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DonorsChoose
New York City, United States
What it is
DonorsChoose is a free web service connecting donors with public school teachers seeking classroom resources. Teachers request supplies or classroom project items, donors fund the requests, and DonorsChoose orders and ships funded goods to teachers. Teachers can sign up and post projects without paying. Classroom Essentials provides a curated catalog of basic supplies with no minimum, and items ship as funding comes in. Classroom Projects draw from more than 1 million products offered by over 20 teacher-favorite stores, including Lakeshore, Amazon, and Staples. These projects require a $100 minimum and may remain posted for up to four months; if a goal is missed by then, donors can redirect contributions to the teacher’s next project. Projects are reviewed before posting, typically within five business days. Eligibility is limited to full-time educators at public or public charter schools who work directly with students, subject to detailed rules. DonorsChoose says it vets requests and reviews projects for student privacy. It requires parent or guardian permission for photos showing students. Teachers are asked to send donors a thank-you package with two photos showing the funded project in action. The nonprofit was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in New York City.
For and against
For
- Teachers can sign up and post projects without paying.
- Classroom Essentials requests have no minimum.
- DonorsChoose orders and ships funded goods.
- Projects are reviewed before posting.
Against
- Classroom Projects require a $100 minimum.
- Projects may remain posted for up to four months.
- Teachers are asked to provide a two-photo thank-you package.
The verdict
DonorsChoose offers two routes for classroom resource requests: basic supplies with no minimum and larger Classroom Projects with a $100 minimum. Teachers should check eligibility and project conditions, including the requested donor follow-up, before submitting.
Who it suits
DonorsChoose is for eligible full-time educators at public or public charter schools who work directly with students, and donors who want to fund classroom resources. Teachers should review the eligibility rules and project requirements before posting.
Plans and prices
Classroom Essentials
No minimum · curated basic supplies · requests stay online to collect donations
Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org
Teacher projects
Free for teachers to sign up and post projects · Classroom Project requests have a $100 minimum · projects may remain posted for up to 4 months
Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org
On the record
- Eligibility
- Eligible users are full-time educators at public or public charter schools who work directly with students, subject to the detailed eligibility rules.help.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Essentials requests
- Classroom Essentials offers a curated catalog of basic supplies, requires no minimum, and ships items as funding comes in.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Fulfillment integrity
- DonorsChoose says it vets requests, purchases the requested items, and ships materials to verified teachers or reimburses against an invoice.help.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Integrations and vendors
- The Classroom Project catalog includes offerings from vendors such as Amazon, Lakeshore, Staples, and Teachers Pay Teachers.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Organization
- DonorsChoose is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 by Bronx public school teacher Charles Best.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Project catalog
- Classroom Projects draw from a catalog of more than 1 million products from over 20 teacher-favorite stores, including Lakeshore, Amazon, and Staples.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Project limits
- Classroom Projects have a $100 minimum, may stay posted for up to four months, and projects that miss their goal by then let donors redirect their contributions to a teacher’s next project.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Project review
- Projects are reviewed before posting, typically within five business days after submission.help.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- DonorsChoose connects donors with public school teachers seeking classroom resources.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Student privacy
- DonorsChoose says it reviews projects for student privacy, removes identifying information, and requires parent or guardian permission for photos that include students.help.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Support
- DonorsChoose provides a Help Center and lists a Trust & Safety contact for reporting suspected misuse.help.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Teacher cost
- Teachers can sign up and post a project without paying.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Teacher follow-up
- Teachers are asked to provide donors with a thank-you package that includes two photos showing the funded project in action.help.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
- Teacher project flow
- Teachers request items, donors fund projects, and DonorsChoose orders and ships the funded goods to teachers.donorschoose.org · read 2 Oct 2026
