AdoptAClassroom.org vs DonorsChoose
AdoptAClassroom.org
adoptaclassroom.org
DonorsChoose
donorschoose.orgSide by side
| Figure | AdoptAClassroom.org | DonorsChoose |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Spec score · Nonprofit Crowdfunding Software | 8.7 (#2) | 8.0 (#6) |
| Eligibility | The educator program is for licensed teachers or certified staff at eligible U.S. schools and preschool programs; daycare programs are excluded. | Eligible users are full-time educators at public or public charter schools who work directly with students, subject to the detailed eligibility rules. |
| Founded | 1998 | 2000 |
| Headquarters | Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | New York City, United States |
| Purpose | Connects donors with teachers and schools to fund classroom supplies and advance equity in education. | DonorsChoose connects donors with public school teachers seeking classroom resources. |
| Student privacy | Its privacy policy says student thank-you notes must not identify students, and submitted student photos require verifiable written permission from a parent or guardian. | DonorsChoose says it reviews projects for student privacy, removes identifying information, and requires parent or guardian permission for photos that include students. |
| Support | The organization lists office hours as Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm CT, and provides email and phone contact options. | DonorsChoose provides a Help Center and lists a Trust & Safety contact for reporting suspected misuse. |
| Teacher cost | The service is free for teachers with no hidden fees on donations made to teachers. | Teachers can sign up and post a project without paying. |
Plans
In their own words
AdoptAClassroom.org
AdoptAClassroom.org is a U.S.-focused nonprofit service that helps eligible educators obtain classroom supplies through donations. Teachers or school staff create a classroom or school page, donors contribute, and educators use the resulting credit to order items through an online marketplace. Donors can receive updates or a list of purchased supplies. The service says teachers receive 100% of online donations made to their classrooms, with no hidden fees, and educators can use funds without submitting project proposals. The marketplace carries products from more than 20 classroom and school supply companies, including books, office supplies, visual-learning materials, and instructional tools. Donations are account credit, not cash, and must be spent through the marketplace or Teacher Choice purchasing policy within one year. The organization also offers classroom grants, giveaways, and donation matches. Eligibility is limited to licensed teachers or certified staff at eligible U.S. schools and preschool programs; daycare programs are excluded. The web service is free for teachers.
DonorsChoose
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.