One of the most common things we hear from teachers is: “Wow! Your product is amazing! I wish I could afford it!” We understand the dilemma teachers and educators face: getting funding for all the cool stuff they know their students need.
Because we are so committed to helping kids, we are sharing three resources for you to get the funding you need to give your students the best education tools!
1. GetEDFunding.com
(For Public and Private Schools)
This resource curates thousands of free grants and places them in one convenient spot for you to peruse. They provide tips and ideas on how to apply for and write grants. You can also get an email update of new grants delivered right to your inbox! After you register, you’ll be able to search specifically for a grant that fits your needs. For example, if you are looking for boosting literacy in your classroom, you will search within your grade range and click on “Literacy K-12.” It will then bring a list of potential funding options for which you can apply! Also, we have some free templates here on how to write the best grant request possible!
2. DonorsChoose.com
(For Public Schools Only)
This is one of the most popular funding options for teachers, and one that we have seen many teachers get funding for our products. Donors Choose makes it easy for any generous donor to help a classroom in need!
When setting up a Donors Choose project for our products, here are some great tips:
- Choose Kaplan Early Learning as the vendor.
- Have a captivating picture as your photo. You will want a clear picture that conveys exactly what you are trying to achieve.
- Send out an email to all your contacts when you first launch your project to help get some initial funding. You can email friends, family, and communities you are a part of. Learn more about developing a great email campaign here.
- Share your project over social media. Other than email, social media is an effective place to let people know about your project. You can even send out funding updates and remind people to help with a donation! Facebook has been known as the top, most effective place for online fundraising, but Instagram and Twitter are also good places too! Donors Choose has a great video with more in-depth ideas on how to make your project soar!
3. AdoptAClassroom.org
(For Public, Private, and Charter Schools)
The third online resource is AdoptAClassroom.org. Very similar to Donors Choose, teachers and school districts can start and share projects to find donors. You’ll simply create a page for your classroom with details of your needs and people can donate right there! Read more about the process here.
Some helpful tips when using AdoptAClassroom.org are:
- Create a compelling page! Adopt a Classroom does “pages” instead of “projects,” like Donors Choose. Create a page with excellent pictures, a clear goal, and one that tells your story. People love to give support to compelling stories!
- Share! This means making your page public and sharing it with people so they can learn about your needs and possibly help. There are also convenient templates to make page creation a breeze!
- Read all their tips on fundraising. Adopt a Classroom has extensive information on effective fundraising for your classroom!
What other methods and tools have you found to be successful in raising funds for your classroom? Let us know!