1. How it works Title: Helvetica 48, Bold Color: Orange: RGB: 243 112 33
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How it works

2. 70% of Posted Projects are Funded!
When you work on your budget, it will tell you how likely you are to be funded.

4. You earn a point each time:
How do you earn points?
You earn a point each time:
Your project is funded and you confirm you still want the materials within 6 days.
You return a Thank-You package that is complete and compelling.
You return your Thank-You package on or before its due date.

5. How do you lose points?
Take more than 6 days to confirm you still want your materials.
Submit digital Thank-You package elements (project photos and impact letter) after the due date you set.
Submit student Thank-You notes after the due date you set.

6. How do you spend points?
You spend points every time you submit a project. The “cost” of each project depends on what you’re asking for. A project requesting...
Materials found in our vendor directory that cost $400 or less costs 1 point.
Materials found in our vendor directory that cost from $401 and $2000 costs 2 points.
Materials found in our vendor directory that cost more than $2001 costs 4 points.
A class visitor costs 3 points.
A class trip that costs $1200 or less costs 3 points.
A class trip that costs $1201 or more costs 4 points.
A “Special Request” for materials not found in our vendor directory costs 6 points.

22. Tips for Success
70% of all projects are fully funded. Follow these suggestions to give your project an edge!
Be specific. Think about what your students need. Can you explain this in a way that's vivid, compelling, and inspiring for potential donors?
Bite size pieces. Smaller requests are more likely to get funded quickly. Can you start with a smaller request that will have a big impact right away?
Get inspiration. Click on the View some A+ projects
Check out funding opportunities. Click on the Current Match Offers

23. Writing a great essay
Tell a story. Illustrate why and how the project will help your class. Here's a great example: "We don't have dictionaries, so my students can't look up definitions of words they don't understand when they are reading. Instead of being resourceful, my students get frustrated.“
Beware of jargon. If you use acronyms like the name of a standardized test or "ELMO," make sure you explain them. (Most donors will picture the Sesame Street character, not a useful document camera!)
Double check spelling and grammar. Like it or not, some donors won't give to a project if they find a typo in it.

24. Getting the word out
Use your public profile. It's a one-stop shop to showcase your efforts on DonorsChoose.org. Create a custom URL and share the link so your friends, family, and network can always see what your classroom is up to.
Facebook, Facebook, Facebook! Log into your account to sign up for automatic Facebook updates.
your friends and family. People want to know about the great work you're doing! And many will be happy to spread the word for you. One teacher shared, "I was amazed at how quickly my project was funded, just by sending a few messages. We forget how eager our friends and family are to help out our classrooms. Plus, they love to hear about what we are accomplishing!“
Tell your community. Organizations like rotary clubs, small businesses, local media, and school PTAs have supported teachers across the country. Ask your PTA if they will include a direct link to your project in their communications!

25. Need help along the way? Visit help.donorschoose.org
At our Help Center you can use the search function to search for your question, or peruse our most viewed topics. If you don’t find the answer you need on the Help Center, please submit our online contact form to get in touch with our Customer Relations team. They’ll respond to your inquiry via within a few working days.
Need help along the way? Visit help.donorschoose.org 25

26. Reposting an expired or archived project
Your project will stay on the site for 4 months.
Once a project has expired or been archived it’s not possible to make the project live again or directly re-post it to the site. If you still need the materials from an expired or archived project, we encourage you to create and submit a new version of the original request.
You can access all your archived/expired projects in your teacher account under the "Project Archive" section. Feel free to use the old project as a reference while you create a new one, and you're welcome to reuse text from your original essay. Once submitted, your new project will be reviewed by our screeners and posted on the site with a new project ID number.

27. Contact Information
Facebook: Creativegrants Jan Bratcher