Sunday, September 2, 2012

DonorsChoose Spotlight

I wanted to take a moment to spotlight this wonderful resource for public school teachers, Donorschoose.org.  I learned about them at a meeting in the summer of 2011 and those promoting it made it sound SO simple.  And you know what?  It was!  I have now had 4 projects funded and am working towards my fifth.  As soon as I get some time I'll be posting another one too!


My current project can be found here:  Artfully Young Experience

I believe I've been successful because I followed some very helpful tips from the presenters.

This is what I did:

1.  I kept most of my projects under $500.
2. I tried very hard to demonstrate in words the impact the project would have on my students.
3. I tried to make sure my passion for teaching and for my students was visible in my project.
4. I shared my project on Facebook and allowed for sharing to automatically occur on Donorschoose.
5. I signed up for partnering with Sonic teachers and other companies like oo.com.

BUT that is a VERY basic guideline to follow.  Corkboard Connections blog has a better description of how to be successful in writing your project.  On Sundays she does an "all-call" on her facebook page for projects.  AND at the end of the day she picks one to donate to!

Francie Kugelman has had over $23,000 funded to her classroom over the past few years....AMAZING!  You've got to take a look at the list to get ideas of project for your classroom.  I found this link through Corkboard Connections author, Laura Candler's Donorschoose.org Resources webpage.

My list is not as incredible as Francie's (yet!).  Here's what I was able to get funded during the past school year:

1. Pretend Play is Just for Me!                   $495.65
2. I Can Read!                                           $447.58
3.Constructive Outdoor Play                     $753.95
4. Technology Helps Us Learn to Read $1,153.49
                                          Total =          $2,850.67

My kids and the rest of the kindergarten (with the use of the outdoor play equipment) are STILL using all of these items.  It is been such a blessing!

Your first time writing may seem cumbersome, especially if you've never written a grant before.  Don't let that discourage you!  I suggest grabbing someone you know who has written a grant before to help you get through it.  My best advice is to NOT give up and stick with it!  It's so worth the time and effort you are putting into it!

5 comments:

  1. It's a pretty incredible list to me!! Thanks for sharing the tips you learned. I would love to give this a try!

    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kathy! Sorry it took so long to respond! I guess I need to be better at this! lol How are you doing? How's the school year going?

      Delete
  2. Hi there! It's Christy...from Fulbright :)
    I had seen over the summer that
    A. you were at the K Conference in Vegas (so was I) but I wish one of us had posted something about it before hand rather than after..but I rarely go on FB
    and
    B. that you started a blog... I too had thought about starting a blog after being at the Vegas conference... but it just took me A LOT longer than you to make it happen!

    So I just got my blog together and just this week got my profile and DonorsChoose act together too... so I saw your post and thought you are reading my mind.

    I also had thought.... I wish I had had a blog when I was teaching in Hereford.... that would have been some interesting stuff! Don't you think?! Maybe that means I need to apply again.

    Happy to be your follower :)

    Christy
    Crayons and Whimsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your blog is so cute! I decided to try and make it all myself so it's a bit rudimentary but I LOVE to learn about this techie stuff and I learn best by doing. I'm a blog stalker too so I figured, hey, why not?! I didn't actually go to the conference. I saw the meet & greet on a blog and asked if I could come for just the meeting and they said yes! I got so many great ideas and some great advice from Heidi of heidisongs.com.

      I remember where you taught in the UK & I never did get out your way to see that part of the country. :( I miss it so much! And YES, a blog would've been VERY interesting! I wish I had powered through Belfast like Katie because I still haven't been back to see the Giant's Causeway! What a shame! I think you should apply again! If I could I would. Shoot, if I could uproot my family and move there permanently I WOULD! I would love it if Michael got to be in their educational system...at least for the early years. It was nice to hear from you Christy! Makes me remember old times! I followed your blog right back and I'll be seeing you in the blogosphere!

      Delete
  3. Hereford.... as in the small town in the UK I taught in... I realized that may not make sense to you - how can you remember which town I was placed in?

    ReplyDelete