Fund Your Classroom Needs with AdoptAClassroom.org
As a society, we understand the critical role education plays– to build a literate and self-sufficient population of citizens. Educators work (to exhaustion!) daily to teach, guide, and mentor our students and more often than not, spend our own money to fund basic needs for our classrooms. Teachers want the best for our students, so when the school or district comes up short, we step in to help. For years there have been philanthropic entities working alongside teachers to support classrooms in need and now with advances in technology, teachers can research options, share their stories, and secure funding with greater ease.
AdoptAClassroom.org is one such organization working to advance equity in education by connecting classrooms in need with funding. Since 1998, they’ve partnered with individual donors and corporate sponsors to raise over $36 million for students. If you’re an educator looking to outfit your classroom with needed materials or get a project idea off the ground, AdoptAClassroom.org can help! And now, through a recent partnership with Learners Edge, teachers can request funding for professional development needs. I know what you’re thinking: where do I sign up? (right?!) We’ve put together a Quick Start Guide to help you create your AdoptAClassroom.org page and share your story via social media channels.
Quick Start Guide– Adopt-AClassroom.org
- Create your classroom page
Go to AdoptAClassroom.org and input your basic info to create an account. You’ll be directed to your Teacher Dashboard where you can enter additional information about your school and students.
- Craft your narrative
Take a few moments to write a description of how you intend to use donated funds. The AdoptAClassroom.org team suggests you start with a clear and specific list of classroom needs, then develop a narrative to tell your story. Read this ACC blog post for more information on how to make your classroom stand out!
- Post to your social media accounts
Engaging your social media network is one of the fastest ways to fund your classroom. Sharing stories, taking photos, and posting short video clips will inspire donors to contribute to your cause.
- Read this step-by-step guide for details.
- For additional graphics and tips, check out this AAC Social Media Toolkit.
- Refine your strategy
Maximize fundraising efforts by:
- Enlisting community partners
- Finding employee giving programs
- Selecting the best days to ask for support
- Go shopping!
Once donations come in, it’s time to shop! Head over to AdoptAClassroom.org’s online marketplace to shop for the items on your list. You can search by category, vendor, or product. Learners Edge is thrilled to now offer continuing education courses as part of the AdoptAClassroom.org Marketplace. Select courses to fit your professional learning goals, while also meeting license renewal or salary advancement needs. For a video walk-through of the marketplace, watch this tutorial—Marketplace.
- Say Thanks
Increase the likelihood of repeat giving with a timely and personal thank you message. Donors will appreciate staying connected via photos, kid-created artwork, and updates on the positive impact of their donation. Read up on The 3 Most Important Rules for Thanking Your Donors.
Now that you know how darn easy it is to begin crowdfunding for your classroom needs, hop over to AdoptAClassroom.org and create your page today! Show off the great work you’re doing and make a case for the funding your students deserve. Don’t be afraid to dream big!
Looking to learn more about educational grant sources and how to find a good match? Or want to know the various parts of a typical grant proposal and how to write one that is more likely to get funded? Enroll in Course 5085: Get that Grant! Grant Writing for Teachers and hone your grant writing skills.
