Tips for Teachers: Raising Money for Classroom Supplies

It seems the economy continues to fall as standards for schools continue to rise. Teachers are placed under constant pressure to inspire students to perform, while budget cuts are making it increasingly more difficult to buy the needed materials. On average, a teacher spends over $400 a year on supplies for his or her own classroom! Here are a few ideas for teachers that are struggling to fund their own classroom needs.

Donor's Choose

The relatively new website www.donorschoose.org is a teacher's dream come true. The website allows teachers to beg for those much needed items and kind-hearted strangers fill their requests. The teacher creates an account and writes a proposal that explains what is needed and how it will benefit the students. The website contains links to online stores and catalogs so all the teacher has to do is select the items they need and add them to the cart. The Donor's Choose team calculates shipping and everything! Then generous donors select the proposals that touch their hearts and can then fund all or part of the proposal. Once the items are received the teacher is only asked to take some photos (with the disposal camera that is sent to them) and have the students write thank you letters to the donors. This website has funded thousands of teacher's requests from computers to markers.

Tap into Community Resources

Many cities have local classified papers that can be picked up at grocery stores and gas stations. Often it is free to place an ad and teachers can ask for the materials they need. This could be a great way for art teachers to get supplies such as egg cartons and old jars. Retired teachers may also be willing to contribute old books and school supplies that are taking up space in the garage. If your town doesn't have one of these types of papers, try posting an ad at www.craigslist.com. Sometimes all you have to do is ask!

Beg, Borrow, and ....

Teachers are among some of the craftiest people. Give a teacher a piece of string and she'll create a lesson out of it. Another glorious trait that teachers are known for is their fondness for sharing. Creating a space somewhere in the school where teachers can place ads for what they need, can allow other teachers in the building to be helpful without feeling pushy. If you need dry erase markers and are willing to trade something for it, post it where others can see. There might be another teacher with a marker surplus that is lacking in the pencil department. Working out trades among each other forms a sense of community in your school and everyone has the materials they need!

Advertise!

As a last resort, a teacher in San Diego has started selling ad space on his tests to pay for the copies. Most of the ads were taken on by parents with words of encouragement, but some businesses have bought space as well. While this tactic may not be allowed at your school, it is food for thought. What type of fundraisers could your class do to raise money for that new computer that the budget just can't fit in?