Donors ChooseDonors Choose

Heidi ColemanCoordinator of Grants and Program Evaluation

560-2668Heidi.coleman@dpsnc.net

Created Sept. 2009

What It IsWhat It Ishttp://www.donorschoose.org/

• For teachers to get classroom materials/projects funded- generally less than $400

• Nation-wide, “citizen philanthropy”

• Based on a points system

• Easy to use!

How It Works for Teachers: How It Works for Teachers: Submitting ProjectsSubmitting Projects

• MUST be a Teacher, Media Coordinator, or Counselor to sign up to have projects funded.

• Set up an account online

• Describe what you need, why you need it, and how your project will impact students

• Shop online at one of the Donors Choose vendor partners.

• Submit projects WELL in advance of needing them.

How It Works for Teachers:How It Works for Teachers:Points SystemPoints System

• You get 3 points when you register. • You can EARN 3 points for every funded project. • The more projects you get funded, the more

(and larger) projects you can request.• To see what you can have funded:

http://www.donorschoose.org/help/teacher_faq.html?q=115

• Points rubric (next slide)

When you request... ...you use- Materials for $400 or less 1 point- Materials for $401 to $800 2 points- Materials for more than $801 4 points- Class Visitor 6 points- Class Trip 6 points

- Special Request (any materials not offered by our vendors) 6 points

   When your project is funded... ...you earn

- You confirm you still want the materials within 6 days. 1 point

- You return a thank-you package that is complete and compelling.

1 point

- You return your thank-you package on or before its due date.

1 point

Note: For each above action not completed, you lose 1 point, so be sure to check your email and complete the thank-you package!

How It Works for Teachers:How It Works for Teachers:Points SystemPoints System

What Are My Chances?What Are My Chances?• Nearly 80% of projects requesting under $400 are

funded within a few months.• Successful projects grab the attention of donors.

– Be creative with the project’s title and first line– Speak from the heart- give funders a vision of your classroom.

Tell your sob story here and let them know how funding this project will alleviate that suffering!

– TRIPLE check spelling and grammar before submitting. Little is worse than an educator who makes writing errors.

What Happens When I Get What Happens When I Get Funded?Funded?

Donors Choose purchases the products and mails them to you This means you NEVER have to do a PO

for the materials You never receive the funds, so you don’t

have to worry about accounting for them

You get a “thank you” packet for you to compete for your funders. This is a CRITICAL point in the

procedure. Make SURE you complete the packet!

When you return the packet, you earn more points to complete more projects.

What If I’m Not A Teacher?What If I’m Not A Teacher?Donate to projects you choose. – You can choose DPS classrooms to fund!

Create your own “giving page” to share on your social networking sites. http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/createChallenge.html

– Donate your birthday (presents that is…)– Include Donors Choose on your wedding registry!

Purchase a “GivingCard” to give to your friends to choose THEIR favorite project to fund. http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/giftoptions.html

How To DonateHow To Donate

Donate your Birthday?Donate your Birthday?

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/motherboard.html?motherboardId=7

Set up a page for your birthday- have friends and family fund projects you choose instead of (or in addition to) giving you presents (and maybe avoid those awkward “gee this is great” moments!)

Social Media Challenge?Social Media Challenge?

• Join hundreds of bloggers, twitterers, vloggers, etc in October for a “month-long philanthropic throw-down” by creating a page featuring your favorite projects (giving them extra exposure and advertisement)

• Track progress of project funding through your site• Compete (in a friendly manner!) against other donors to

see who can get the most projects funded

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/createChallenge.html

Wedding Registry?Wedding Registry?

• Works the same way as other giving pages

• Create the page as an additional option for wedding gifts from attendees- funding your favorite projects

• If you don’t plan to ask for wedding gifts, consider having guests donate to your favorite projects instead

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/createChallenge.html