Financial Help for Teachers: Top Resources for Classroom Needs

Teachers today are too often left to bridge the funding gap on their own for their classroom needs. A study by the National Education Association found that more than 90% of teachers dip into their own paychecks to buy classroom supplies when funding from school districts falls short. This is where grants, scholarships, and crowdfunding can provide financial help for teachers. This guide explains the pros and cons of each of these resources for teaching and highlights the best ways teachers can make a meaningful difference without reaching into their own pockets.

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Help for teachers: 3 resources you need to know

1. Grants for teachers

Grants allow teachers to improve their classrooms, offer enrichment programs, and more. From science supplies to musical instruments, grants can help teachers provide necessary school supplies. Grants can also allow teachers to pursue professional development opportunities to become better educators. While much of grant funding comes from the federal government, other organizations, like nonprofits, private foundations, and corporations, can offer grants as well.

Pros

• • Grants typically provide large sums of money.
  • If you’re awarded a grant and the award meets all your needs, you could devote time you would normally spend on fundraising in your classroom instead.
  • If your school or classroom has a clear need, you could be in a strong position to win grants, usually based on need.

Cons

• • You may have to jump through administrative hoops to prove your need for the funds.
  • Grants can be competitive, making it difficult to know if you’ll be able to secure funding.
  • The majority of grants also have very specific requirements for how their funds can be spent.
  • The funding disbursement dates may or may not line up with your program needs.

Look for specific education grants at the NEA Foundation, Grant Watch, and GetEdFunding. The GoFundMe.org Education Fund is another great way for teachers to receive support.

2. Scholarships for teachers

Scholarships can provide resources for teachers, classrooms, and students based on achievement and merit. It’s usually a bit easier to apply for scholarships than grants.

Pros

• • Scholarships come with a feeling of validation since they’re won on merit.
  • Applying for scholarships can require much less paperwork than applying for grants.
  • Scholarships can revolutionize a classroom or school. Some scholarships award large sums of money for advanced education and training.

Cons

• • Filling out applications for scholarships can take a good deal of time.
  • Almost all scholarships are highly competitive.
  • Deadlines and the disbursement of funds may not align with your needs.

Start your search for classroom scholarships at Great Value Colleges, Fastweb.com, and Teacher.org.

3. Crowdfunding for teachers

Crowdfunding has become a popular alternative to grants and scholarships and helps teachers find classroom funding quickly. Not only does classroom fundraising bypass the red tape associated with grants and scholarships, but it also allows teachers to truly invest in their students’ education exactly how they want.

Pros

• • There are no eligibility requirements or deadlines.
  • Teachers can use it to raise money for everything from classroom projects to school supplies to specific initiatives.
  • You can create a fundraising page in a few minutes on a reliable fundraising platform such as GoFundMe.
  • GoFundMe has no platform fee in the US. There is only a small transaction fee per donation.
  • Fundraising encourages community members to support public school teachers directly.
  • Students can participate through team fundraising, encouraging school spirit.
  • Crowdfunding is ideal for charter schools, middle school or elementary school teachers, and educators across grade levels.

Cons

• • Starting a classroom fundraiser can feel intimidating, but fundraising tips and templates are widely available.
  • Teachers might be nervous about outreach, but local support from PTO, PTA, and social media can go a long way.

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Tips for setting up your crowdfunding fundraiser

Choose your fundraiser title and set your goal

Your title should be short, clear, and specific—something like “Send Us to Washington D.C.” resonates more than “Field Trip Fundraiser.” Be sure your fundraising goal is attainable and matches your classroom needs. Consider starting with one or two school programs before scaling up.

Recurring donations

Encourage monthly giving by explaining how funds will be used throughout the school year. Let them know how funds will be used for classroom supplies or an after-school initiative; donors want to know how their gift will help.

Add a winning photo

Photos make your fundraiser more engaging. Be sure to:

• Use a clear, compelling image.
• Get parent permission before using student photos.
• Include multiple visuals to boost engagement.

