Donor's Choose
Starter Instructions
by Neely Swygert
Teacher-Librarian
Gadsden Elementary
What is Donor's Choose?
Donor's Choose is a web site that allows teachers to help receive funding for projects that they might otherwise
have to pay for out of pocket, or not be able to utilize at all. Only teachers can build Donor's Choose, but
anyone can donate to a project.
This presentation will share with you how to create a Donor's Choose account and build your first project.
Donor's Choose can be found at http://www.donorschoose.org/
Sign in here once
you have
registered.
Click here to begin
the registration
process
Search to find projects to donate to, that are
near you, or that are similar to yours.
Click here to register and start your first
project
If you have already created your
account, sign in you use your email
address and the password you set
up
Once you have
selected to start your
first project, then click
get started.
Now click set up a teacher account
Make sure
you read the
questions
and answer
yes if you are
eligible.
Click the blue button
Read the
user
agreement
and check
the 2 boxes
Click the blue button to find your school
Type the name of your school in order to find it
As I am already registered, I can't take you past this screen. Once you find and click on your school, you will fill in your profile by filling in the
details of your teaching position and your contact information. You will then review your information before submitting. There is also a teacher
tutorial that you can try.
You sign in using the email
address and password you set up
and press the sign in button.
Here is where your profile information
and projects are kept.
Here is where you see
your projects (live,
archived, and drafted).
Don't forget to sign out
when you are done working
on a project.
The products tab is where you
will see all of your projects in
all forms.
Projects you are working on
Start a new project
Projects that are currently
available to be funded.
Projects that didn't get funded or that
you let go inactive
Where funded projects are stored that need
thank you notes, pictures, or other
responses.
The Menu: you
have to finish 1
section before
you can move on
to the next, but
you can always
go back and edit
earlier sections.
Building your first project
Start small!
The more projects you have had funded, the more
points you receive.
I only pick products in the vendor directory, but I may try
another one some day. Of course the bigger the project,
the harder it is to get it funded.
Class visitors, trips, and special requests are available, but I would
wait until after a few projects have been funded, unless you really
need it now.
Make sure you have a fun and catchy title!
Here is what my current cart looks like for the
project I am working on.
Here are a few of the places you can shop for your project. Amazon closes down
during the holidays, but is back in early January.
After shopping: what do I do next?
You must name at least 3 items in your cart while
explaining why your students needs these items.
The orange button lets you save your draft.
The green button lets you save and move to the next step.
Here is your current cart of items for your project.
You can still edit your cart
**Try to be as detailed as possible in each box**
Ex. The library at our school is always busy,
but we don't have all of the resources we
need to help our students. Our students are
ready for hands on learning, and this will help
them connect what they are learning to the
real world.
Ex. We are a small Title 1 school in the south. Our
students are enthusiastic, smiling children who are ready
to change to world. While our students may not have the
material possessions that many others may have, they
make up for it in wanting to learn.
**Try to be as detailed as possible in each box**
Ex. My students would use the sewing machines, thread, fabric,
looms, and yarn to create anything they dream up. We will have a
maker space set up so students can learn new skills to relate the
curriculum to real life. For example, right now 3rd grade is learning
about Sierra Leone for International Culture Night. They are learning
bead making, and weaving using simple materials. The students
love being able to use their hands to create something, and the
culture, history, and art lessons are learned with a lot more
enthusiasm.
By funding our maker space, children will be able to relate what they are
learning to the real world. They may also find a passion for sewing,
weaving, etc. that could lead to a career when they are older.
The green button saves the draft and
moves you closer to submitting your
project.
The orange button saves your draft.
Make sure you click the appropriate box
If this will benefit more than
just your class, use the
larger number.
Check the appropriate grade
levels
The orange button saves the draft.
The green button will move you
further into the process of submitting
your project.
Your photo needs to share something about you, your
students, or work from the classroom. Make sure to
get permission to use photographs of your students
before using a photo they are in.
Have a fun title!
Pressing the orange button only
saves your project. Pressing the
green button will move you into the
review process.
You have created your project, so what is next?
You will review your project before you submit it.
**Make sure you do a good job of checking it because once it is finalized you can't change it anymore. **
It will take up to 5 business days for your project to be approved or for the people at Donor's Choose to request more
information. All of these interactions will take place through email, so make sure you check your email daily if you are
waiting to be approved. Donor's Choose may ask you to add more detail somewhere, which can delay how fast your
project goes live, so try to put as much detail into your project as you write it.
Your project has been approved, now what?
**During the first week, you can get any donations matched (up to $200 or $500) if the donator uses the special code given in your
email announcing your project has gone live. It will be something like INSPIRE or DISNEYCREATIVITY. **
Also understand that Donor's Choose has it set where a portion of a donation is automatically donated to Donor's Choose. You can
change this to any percentage up or even down to 0% so all of the donation goes to the project.
Sometimes you can even get matching funds from a company so that when half of your project has been funded, they add the last half
of the money to your project.
You can share your projects on social media and by email to get donations.
Your project has been funded, now what?
Once your project has been funded, you will receive an email from Donor's Choose confirming this. They will also
make sure that you still need the products, they have the correct address, and how long you would like to finish your
thank you packet. Make sure you respond to Donor's Choose as soon as possible so your products can be ordered
and delivered.
Your thank you packet will consist of pictures of the students using the products, pictures of the products, or other
creative ways to share what you are doing if you cannot show student faces. You may also be required to have
students or the class write a thank you note to donors.
Thanks for checking out Donor's Choose!
Remember:
Start small
Share your project details with others
Try again if your project doesn't get funded