Don’t choose DonorsChoose.org
Perhaps you’d like to give a book, a chair, a shelf, or an entire collection to enhance a library or classroom. Wouldn’t we all love to give children a place like this one to read and study! Donors beware! Do a little research to make the most of your donation dollars.
Donorschoose.org, founded by a Teach for America alum, has received much hype and media attention. In theory, it is a great idea, but this nonprofit generously helps itself to your contributions. The many notable supporters who promote this organization should demand that it be more fiscally responsible and that more funding be spent on teachers’ requests. Donors beware! Think twice before giving.
From the Donorschoose web site:
Our mission: DonorsChoose.org engages the public in public schools by giving people a simple, accountable and personal way to address educational inequity.
Our vision: We envision a nation where children in every community have the tools and experiences needed for an excellent education.
Here’s how it works:
1. You give to a classroom project.
2. We deliver the materials to class.
3. Kids learn and show it in photos and thank you notes.
It sounds simple and generous. Oprah Winfrey chose it as one of her Ultimate Favorite Things in 2010. Stephen Colbert is on the board of directors along with several other notable people. It seems like a good way to connect people with money to classrooms in need.
EXCEPT, much of the money donated never makes it to the classroom. Of the nearly 33 million dollars donated last year, only 25 million was spent on classroom materials. Nearly 25% was spent on administrative and other costs. According to the organizations 990s:
- Over the past six years, DonorsChoose.org collected over $101 million dollars, but less than $70 million was spent on classroom materials.
- In 2011, Donorschoose paid 12 employees salaries of over $100,000. That’s way too many. One would be more than enough. This isn’t rocket science.
- A total of nearly $3,000,000 went to 41 other employees. That’s roughly $73,000 each. That’s way too much, especially since volunteers are said to do much of the work.
- Over $180,000 was spent on travel. That’s way too much — nearly $3,500 per employee. Why would such a small charitable organization spend so much on travel? Ever heard of Skype?
Here’s a better idea for the contributor. Donate directly to a teacher. Find out what your favorite teacher needs and get it for her: a class set of novels, science supplies, props for a school play. If you don’t have a teacher connection, donate directly to your school district’s foundation. Much more of your money will benefit the teachers and students you want to support.
Find out more about Donorschoose.org at Edwatch.
This analysis fails to break down funding sources and is potentially very misleading. This post makes it appear Donorschoose skims off 25% of the donations given by individuals for classroom projects through the website. In fact, some of this money may come from large donors or grants given directly to donorschoose for the express purpose of supporting administrative costs. Other money may come from an optional 15% donation that visitors to the website can CHOOSE to donate, or choose not to donate. When I use the website, I sometimes give the additional 15% and sometimes do not. All the rest of the money goes DIRECTLY to classroom projects. So I think your post needs some clarification. If donorschoose is skimming money off my donation, they are clearly committing fraud and I would like to know about it. If they are not, then your post is horrifically misleading and should be removed before it discourages any potential donors out there from donating their money to an exceptionally helpful charity.
I would add, as a final note, that it is extremely difficult to donate money directly to teachers and get a tax receipt, unless your school has a well-functioning PTA. Many schools in high-poverty areas do not have a working PTA, making donorschoose a valuable resource.
If you follow the link to Edwatch you can look at the 990s DonorsChoose.org has submitted for the past five years. I stand by my observation that the organization pockets a quarter of every dollar it collects. That may be okay for some charities, but we are talking about giving to teachers and needy little children. The organization should take steps to cut costs in delivering classroom materials.
I think the idea is a great one! But I can tell you without a doubt that if I were in charge of this company, I could streamline the operation to make sure that many more teachers’ projects were funded. I’m sure many others could do a better job, too.
And while it may be a little more difficult to donate directly to a teacher, it’s as easy as pie to donate to your school district’s foundation and get a tax receipt.