Write a descriptive story

This is your chance to connect with potential donors. Share:

• Who you are and what students need.
• How the funds will be used, such as for lesson plans or field trips.
• Why this classroom project or fundraiser matters.

Don’t write a really long story, but make sure it’s at least 400 words. The length of your fundraiser description can affect donations. For a more in-depth guide to writing an effective story for your fundraiser, check out our complete guide to fundraiser stories.

Promote your fundraiser

It’s all about spreading your fundraiser far and wide. Use social media, email, text, and flyers to spread the word.

Reach out to your community

Start with family members, coworkers, and other school teachers. A few early donations can encourage others to give.

Take advantage of social media

It’s a powerful way to reach people fast. Post on your own pages and ask others to share. Your fundraiser can reach new potential donors quickly.

Share offline too

While sharing your fundraiser through Facebook and Instagram can be effective, there are also plenty of in-person ways to share without social media and still get the word out. Here are just a few ways to share offline:

• Send personalized emails and include a link to your fundraiser.
• Send text messages with the fundraiser link.
• Print fundraiser flyers with a QR code that links to your fundraiser and post them around your community, or send them home with your students.

What to do if your fundraiser stalls

Team up with other teachers

Use partnerships to share your fundraiser on their networks. Teamwork can create a ripple effect.

Involve students

Use gamification to engage students. Who can bring in the most donations? Friendly competition helps.

Host a fundraising event

Try a bake sale, supply drive, or other fundraising event. These in-person moments build community and support.

Post frequent updates

Keep supporters engaged with real-time updates. Share milestones, thank donors, and show how funds are making an impact.

Create the ultimate teacher wish list

Teacher wish lists help cover everything from basic classroom needs to enrichment tools. $300 of qualified expenses can be deducted on their taxes through the Education Expense Deduction. Start early by planning your classroom fundraising around classroom needs and gaps in the budget.

1. Map out your year’s lesson plans and anticipated classroom needs.
2. Take inventory of current supplies and your school’s contributions.
3. Don’t be afraid to include bold items: STEM kits, seating upgrades, and more.
4. Review your school budget to estimate what your classroom fundraising needs to cover.

Teacher wish lists can include essential and “nice-to-have” items. Books, snacks, a new whiteboard, or organizational bins are just a few examples that can support classroom goals in meaningful ways.

There are a number of ways to find a teacher wish list depending on where the wish list is hosted. Some teachers may use TeacherLists, Teacher Wish Lists, or an Amazon Wish List. In any case, you can search for a teacher’s school by ZIP code or city and state to see their list.

Teachers who used GoFundMe for classroom fundraising

When their budgets fell short, these teachers took action and used GoFundMe to give their students more.

Classroom supplies for a second-grade teacher

Maria, a second-grade teacher at First Baptist Academy in Portland, Texas, was seeking funds for a large, mobile whiteboard and additional classroom supplies. Maria explained that her current classroom lacks a whiteboard, which is essential for her teaching. She asked her community members for donations to cover this cost to help enhance her students’ learning environment. Her GoFundMe surpassed its fundraising goal, raising over $600 to go towards the whiteboard and other classroom items.

School supplies for fourth-grade teachers

Sarah and her fellow fourth-grade teachers at CES are raising funds to purchase classroom supplies for their students for the school year. Supplies include things such as binders, pencils, notebooks, and art materials. The teachers started a GoFundMe fundraising page to ensure all students have consistent, high-quality items while easing the burden on families. Being able to make a bulk purchase also allows for cost savings and uniformity in materials, enhancing the learning experience for every child. The community has come together and has raised over $2,600 to go towards supplies for the fourth graders at CES.

Get financial help for your classroom today

With crowdfunding, supporting teachers has never been easier. By fundraising for your elementary school, middle school, or high school classroom, you can go directly to your parents, your students, and your community members to find the support and the resources you and your students deserve.

Looking to support teachers in other ways? You can also donate to fundraisers for teachers on GoFundMe. For more information about how GoFundMe works, check out our answers to common fundraising questions. Create a fundraiser for your students and start education fundraising today.

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