive donations.
2020: Rapid Response to COVID-19
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools across the country to shut their doors, the DonorsChoose team sprang into action. Recognizing the urgent need for distance learning resources and direct-to-teachers shipments, the organization swiftly adapted its model, allowing teachers to request supplies for at-home learning. In just weeks, DonorsChoose raised $11 million for this effort, deploying funds immediately to equip students with books, technology, and other essentials to keep them learning while schools were closed.
2020: $1 Billion Raised for Public School Classrooms
In 2020, DonorsChoose crossed a monumental milestone — $1 billion raised for classroom resources! This achievement represented millions of books, laptops, musical instruments, and hands-on learning tools delivered to schools across the country, all thanks to the generosity of individual donors and corporate partners. You can see the impact by-the-numbers here.
2021: Equity Focus Schools Initiative Launches
In 2021, DonorsChoose introduced a new school category on the site: Equity Focus Schools. By highlighting these schools, DonorsChoose reinforced its commitment to educational equity. This groundbreaking effort helps direct funds to schools that have been historically underfunded due to economic and racial inequities.
2021: Alix Guerrier Becomes CEO
In 2021, Alix Guerrier took the helm as CEO of DonorsChoose, bringing with him a wealth of experience in education, technology, and philanthropy. A former teacher and co-founder of LearnZillion, Guerrier’s leadership signaled a new chapter for the organization, blending innovation and equity-driven initiatives with a deep understanding of educators’ needs.
2025: 25 Years of Supporting Teachers & Students
In 2025, DonorsChoose celebrates its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of empowering teachers and enriching public school classrooms. DonorsChoose and its community of teachers, donors, and collaborators are just getting started.
Learn more about the DonorsChoose story and mission here.
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