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.
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.
- Most grants have strict spending guidelines.
- 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. To win one, you must stand out from a large pool of applicants.
- 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. Here are some other benefits:
Pros
-
- There are no eligibility requirements or deadlines. Start raising funds within minutes and transfer your funds whenever you’re ready.
- Crowdfunding allows teachers to truly invest in their students’ education exactly how they want, regardless of budget limitations.
- Setting up a fundraiser takes just a few minutes, and we offer multiple ways to share your fundraiser with your network.
- GoFundMe’s pricing is simple. In the US, there’s no fee to start or manage your fundraiser on GoFundMe. However, there is one small transaction fee per donation that covers all your fundraising needs. Everything else goes directly to your cause, because that’s what matters most.
- Involving students in the fundraising process encourages team building and friendly competition. With our team fundraising feature, you can all raise funds together and track who brings in the most donations.
- Your community can rally around your cause by donating and sharing your fundraiser on social media.
- Our blog provides articles on classroom fundraising tips and fundraising ideas for schools.
Cons
-
- Setting up, launching, and updating a fundraiser can seem intimidating at first. However, other teachers and administrators can share the workload. Students can also take on tasks.
- Asking for donations and sharing your fundraiser far and wide might seem daunting to start. But know that your community wants to support you and your class.
Tips for setting up your crowdfunding fundraiser
When you start a GoFundMe, you may want your fundraiser to revolve around one specific activity or classroom need, like a class field trip or a digital chalkboard. Or you might opt to fundraise for numerous activities throughout the year. Whichever option you decide, these classroom fundraising tips will make sure you’re off to a good start.
Choose your fundraiser title and set your goal
Your fundraiser title should be relatively short, memorable, and explain exactly why you’re raising funds in a succinct way. “Fund Our Field Trip,” is too vague, but “Send Us to Washington D.C.” lets people know exactly why you need their help and will encourage more clicks to your fundraiser. For more help, read our blog post on tips for creating your fundraiser title.
When it comes to your fundraiser goal, choose an amount that is attainable and realistic. You may want to take seven different field trips throughout the year, but it might be better to start fundraising for the first few to start. People are more willing to donate when they feel their contribution can make a noticeable difference.
Recurring donations
Donors have the option support your classroom on a monthly basis- let them know how funds could be used in your fundraiser description.
Add a winning photo
Your photo will be the first thing to catch someone’s eye when they see your fundraiser on social media, so you’ll want to keep these tips in mind:
- Use a clear and compelling photo—avoid grainy images or school logos.
- Always get parents’ permission if you are using students in a photo.
- Add multiple photos throughout your story if possible. People are more drawn to fundraisers that have a strong visual element.
Find out more in our blog post with fundraising tips for images.
Write a descriptive story
Your story can either draw someone in or lose their attention. Crafting an engaging story that explains how your students will benefit from the funds is one of the most important parts of your fundraiser. Here are some tips to help:
- Include all the crucial information first, like who you are, why you’re raising funds, and why this cause means so much to you. Include any other details that will draw potential donors into your story in later paragraphs.
- Explain exactly how you’ll be using the funds, which will gain your donors’ trust. You can list the budget you created for added transparency.
- Don’t make your story too long, but ensure it’s at least 400 words, as the length of your fundraiser description can influence donations.
- Have your principal review your story and photos to ensure your fundraiser is compliant with school policies.
Our comprehensive fundraiser story guide offers more detailed tips on crafting a compelling story for your fundraiser.
How to promote your fundraiser
Sharing your fundraiser far and wide is crucial to its success, so it’s important to be strategic about how you do this. We have some ideas for the best ways to share your cause with your friends, family, coworkers, and everyone in between.
Reach out to your community
Your first donations will come directly from people you know, so it’s best to start by sharing your fundraiser with these people first and then slowly branch out from there. Start by asking two or three close friends or family members if they would be willing to share your fundraiser with their network. Once you receive a few initial donations, other people who don’t personally know you will be more willing to open their wallets.
