A 15% suggested donation to support DonorsChoose is automatically added to every teacher project. Though this amount cannot be removed from your project goal, individual donors can choose to exclude it in their donation.
Any donor can opt out or adjust this donation before they process their transaction: on the checkout page, they should click "edit" on the following page, next to the suggested donation amount. Each time a donor opts out, we recalculate the amount remaining on your project.
What is the suggested donation for?
The suggested donation supports the labor performed by DonorsChoose to bring project requests to life. DonorsChoose ensures end-to-end integrity on every project by reviewing project submissions, procuring materials, verifying school shipping addresses, and maintaining contact with the teachers and other school officials throughout the process. These suggested donations are essential to keep DonorsChoose going!
If the suggested donation is already included in my project, how can donors opt out of it?
If a donor excludes the suggested donation from their gift, that portion of the 15% will be removed from your project goal. If all of your donors exclude the suggested donation from your gift, the complete 15% will be removed from/accounted for in your project goal.
Do match offers exclude the suggested donation?
The vast majority of our partners include the suggested donation in their matching donations and grants, even when other donors opt out.
I'm donating to my own project with credits or a gift card. Can I still adjust the donation?
Yes! Any donor, paying with any method, can individually choose to opt out of the suggested donation using the instructions described above.