Do you use Donorschoose.org?

I can't speak for every SLP,  but in my school district I often feel that SLP's are the red-headed step child in the family when it comes to funding.  We are often last in line when it comes to getting the new technology, and we have to beg, borrow, and steal to get new materials. Of course I spend my own money, but there are times, when what I think would be useful, is just too cost prohibitive to use my own money.

That's where Donorschoose.org  comes in.  When I really want something for my students, but can't afford it out of my own pocket, I write a proposal and request it from Donorschoose.  Think of your proposal as a mini grant. The process is pretty easy and Donorschoose will walk you through it. 

First you need an account.  They will ask you questions about where you work and the population you work with. This is important, because potential donors might just be looking for an SLP who works with your population.

Once you verify that information, you can start posting projects. Projects cost credits based on the over all cost of the project.  You start with 3 credits.  Once you post your project, you share your project via email, twitter, facebook, in person and on the phone.  I find mostly my friends and friends of friends donate.  However, as you get closer to meeting your goal or your deadline, your project becomes more easily found by other donors.  It's really powerful when Donorschoose matches you with an organization that will match funds, and just a small donation will make a large difference.  It's appealing to my friends and family, because it's a legitimate charity, and they know where the money is going.

Once you get your project funded, you start earning your credits for new projects. First you have to write a thank you letter and post it online.  Donorschoose makes it really easy for you, by giving you a template that already lists the names of all your donors.  You also have to confirm that you still want the items requested.   Donorschoose is pretty fast once you've confirmed that you still want the items, and put in the order within a couple of days. So the bulk of your wait time is waiting for the vendor to send it.  Typically, I've receive my requested items within 3 weeks, but have received items within a week before.

Now for the fun stuff.  You get to use your items!  To fulfill your obligation to Donorschoose.org, you need to need to take pictures of your students using the items and post them on the website, and you need to have your students write thank you letters to the donor who completed your project or donated a large amount of money. Donorschoose provides permission slips for photographing your students.  Even with the permission slips, I still take pictures in a way to maintain their privacy.  Profiles, hands, back of their heads, all show donors how their donations are being used while still protecting my students privacy.  As for the letters, my kids are allowed to put their first name on the letter, but not their last.  Donorschoose also checks to make sure there is no identifying information on the notes before they send them off to the donors. I've gotten great feedback from donors who have received thank you notes from my students.

 A friend of  friend closed out my last project and got thank you letters from my students.  She was so pleased that she took a picture and posted it on facebook.

 

Photo by Debi Geroux 

Finally you have to write one more letter on the website.  This is the impact letter.  Talk about how you have used your items and what a difference it has made for you.  Again, Donorschoose has a template set up for you. For each project you have the potential to earn 3 more credits which can be used for more projects in the future.

From Donorschoose, I have received headphones, bean bags, a language master, books, and an ipad. I don't have any active projects now but you can check out my Donorschoose page here.

Donorschoose.org has been a great format to provide my students with the materials that they need.  It's easy to use, and with a little social media savvy, it's easy to get funding.   If you haven't started a project yet, what are you waiting for? 

To give you hand, for the next week, if you link your project to the comments section of this post, I will tweet and pin it. 

I can't speak for every SLP,  but in my school district I often feel that SLP's are the red-headed step child in the family when it comes to funding.  We are often last in line when it comes to getting the new technology, and we have to beg, borrow, and steal to get new materials. Of course I spend my own money, but there are times, when what I think would be useful, is just too cost prohibitive to use my own money.

That's where Donorschoose.org  comes in.  When I really want something for my students, but can't afford it out of my own pocket, I write a proposal and request it from Donorschoose.  Think of your proposal as a mini grant. The process is pretty easy and Donorschoose will walk you through it. 

First you need an account.  They will ask you questions about where you work and the population you work with. This is important, because potential donors might just be looking for an SLP who works with your population.

Once you verify that information, you can start posting projects. Projects cost credits based on the over all cost of the project.  You start with 3 credits.  Once you post your project, you share your project via email, twitter, facebook, in person and on the phone.  I find mostly my friends and friends of friends donate.  However, as you get closer to meeting your goal or your deadline, your project becomes more easily found by other donors.  It's really powerful when Donorschoose matches you with an organization that will match funds, and just a small donation will make a large difference.  It's appealing to my friends and family, because it's a legitimate charity, and they know where the money is going.

Once you get your project funded, you start earning your credits for new projects. First you have to write a thank you letter and post it online.  Donorschoose makes it really easy for you, by giving you a template that already lists the names of all your donors.  You also have to confirm that you still want the items requested.   Donorschoose is pretty fast once you've confirmed that you still want the items, and put in the order within a couple of days. So the bulk of your wait time is waiting for the vendor to send it.  Typically, I've receive my requested items within 3 weeks, but have received items within a week before.

Now for the fun stuff.  You get to use your items!  To fulfill your obligation to Donorschoose.org, you need to need to take pictures of your students using the items and post them on the website, and you need to have your students write thank you letters to the donor who completed your project or donated a large amount of money. Donorschoose provides permission slips for photographing your students.  Even with the permission slips, I still take pictures in a way to maintain their privacy.  Profiles, hands, back of their heads, all show donors how their donations are being used while still protecting my students privacy.  As for the letters, my kids are allowed to put their first name on the letter, but not their last.  Donorschoose also checks to make sure there is no identifying information on the notes before they send them off to the donors. I've gotten great feedback from donors who have received thank you notes from my students.

 A friend of  friend closed out my last project and got thank you letters from my students.  She was so pleased that she took a picture and posted it on facebook.

 

Photo by Debi Geroux 

Finally you have to write one more letter on the website.  This is the impact letter.  Talk about how you have used your items and what a difference it has made for you.  Again, Donorschoose has a template set up for you. For each project you have the potential to earn 3 more credits which can be used for more projects in the future.

From Donorschoose, I have received headphones, bean bags, a language master, books, and an ipad. I don't have any active projects now but you can check out my Donorschoose page here.

Donorschoose.org has been a great format to provide my students with the materials that they need.  It's easy to use, and with a little social media savvy, it's easy to get funding.   If you haven't started a project yet, what are you waiting for? 

To give you hand, for the next week, if you link your project to the comments section of this post, I will tweet and pin it.