DonorsChoose.org website is a non-profit nation wide set up to assist public school teachers find and/or obtain items needed to complete classroom projects. These items could be anything from flutes for a music class or much needed writing supplies (pencils, papers, etc) for major writing projects. One of the interesting aspects of the Donors Choose organization is they can not accept propels for donations from principles or students. Thanks to funds provided by the Lilly Endowment and other Donorschoose.org has a local office setup in Indianapolis.

As the name implies Donors Choose doesn’t cost the school or the school district anything and all approved proposals are shipped to the school teacher directly at the school. Although principals, administrators and student teachers are not eligible to request assistance themselves teachers, librarians school nurses, coaches and guidance counselors are encouraged to do so.

Once a proposal is received DonorsChoose.org posts the request on their national website in search of funding and supplies. Philanthropists looking to for a project then can search through the listings and choose which ones they desire to help. Each proposal listing has the schools name, person requesting assistance name and address of school along with specific list of what is needed and why. Because DonorsChoose.org replies totally on the generosity of others each teacher is sent a disposable camera to capture the project as it happens. Teachers and Students are also encouraged to write a short thank you to the donor.

Once a proposal is posted on the website it will stay active for an average of five months. Most proposals generally cost around $400 and those under $400 can be funded in most cases within three months.

DonorsChoose.org screens each proposal to ensure they fall within the boundaries of what is expectable request. The basic goal is to provide a direct benefit to education of the students by finding donors for such things as art supplies, books, musical instruments, and more. Of the proposals received about 65% are funded during the five months they appear on DonorsChoose.org website. Since its start up in 2000 DonorsChoose.org has been able to provide more then $24 Million dollars in supplies for projects nation wide.

Charles Best, then a social studies teacher from Bronx High School had an idea that many people would be willing to help troubled public schools. In 2000, he started DonorsChoose.org as an answer to the frustrations of people with the lack of influence over their donations. Over the last 9 years DonorsChoose.org has given over 200,000 teachers and private citizens willing to help a chance become directly involved in making a difference.

DonorsChoose.org(as stated on their homepage) vision is “of a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn.”