How to Get Your Classroom Funded with DonorsChoose

Ever feel like your classroom wish list keeps growing, but your budget doesn’t? That’s where DonorsChoose comes in. It’s one of the easiest ways to get classroom materials, books, furniture, and even subscriptions—without spending a dime out of pocket.

I’ve used DonorsChoose for everything from flexible seating to classroom rugs, read-aloud books, dry erase boards, and more. Once you understand the process, posting a project takes less than 30 minutes.

Let’s walk through how DonorsChoose works and how to get your projects funded quickly.

What Is DonorsChoose?

DonorsChoose is a nonprofit platform that connects public school teachers with people who want to support classroom learning. You submit a project for materials or resources, and donors help bring it to life.

Instead of buying everything yourself (again), you can crowdsource the materials you need—from books and basic supplies to furniture and technology.

What I’ve Received Through DonorsChoose

Here’s just a short list of what I’ve had funded:

• Time for Kids and Scholastic News subscriptions
• Henry and Mudge books
• Construction paper and classroom supplies
• Flexible seating (hello, stability balls!)
• A rug and a bookshelf
• Dry erase boards and markers
• Read-aloud and library books

If it helps students learn, there’s probably a way to fund it.

How To Use Donor’s Choose

I’ve gotten projects funded for Time for Kids, Scholastic News, Henry and Mudge books, school supplies, books for our classroom library (in several different projects), rug for our room,  read aloud books, a bookshelf, stability balls, dry erase supplies, and construction paper.  These are all things that enhance the learning environment in my classroom and make it a better place for my students.

Here is the basic process I used for these projects:

1. Create an Account

Teachers must first create an account on the DonorsChoose website. This involves providing information about their school and their role to verify that they are a public school teacher.

2. Write Your Project

You’ll describe what you need and why it matters. Be specific and connect it to how it will help your students. You’ll also select the materials from a list of vendors that DonorsChoose works with.

3. Submit and Get Approved

DonorsChoose staff reviews your project before it goes live. They may suggest edits to help improve your chances of funding.

4. Share Your Project

Once approved, your project is listed publicly. Anyone can donate—friends, parents, local businesses, or complete strangers. Sharing it on social media helps boost visibility.

5. Get Funded

When your project is fully funded, DonorsChoose purchases the items and ships them directly to your school. No reimbursement, no hassle.

6. Say Thanks

You’ll submit thank-you notes, photos, and a quick summary of the impact. It’s a great way to build trust with future donors.

Tips for Writing Successful DonorsChoose Projects

Keep It Under $400

Projects under $400 tend to get funded faster. If you have bigger needs, consider breaking them into smaller requests.

Ask for Tangible Items

Donors love seeing where their money goes. Books, learning games, hands-on supplies, and tech tools for students usually get more attention than storage containers or teacher-only tools.

Focus on Student Impact

Always connect your request to how it helps students. For example: “These books will help my early readers grow in confidence and fluency.”

Best Times to Post a DonorsChoose Project

• Back-to-School Season: Late July to early September
• Before the Holidays: November and early December
• End-of-Month Paydays: Projects tend to get more traction right after payday
• Before Project Deadlines: DonorsChoose promotes projects that are about to expire

💡 Tip: Set your project to expire in about 45 days. This shorter window can help your project get featured more.

DonorsChoose is more than just a way to get supplies—it’s a way to build community around your classroom. I’ve had donors support multiple projects over the years, just because I had one posted when they were ready to give.

If you’ve ever hesitated to try DonorsChoose, start with something small and student-focused. It might be just the thing that brings your classroom wish list to life—without emptying your wallet.