Connecting the public to public schools

See why teachers, students, and Stephen Colbert love us (1:30)

Our mission

We make it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.

But we can’t do it alone. Join us!

Partner with DonorsChoose Find a request to support Join the team

Equity Focus

Our commitment to equity in education

We are committed to combating racial and socioeconomic inequity in school funding. Our team works to inspire as much support as possible for teachers of color and for schools that serve low-income communities and Black, Latino, and Native American students.

See projects from Equity Focus Schools

Learn more about our Equity Focus

Created by teachers, for teachers.

In 2000, Charles Best, a teacher at a Bronx public high school, thought about all the money he and his colleagues were spending on books, art supplies, and other materials for their students. They weren't alone — today, teachers still spend an average of $500 out of pocket on their classrooms each year. Charles figured there were people who'd want to help if they could see where their money was going. He founded DonorsChoose, a website where teachers could post requests for classroom resources, and his colleagues posted the first 11 projects. Since then, teachers at most US public schools have requested resources through our platform.

Our team

Our team has vetted and fulfilled over 2 million classroom project requests that range from butterfly cocoons, to robotics kits, to books with diverse characters. Many of us are former teachers, so our operation feels like a cross between a tech company and a classroom. Whether we're in our NYC office or working remotely across the country, you'll find us digging into our data, sharing our favorite projects, and Instagramming teacher and student joy.

Meet the team

How it works

To ensure integrity, we're there through every step of every project. We vet all requests, purchase each item, and ship materials directly to verified teachers.

You find a project

Find a classroom project that inspires you and give as little as $1. We're a public charity, so your donation is tax-deductible.

We fulfill the order

When a project is fully funded, we purchase all the requested items and ship them directly to the teacher.

Teachers thank you

Every donor gets a thank-you from the teacher and a report of how each dollar was spent.

See classroom projects

Transparency & Efficiency

We know that you care about how effectively your donation is being used. That's why we show you how every dollar was spent, how you made a difference, and how grateful the students and teachers are!

We've received the highest possible ratings from:

See finances

Today, teachers at68% of public schoolsin America have posted a project on our site.

We've mobilized1,902,345 citizen donorsand dozens of generous corporate and foundation partners.

Together, they've given$314,212,124to support requests from teachers.

Helping to make learning more engaging at 16,212,124 schoolsacross the country.

And we won't stop until every student has what they need to succeed.

See more of the impact

Get involved

Partner with DonorsChoose

Find a classroom to support

Join the team

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.