DonorsChoose.org is an amazing website for teachers in public schools across the country help raise money to receive materials for their classroom! Teachers first decide what kind of project they want to start - technology-based, materials, field trips, guest speakers, etc. The teacher then 'goes shopping' for the resources they are requesting. DonorsChoose negotiates the best prices for teachers/education so that money is being optimized. DonorsChoose.org then does an amazing job of taking teachers step-by-step in how to describe their students, the ways they are going to use the requested resources in their classroom, and how the students will benefit from them. Once the project has been submitted, the DonorsChoose team reviews it for accuracy and materials' pricing before it is posted! Teachers then have 4 months to raise funds to complete their project! The great thing about DonorsChoose is that anyone can donate to the project!! They also give you a promo code (INSPIRE) to have every donation matched dollar-for-dollar (up to $100) by anonymous donors that help fund the site.
(Here's more about 'How it Works')
Last year, I posted a project including an AppleTV, and HD Projector. It was funded by multiple donors that I am very grateful for! It took the entire 4 months to fund (this project literally got the last amount funded the last day of my project window), but my classroom definitely benefited from it! My students were able to watch videos, share learning, and share projects through presentations in class.
Just this year, I have already gotten 2 iPad Minis funded. It was funded in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for Education during a period of which they funded 50% of the needed amount for every project that was posted during a specific time frame! I took advantage of that the second I learned of it, as I know how difficult it is to get funding!
This last week, I decided to post another project for an additional 2 iPad Minis as well as protective OtterBox cases for all four iPad Minis. If you would like to visit my classroom site, please follow this link:
http://www.donorschoose.org/chelsea.schwartz
If you would like to see my most recent project, or would like to help my classroom out by donating, please follow this link:
iPads for Students in Today's Classroom
Thanks for reading my blogposts!! If you would like to request a topic or would like to share what your classroom does for funding, leave a comment below!!
