Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates from DonorsChoose – Help Center

Updated 12/3/2021

The DonorsChoose team is evaluating the many ways the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affects classrooms, teachers, and students across the country. We'll update this page regularly, so please check here if you have questions about projects or donations.

For more information about coronavirus, visit the CDC website and the U.S. Department of Education's guide to coronavirus resources.

Information for teachers

Supply chain shortages and delays

Check out our new Global Inventory Hub, with suggestions on where to shop for popular resources like tech items and cleaning supplies.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a global supply shortage is making it difficult for school districts, teachers, parents, and DonorsChoose to purchase some essential items, like technology and cleaning supplies. Our vendors are hard at work to ensure that you can get the resources you need for your classroom, but some items may be unavailable, or experience shipping delays greater than 3 weeks.

Thank-you packages

We know that the coronavirus could impact your ability to complete your thank-you package. We’ve made some changes to thank-you package requirements to accommodate this uncertain school year.

Our community and classroom funding model is built on gratitude and transparency. We still believe in the undeniable power of a simple thank-you — especially in tough times. It keeps classroom supporters coming back again and again, and even helps us find new ones for your future projects! But we also know that in this unprecedented school year, a thank-you package may be the last thing on a teacher’s mind.

We have taken the following steps to reduce any barriers to completing thank-you package steps:

Made thank-you packages optional for projects that were fully funded before May
Waived thank-you package requirements for teachers who completed their impact letters before 8/3/2020.
Removed the student-thank you opt-in for donors.
Made photos optional, and increased the variety of what can be uploaded

Shipping guidelines

Starting in July 2020, we’ve expanded shipping options and flexibility for some projects. Some teachers may have the ability to request that their project materials be delivered to an address other than a school when confirming funding for their project. You can check out how to create an eligible project here.

Trip projects

As of October 8th, 2020, teachers are able to submit class trip and class visitor projects for virtual events. Check out all the details in our help center.

In-person Class Trip and Class Visitor projects are unavailable until further notice, due to high rates of rescheduling and cancellations as a result of COVID-19. You can still submit a virtual class trip or visitor project!

Integrated vendors

Some vendors and items may be unavailable due to coronavirus’ impact on vendors’ inventory, supply chain, and warehouse capabilities. When shopping, you may see that items are out of stock or unable to ship at this time.

Additional free resources while your school is closed

Our vendors, partners, and other friends of DonorsChoose are doing so much to support teachers, students, and parents during school closures. Here's a growing list of additional resources you may find helpful.

Information for classroom supporters

How to help students during school closures

Thank you for your continued support of public schools! The best way to support teachers is by donating to a project. Thousands of teachers are still using DonorsChoose to request resources for their students while school doors are closed, and we’re working with them directly to make sure materials are delivered safely. You can also support projects that are intended to ship directly to a teacher or student home.

Discontinuing student thank-you notes until further notice

We’re no longer asking teachers to create thank-you notes with their students until schools are able to open their doors again. Donors will not receive student thank-you notes for donations of any amount made after March 20, 2020. While this is a big shift for us, we know it’s the right choice -- we’re glad we can take one thing off teachers’ minds right now. We’re looking forward to bringing back the glittery, magic-markered, sweetly drawn notes we all love to receive as soon as we can.

Keeping our communities healthy and safe

In accordance with local recommendations, DonorsChoose has closed its offices. Our work doesn't stop, however; teachers, many of whom are working remotely for the first time, need our community's help more than ever to keep their students safe and healthy. We're working hard to limit disruptions in our support.

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