The return of back-to-school season means the #ClearTheList movement is back in full force. Tapping the power of social media and the kindness of strangers, teachers promote their classroom needs using the hashtag #ClearTheList on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and generous education supporters help them get the supplies they need most.
At DonorsChoose, our community of over 5 million donors and corporate and foundation partners helps public school teachers #ClearTheList all year round! Last school year, they funded over 343,000 teacher requests totaling $183 million.
Teachers: Here are our top tips for jumping into the #ClearTheList movement to stock your classroom shelves — for free! — this back-to-school season on DonorsChoose.
Keep Your Project Cost Manageable
Our teachers are most successful when they keep the total cost of their request under $600. When your DonorsChoose project is fully funded, we’ll ship the materials directly to your classroom. Have a bigger project in mind, like multiple laptops, a big list of books for your library, or musical instruments? Break up your request across several projects! As each project gets funded, you’ll start to receive resources while you wait for the rest of your requests to be funded.
Look for Matched Donations
Every year, we have over 200 corporate and foundation partners who support teachers on our site, most often by matching donations to your project. When a donor gives to your project that’s eligible for a match, our partner will match it — sometimes up to 10 times the original donation! Before you start a project, look through our latest match offers to see if you might be eligible for a match.
Shop Around
When teachers create a request on DonorsChoose, they shop for resources from over two dozen vendors, including many teacher favorites! As you select the resources for your project, double check whether another vendor has what you need at a lower price.
Follow DonorsChoose on Social Media
We’re always sharing updates on the latest match offers and funding opportunities on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also request to join our exclusive DonorsChoose Teacher Facebook Community to connect with and learn from other teachers on our site.
Spread the Word
Once your project is live, share the link on social media using the hashtag #ClearTheList. Visit our Design Playground to create custom graphics that will make your message pop on social media. Don’t forget to tell friends and family who might want to support your classroom as well. A bonus for your donors: because DonorsChoose is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit, donations to requests on DonorsChoose are tax deductible.
We can’t wait to see how you #ClearTheList for your classroom this school year!
New to DonorsChoose?
We’re the nation’s top nonprofit platform that connects public school teachers with a thriving community of donors eager to fund requests for classroom resources. Learn how you can get funding for the exact items your students need to thrive.
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