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SPECIFICTION
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DonorsChoose

donorschoose.org

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Spec score 8.0 #6 of 22 in Nonprofit Crowdfunding Software

What it is

DonorsChoose connects donors with public school teachers requesting classroom resources. Teachers submit supply or project requests, donors contribute, and DonorsChoose orders and ships funded goods to verified teachers. Teachers can sign up and post projects for free. Classroom Essentials offers curated basic supplies with no minimum, shipping items as funding arrives. Classroom Projects use a catalog of more than 1 million products from over 20 teacher-favorite stores, including Lakeshore, Amazon, and Staples. These projects require a $100 minimum and can remain posted for up to four months; if the goal is missed, donors may redirect contributions to the teacher’s next project. Submissions are reviewed before posting, typically within five business days. Eligibility covers full-time educators at public or public charter schools working directly with students, subject to detailed rules. DonorsChoose says it vets requests, reviews student privacy, and requires permission for student photos. Teachers provide donors a thank-you package with two project photos.

Spec sheet

Purpose
DonorsChoose connects donors with public school teachers seeking classroom resources.Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org
Support
DonorsChoose provides a Help Center and lists a Trust & Safety contact for reporting suspected misuse.Read 2 Oct 2026 · help.donorschoose.org
Headquarters
New York City, United StatesRead 28 Sep 2026 · donorschoose.org
Founded
2000Read 28 Sep 2026 · donorschoose.org
Eligibility
Eligible users are full-time educators at public or public charter schools who work directly with students, subject to the detailed eligibility rules.Read 2 Oct 2026 · help.donorschoose.org
Essentials requests
Classroom Essentials offers a curated catalog of basic supplies, requires no minimum, and ships items as funding comes in.Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org
Fulfillment integrity
DonorsChoose says it vets requests, purchases the requested items, and ships materials to verified teachers or reimburses against an invoice.Read 2 Oct 2026 · help.donorschoose.org
Integrations and vendors
The Classroom Project catalog includes offerings from vendors such as Amazon, Lakeshore, Staples, and Teachers Pay Teachers.Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org
Organization
DonorsChoose is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 by Bronx public school teacher Charles Best.Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org
Project catalog
Classroom Projects draw from a catalog of more than 1 million products from over 20 teacher-favorite stores, including Lakeshore, Amazon, and Staples.Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org
Project limits
Classroom Projects have a $100 minimum, may stay posted for up to four months, and projects that miss their goal by then let donors redirect their contributions to a teacher’s next project.Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org
Project review
Projects are reviewed before posting, typically within five business days after submission.Read 2 Oct 2026 · help.donorschoose.org
Student privacy
DonorsChoose says it reviews projects for student privacy, removes identifying information, and requires parent or guardian permission for photos that include students.Read 2 Oct 2026 · help.donorschoose.org
Teacher cost
Teachers can sign up and post a project without paying.Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org
Teacher follow-up
Teachers are asked to provide donors with a thank-you package that includes two photos showing the funded project in action.Read 2 Oct 2026 · help.donorschoose.org
Teacher project flow
Teachers request items, donors fund projects, and DonorsChoose orders and ships the funded goods to teachers.Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org

Plans and prices

Classroom Essentials Free No minimum · curated basic supplies · requests stay online to collect donations Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org
Teacher projects Free Free for teachers to sign up and post projects · Classroom Project requests have a $100 minimum · projects may remain posted for up to 4 months Read 2 Oct 2026 · donorschoose.org

Every DonorsChoose plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Teachers can sign up and post projects free
  • Classroom Essentials has no minimum request
  • Catalog exceeds one million products
  • Projects are reviewed before posting
  • DonorsChoose orders and ships funded goods

Limits

  • Classroom Projects require a $100 minimum
  • Projects may remain posted only up to four months
  • Eligibility is limited by detailed educator rules

Who it suits

DonorsChoose suits eligible full-time educators at public or public charter schools seeking classroom materials. It also suits donors who want to fund specific teacher requests through a web service.

Verdict

DonorsChoose provides a free web route for teachers to request supplies and donors to fund them, with fulfillment handled by the organization. Its separate Essentials and Classroom Projects formats have different minimums and posting rules.

Where Specifiction places it

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