Teacher FAQs

• Communicating with DonorsChoose.org
• How can I add DonorsChoose.org to my address book so that I get all of your emails?
• How do I find my project ID#?
• How can I contact you?
• Registering/My Account
• Who can use DonorsChoose.org?
• How do I open a teacher account?
• I opened a new account but never got the registration email. What do I do?
• What are my responsibilities when using DonorsChoose.org?
• What should I do if the free lunch percentage at my school is wrong?
• I teach at two or more schools. Which do I register at?
• What is an annex school?
• What do I do when I change schools?
• What should I do if my school is not listed?
• What roles do my principal, colleagues, and school play in my experience with DonorsChoose.org?
• What does 'exclusion' mean and how can I be excluded?
• Account Photo
• I am unable to upload my photo because it’s too large. How can I crop it to the right size?
• What measures should I take to protect my students’ privacy in our account photo?
• What measures has DonorsChoose.org taken to safeguard my students’ privacy in my account photo?
• Why should I add a photo to my project?
• What kind of photo would enhance my project?
• What kind of photo should I NOT upload?
• Submitting a Materials Project
• What kinds of resources may be requested?
• How much can a student project cost? How long is it likely to take until the project is funded?
• Who decides if my project is funded?
• How can I write a good project proposal if I'm not experienced at grant writing?
• Should I submit a project for a specific occasion or upcoming class event?
• What makes a project compelling to donors?
• How do I submit a project?
• How do I request materials using eSchoolMall?
• What vendors can I use to find materials?
• If I'm certain that the materials I need are not offered by an Express Vendor, what should I do?
• Why isn't there a dedicated music vendor?
• Why is my project price tag a little more than the materials themselves?
• Why do you charge Shipping Charges and Sales Tax?
• Why can't I choose a resource from a vendor with a lower price?
• What does DonorsChoose.org do after I've submitted a project? And why hasn't my project been posted yet?
• My Points
• What is the Points and Benefits System and how does it work?
• How do I earn, spend, or lose points?
• How do I see what points I have earned, spent or lost?
• Why do I have to spend points to submit a project?
• What happens to my points if my project is not fully funded or if I choose to remove it?
• What if my points are wrong?
• Will you return the points I spent to post a project?
• Why did you change the points system?
• What happened to the old status levels?
• My Posted Project
• How many projects can I have posted/in process at any given time? What does "in process" mean?
• How long does an un-funded project stay on the website?
• Why do you charge shipping charges and sales tax?
• How do I modify my posted project?
• What is an expiration date?
• If my project is partially funded and it expires, what happens to the donations?
• Why is my project price tag a little more than the materials themselves?
• How do I remove a posted project from the site?
• How can I find out who donated to my project?
• My project is partially funded. Can some materials be purchased?
• What does "waiting for check" mean?
• What is a match offer?
• Confirming a Funded Project
• What should I do if the link in the email doesn't work?
• My project is fully funded, so why haven't I received the confirmation email?
• What is a summer or winter ordering break? What if I am teaching during the summer?
• Materials for a Fully Funded Project
• What should I do if I haven't received the materials for a funded project?
• When Can I Expect My Materials to Arrive?
• When should I submit a Missing Materials Inquiry?
• What is a summer ordering break? What if I am teaching during the summer?
• My school is in session during the summer months. Can my materials be shipped over the summer?
• Can I modify the materials I requested after my project has been posted or funded?
• Can DonorsChoose.org send project materials to my home or another address rather than to my school?
• Who owns the materials obtained via DonorsChoose.org? What if the teacher moves to a new school?
• What happens if my materials are lost or stolen at my school?
• What happens to my projects if I am no longer eligible to receive grants from DonorsChoose.org?
• Class Trip or Visitor
• Who can submit a project for a Class Trip or Class Visitor?
• How do you verify the prices for a field trip?
• Will DonorsChoose.org pay for flights for my students?
• Can I request gift cards through DonorsChoose.org?
• Since I will be out of my classroom for the field trip, may I request the pay for a substitute teacher?
• I’d like to take my class on a lot of trips. Can I write just one project?
• What do I do if I want to buy my students lunch or a memento while we’re on our trip? What if we take the subway or other form of mass transit?
• I've already taken a trip and the school paid for it. Can I submit a project for it so that my school can get its money back?
• Why did my project for a trip expire so far in advance of the date of the trip?
• What if my venue for a class trip needs a deposit to hold my reservation?
• If I've received funding for a field trip or class visitor, who will make the arrangements?
• What if I can’t take the trip immediately after the funding comes through?
• Special Requests
• What is a Special Request?
• Who can submit a Special Request?
• From what vendors can I select materials for a Special Request?
• What if DonorsChoose.org requests that I make the initial purchase of a Special Request item but I cannot pay for the materials myself?
• How do I receive a reimbursement if DonorsChoose.org requests that I make the initial purchase of a Special Request item?
• Can I request items from eSchoolMall in the same project as a Special Request?
• My Thank-You Package
• What is a thank-you kit?
• What should I do if I lost my thank-you kit or never received it?
• Where can I find the names of my donors?
• What do I do if I lost the disposable camera that was in my thank-you kit?
• What is a thank-you package?
• What are the guidelines for thank-you letters?
• Can I send my own photos from a digital camera?
• What kinds of photos are suitable for donors?
• Why is it so important that student names not appear in the photos?
• Do I need to complete my project before sending a thank-you package?
• What should I do if I need to extend the due date for my thank-you package?
• I can't complete my thank-you package because I don’t have all the materials. What should I do?
• Why is it important for me to return my thank-you package on time?
• What happens if my thank-you package is late?
• General Information
• Where can I see DonorsChoose.org's financial statement and Form 990 tax return?

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