Donors Choose is a wonderful online charity that helps educators all over the country get their projects funded. Teachers can go online create an account and submit a project to be funded. Once your project is approved it’s put on their site and open to the public (donors) for donations until your project is completely funded. Your projects can be for anything from classroom materials to technology and or class trips. It is really a great resource for teachers to use to get what they need for their students.
I’ve been able to successfully get 4 projects funded through Donors Choose! I’ve had the opportunity to learn a few tricks along the way. In this post I will share how I got my projects funded through Donors Choose. The last project I posted was funded in 1 week! So trust me this stuff works!
- Get Creative When naming your project think outside of the box. Try a play on words or a fun way to describe your project instead of just explicitly saying it in the title. For example my current project includes a digital camera and my title is “Picture This“. You want an attention grabber something to make your project stand out to donors.
- Watch Your Total It’s easy to get carried away when you are shopping for items for your beloved students. Keep in mind that you actually want to get your project funded and donors tend to support projects that actually have a chance and getting funded. I try to post projects that are at least $200 but less then $1000. *When asking for technology break your project up into smaller projects. Need iPads? Ask for 1-4 iPads per project, don’t go for the class set. I have 4 iPads from donors choose doing it this way.
- Show Your Support Try to be your first donor. By donating to your own project it shows donors that you really believe in your project and you are serious about getting it funded. It’s perfectly okay to donate the first dollar, that’s all it takes to show your support to your own project.
- Spread the Word Share you project everywhere! Post the link on all your social media pages. Send the link to your students, parents and all your family members! True story: I had a cousin in AZ practically fund my second project! You’ed be surprised what people are willing to support!
- Multiply Your Match As soon as your project is approved and posted you’ll get a match code. It’s usually “inspire”. This code allows your donors to get their donation matched by sponsors. Thats right! A $10 donation can easily be $20 towards your project with the use of a simple match code. Try to get everyone you know to donate during the first 10 days of your project being posted, while that match code is still available. If you are able to get 10 donors in the first 2 weeks of being posted your chances are greater of getting your project more visible to donors. *I talking your project could be moved to the top of the list or be displayed on the main page for all donors to see right away!
- Trade Did you know there are several Donors Choose trading groups on Facebook? This is a group that helps teachers get funded. You basically trade or donate to projects posted by teachers and help each other get funded. Remember your chances are better with the more donors you get so spreading out $10 dollars with 10 teachers is more beneficial to you than just donated $10 to your own project. Click here for a link to a large trading groups on FB. You could even trade with other teachers in your building. Remember the goal is to initially get donors so that your project is more likely to be funded.
You are all set for creating and getting funded through Donors Choose! Your “teach away” is to be patient even if it takes a while it will happen for you. Be sure you come back and drop me a note when your project gets funded! Please support my current project “Picture This“. Thanks for reading and make you are subscribed to my blog and following Great Minds TEACH Alike on all forms of social media! Take care!
Use the code SPARK to double your donation! Every dollar helps!
What is a reasonable amount to donate to my own project? Thank you in advance!
It’s completely up to you. I usually start with 5 -10 dollar so it gets doubled anyway. Then use social media to promote and get more donations. Good Luck!