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The following websites and organizations can help your school gain much-needed resources such as school supplies and equipment.
Supplies
Donor’s Choose – School teachers can post their needs on this website in the form of a project proposal. Donors view the site and choose a proposal to fund. Donor’s Choose acts as the facilitator, accepting the funds from the donor and purchasing the supplies/equipment for the teacher, as well as collecting the thank you letters from the students and teacher to send to the donor. Teachers cannot receive money from a donor through this website, only resources. Visit their website at www.donorschoose.org for more details.
Adopt a Classroom - Teachers can register their classrooms and donors can log on and choose to ‘adopt’ a classroom. Donor then provides the teacher with a set amount of money to purchase school supplies so that they will not have to reach into their own pockets to improve their classrooms. Teachers can visit their website at www.adoptaclassroom.com to register their classroom.
Materials for the Arts – Operating a large warehouse in Long Island City, Materials for the Arts collects in-kind donations from businesses and individuals around the city and then allows teachers to make appointments and shop for these items for free. They have an abundance of art supplies, but many other items as well, including books, paper and classroom supplies. Schools must be registered in order to make appointments; please visit www.mfta.org to register your school and learn more.
Pencil Box – Run by PENCIL, the Pencil Box is a matching database. Any company or individual with gently used furniture, equipment or other quality goods to donate can list these items on the PENCIL Box website where a school can access these donations directly. Schools search the online database and if they find an item they need, they contact the donor directly. Donor and recipient work together to handle the logistics of the delivery. Visit www.thepencilbox.org to search their list of available items.
Events
Beyond the Bakesale, the Ultimate School Fund Raising Book - The book by Jean Joachim includes ideas for school events, how to run them, timelines and innovations from school fund raisers nationwide. The website that accompanies the book also provides the opportunity to subscribe to a quarterly newsletter for more ideas and advice.
Programs
NY Cares Day - One Saturday each October, New York Cares mobilizes over 8,000 New Yorkers to revitalize more than 100 New York City public schools. Volunteers reorganize libraries; work in technology centers; clean up playgrounds; paint murals and line games; and make our schools brighter, cleaner, and happier–efforts that have an enormous impact, creating positive learning environments for children. New York Cares Day volunteers also raise money to support our year-round projects. The event is organized in partnership with the New York City Department of Education. New York City public schools interested in applying to be a Cares Day site can download an application or call 212-228-5000 for more information.
Children for Children - Children for Children provides educational materials and services to New York City schools serving under-resourced communities. CFC offers valuable resources to benefit schools, teachers and their students including Annual Fund Resource Grants for schools, Teachers Aid Program Grants, hands-on volunteer opportunities in the schools and book drives. For more information about CFC programs and grants, visit www.childrenforchildren.org or call 212.850.4170
Best Buy Children’s Foundation - Best Buy's te@ch program rewards schools that make learning fun by integrating interactive technology into the curriculum. The te@ch program awards a $2,500 Best Buy Gift Card to selected schools. Visit www.bestbuy.com/teach for more information.
Grant Writing
How to Get Grants and Gifts for the Public Schools – A book by Stanley Levenson, a school fundraising consultant, How to Get Grants and Gifts for the Public Schools contains tips, ideas and instructions to secure grants for your school. Tackling both government and private grants, Levenson addresses how to find a donor, writing techniques and online resources.
Online Tutorial and Free Classes
http://fdncenter.org/learn/shortcourse/prop1.html
Part of the Foundation Center website, the online tutorial is ideal for grant writing beginners. The Foundation Center, located in Manhattan, also offers pay and free courses in grant writing to help all levels of fundraisers.
Foundation Center Online
www.fdncenter.org
Foundation Center Online gives links to hundreds of foundations and provides a "User-Friendly Guide" for grant seekers. Some searches and portions of the website are password protected, but much of the site is not. The Foundation Center, located in Manhattan, also offers pay and free courses in grant writing to help all levels of fundraisers. There are also online tutorials for new grant writers, as well as an online funding library and additional resources.
Foundation Finder
http://lnp.fdncenter.org/finder.html
Part of the Foundation Center website, the Foundation Finder searches information about thousands of foundations in the U.S.
Fundsnet Online Services
www.fundsnetservices.com
Fundsnet Online Services main page provides links to hundreds of funding sources as well as grant writing and fund-raising tips. This link provides names of foundations and corporations interested in funding educational programs.
Foundation Center Library
79 Fifth Avenue
Manhattan
212-620-4230
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