DonorsChoose.org is dedicated to addressing the scarcity and inequitable distribution of learning materials and experiences in our public schools. We believe this inequity is rooted in the following factors:

Shortages of learning materials prevent thorough, engaging instruction;
Top-down distribution of materials stifles our best teachers and discourages them from developing targeted solutions for their students; and
Small, directed contributions have gone un-tapped as a source of funding.
DonorsChoose.org will improve public education by engaging citizens in an online marketplace where teachers describe and individuals can fund specific student projects. We envision a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn.

Description:
To ensure the integrity of its philanthropic marketplace, DonorsChoose.org screens every teacher’s proposal, purchases the resources from our vendors, and compiles photos, thank-you letters, and an expenditure report for each donor.

Project proposals at DonorsChoose.org range from "Where Did All the Pencils Go?" ($60), to "Dictionaries for At-Home Use" ($259), to "Geological Field Trip" ($2,000). Most proposals are not simply requests for materials but fantastic ideas for helping students learn. Thanks to the participation of dedicated and imaginative teachers, DonorsChoose.org has become a showcase of original and successful student projects. Examples include:

Cooking Across the Curriculum — Cook books, bowls, mixers, and a mini-refrigerator are sought by a 3rd grade teacher who writes: Cooking incorporates all the curriculum areas in an engaging and memorable way. In science we experience how matter changes as we watch batter bake into a cake. In social studies we follow the path of an apple from a tree to our table in the form of a pie. In math we add fractions and follow directions in sequence. In reading, stories come alive as we cook the very food we just read about. Our writing and art reflect vivid personal experiences after participating in a cooperative cooking project.

Photography Journeys — Disposable cameras and a visiting photographer are sought by a teacher who writes: I am proposing a photography project that combines art, technology, social studies and literacy. The project requires a visiting artist to come to the school and go on a series of neighborhood outings with students. The students will visually explore and navigate their own community with their cameras. Students will be given a framework to think visually and look for shadows, openings, light, architecture, and shapes. The class will go on two scavenger hunts in the Bronx community surrounding the school to photograph the people and places that make their neighborhood a rich and unique place to live.

Fire Prevention for First Graders in Rural Area — Smoke detectors are sought by a teacher who writes: I teach first grade in a county school where we recently lost a student in a house fire. He was a student of mine last year and the loss has been overwhelming. In my student's memory, I would like to implement a strong fire prevention course throughout the first grade. The goals of this course would include teaching the students safety measures that they can take to prevent fires in the home and what to do if a fire does occur. I would like to involve the local volunteer fire departments and provide them with the materials that they need to come into the school and present the program in a meaningful way.

History:
DonorsChoose.org was pioneered by teachers at a Bronx public high school in the spring of 2000. Charles Best, then a social studies teacher, saw first-hand the scarcity of materials in our public school classrooms and the profound impact of this scarcity on kids' education. Looking for a way to address this problem, he sensed an untapped potential in people who were frustrated by their lack of influence over the use of their charitable donations. DonorsChoose.org, a website connecting classrooms in need with individuals who want to help, was born.

Contact person: Cesar Bocanegra, Vice President, (212) 239-3615, (email)
Office fax number: (212) 239-3619

Address:

347 W. 36th St., Suite 504 New York, NY 10018 (See a map)

Directions:

On 36th St. between 8th and 9th Ave. We are two blocks from NY Penn Station.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 34th Street Penn Station,   Walk distance (in minutes): 3