Take advantage of social media
Using social media to promote your fundraiser is an amazing but low-effort way to reach many people at once. And when people in your network share your fundraiser, this will naturally double and triple the number of people viewing your fundraiser. These are the top social media platforms to use when promoting your fundraiser:
- TikTok
- Nextdoor
If you don’t quite know how to promote your fundraiser on social media yet, our guide on best practices for promoting your fundraiser online shares plenty of ideas.
Share your fundraiser offline
While sharing your fundraiser through Facebook and Instagram can be effective, there are also plenty of 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
Even the best fundraisers can hit a donation lull—it’s all part of the fundraising cycle. The good news is that there are steps you can take to shorten the lull and keep donations coming in.
Team up with other teachers
Lean on your fellow teachers to help spread the word about your cause. Ask them to share the fundraiser on social media or post flyers on your behalf. Doing this might also cause a ripple effect at your school and encourage more teacher fundraising.
Involve your students
Ask your students to share the fundraiser link on their own social media profiles. If you have opted for a team fundraiser, you can create a fun game with the students who bring in the most donations.
Host a fundraising event
There are countless fundraising event ideas that provide the opportunity to connect with parents and other community members on a deeper level. Whether it’s a bake sale, car wash, or back-to-school supply drive, a fundraising event helps you advocate for your cause in a more personal way.
Post frequent updates
Fundraiser updates keep your supporters informed and serve as a reminder that you still need help reaching your goal. You can use updates to share new information, express gratitude, or celebrate fundraiser milestones. Our blog post on how to write a fundraiser update gives guidance if you aren’t sure how to get started.
Create the ultimate teacher wish list
While teachers are able to deduct a maximum of $300 of qualified expenses on their taxes through the Education Expense Deduction, teachers are still having to cover significant out-of-pocket costs for classroom items. From pencils and books to snacks and cleaning supplies, creating a teacher wish list gives you the freedom to think outside the box and dream beyond the bare minimum. A wish list is also beneficial for first-year teachers to get items like classroom decor and organizational supplies like bins and file folders. These steps will help you create your own teacher wish list.
1. Start your lesson plans early
Roughly planning out the year’s themes will help determine what activities and field trips are already in store, and what supplementary activities you’d like to make time for.
2. Take inventory
Make a list of the classroom supplies you already have. Knowing what’s already covered by your department will help you easily figure out what items you’ll have to cover on your own.
3. Don’t be afraid to think big
Perhaps you’d like your language arts class to perform their own original play to complement their unit on Shakespeare. Or maybe your science class would benefit from some hands-on learning at the science museum. Whether it’s special activities, iPads, or interactive furniture, add these items to your teacher wish list.
4. Find the gaps in the budget
Take a good look at the department budget. When you know exactly how much money you have for the year, you’ll be able to easily determine what activities and supplies aren’t covered. Once you know how much extra money you’ll need, you’ll be ready to run a successful school supply drive.
Other key things to know about teacher wish lists
- Teachers should put any essential supplies on their wish lists such as paper, pencils, pens, erasers, etc. In addition to essentials, teachers can also put any nice-to-have items like small whiteboards, supply bins, and a rolling cart.
- 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.
- Once you have found a teacher’s wish list, you can donate to the wish list by pledging/selecting items to contribute. After making a pledge or selection, you may be directed to Amazon to purchase the items through there where they’ll then be sent to your school. If you’d rather not purchase through Amazon, you can buy the items elsewhere online, just make sure that you send said items to the school’s mailing address and include the teacher’s name in the shipping information so that it gets delivered to the correct person.
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 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 teachers at CES are raising funds to purchase school supplies for their fourth-grade students for the school year. Supplies include things such as binders, pencils, notebooks, and art materials. The teachers started the GoFundMe 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 for teachers. By fundraising for your classroom, you can tap into the social networks of parents, students, and community members to get the support and resources you and your classroom need. Want to learn more about how to support teachers? 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.