Charles Best

Public school teachers from every corner of America post classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org. Requests range from pencils for a poetry writing unit to violins for a school recital to microscope slides for a biology class. ”

We've established a free marketplace of teacher ideas and donor interests. ”

I believe if we can crowdsource educational solutions to teachers on the front lines, who often know their kids better than anyone, we will unearth and generate better-targeted, smarter ideas. ”

I'd listened to my colleagues in the teachers' lunchroom. I could tell they were passionate, fired-up people who had great ideas for strategies and projects to help kids learn better. They just didn't have the resources. I was frustrated, but I also knew it was a frustration felt by teachers all over the city. ”

Whether you're raising money for a cause, a personal need, or a project, most crowdfunding sites center on you hitting up people you already know. These sites make it easier to tap your social network for funds, but only the most compelling cases inspire support from strangers. ”

My colleagues and I would spend a lot of our own money on copy, paper, and pencils. I just figured there are people out there who would want to help teachers like us if they could see exactly where their money was going. ”

Our partnership with Dick's Sports Matter program aligns perfectly with our mission to address inequity in schools nationwide. ”

Within a single school, teachers often encounter differences in poverty levels, parent involvement, and student readiness. ”

People not only want to support public schools, but people warm to this idea of being a philanthropist, even if they might have only have $5 to spare. ”

People on the front lines have the best ideas for how to improve things. ”