Starting October 20, qualifying projects will receive a 2X match on new donations. That means a $20 donation will be matched by $20 to become $40, and so on.
Additionally, ten winners will be selected for the innovation challenge and will each receive a $1,000 DonorsChoose gift code.
If your project meets the criteria below, new donations on your project will be doubled as long as funding remains. Once your project is approved and live on the site, you will see the match offer displayed on your project page.
How to qualify:
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Teach at a historically underfunded school
- Use the campaign code HANDSON when creating your project. This can be entered on the first tab (HI) of your project, or use the link below.
- Create a project requesting materials for experiential learning or hands-on activities
- In your project’s essay, describe your project’s focus on any of the following topics: hands-on activities, project-based learning, real world applications, experiential learning, interactive learning, inquiry-based learning, student-centered learning, role-playing, experiments, or labs.
How to qualify for the innovation challenge:
- If your project qualifies for the match offer, it will automatically be entered into the innovation challenge.
- Submit your most innovative project ideas that emphasize experiential learning, where students learn through hands-on, real-world experiences that encourage active participation and creativity. Our partners at Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation are excited to support projects that go beyond basic needs and general classroom materials, providing your students with unique opportunities to engage in activities that deepen their understanding through direct experience, exploration, problem-solving, and/or connections to experiences outside of the classroom.
- Ensure your essay describes your ideas clearly and mentions specific examples of experiential learning.
Winners of the innovation challenge will be announced in February 2027.
What won’t qualify:
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Projects requesting any of the following resource types:
- Computers and Tablets; Food, Clothing and Hygiene; Flexible Seating
- Projects requesting Teachers Pay Teachers gift cards
- Professional Development projects
Looking for inspiration?
- Breaking Language Barriers Through Technology and Creative Expression | Mrs. Kathy Clark, Texas
- Exploring STEM with Drones: Hands-On Learning for Future Innovators! | Mr. Puod, New Mexico
- Elegant Enchantment: Table Linens and More for Dinner Theater Magic | Mrs. Vlaming, Nevada
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Where do I add the HANDSON campaign code?
To qualify for the match offer or innovation challenge, you must add the HANDSON campaign code on the first page of your project draft, called the HI page.
Please click here for a video-walk through of adding campaign code.
A successful application of the campaign code during project creation will create a new banner on your project page. You will also see a success message after applying it and receive an email stating that your project has the campaign code applied.
Q: Are there any restrictions on which donations are doubled by the match offer?
Credit card, PayPal, account credit, and gift card donations to live projects are eligible for this match. Donations made directly to schools are not eligible for this match offer. Donations via check and donor-advised fund (DAF) will not be multiplied due to processing time. Previous donations placed before the match offer’s start date and time will not be multiplied. Please note, the match offer is not active for donations during Friends and Family Pre-Funding (the period when our team is reviewing projects).
Donations placed to a Classroom Essentials list will not be matched by this funding opportunity. Essentials lists are currently not eligible to receive matching donations from any funding opportunity. You can read more about Classroom Essentials in our Help Center.
Q: What is a historically underfunded school?
We define historically underfunded schools as schools that include any of the following:
- At least 50% of students are Black, Latino, Native American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or multiracial
- At least 50% of the students qualify for free or reduced priced lunch
- At least 75% of students are students of color (Black, Latino, Asian, Native American, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, or multiracial) and the same race
- Underserved rural communities (rural schools where more than one third (34+%) of the students are eligible for free and reduced priced lunch)
Check this page to learn more.
Q: How is information gathered about my school?
We receive our school data from a third party vendor called MDR. You can find out your school’s designation by visiting your school page through your teacher profile page.
Check this page to learn more about school page information.
Q: How can I determine the resource category for my project?
The resource category for your project is determined by the predominant cost of your project materials. If your project contains a majority (51%+) of a particular category resources, then your project will have the appropriate tag. For this opportunity, projects categorized as Computers and Tablets, Food, Clothing and Hygiene, Flexible Seating will not qualify for the match offer or innovation challenge.
Below is an example project that contains the “Food, Clothing & Hygiene” tag:
Q: How can I edit my posted project?
If your project has not received any donations, you can make any edits by returning your project to draft status. You can do this by heading over to the Projects section of your account and clicking on the "Return project to draft" button underneath your project title. Once your project is in draft status, you can make any edits and resubmit it. Then, it will be re-screened by our team and re-posted if eligible. Read more about editing your project.