For the whole month of January 2021, teachers who have never had a project on DonorsChoose are eligible for a $50 welcome donation when they submit their first project. Teachers who refer new teachers can receive a $25 gift code.
Here’s how to qualify for the $50 donation:
- You have never had a live, approved project on DonorsChoose.
- Submit a project for anything you or your students need.
- Pro Tip: We recommend keeping your total project goal under $600 for the best shot at receiving full funding.
- Submit your project anytime between Friday January 1st and Sunday January 31st, 2021.
- If your project is eligible, you’ll receive a $50 donation within 2 business days of your project being posted.
How to get involved if you have posted a project on DonorsChoose before:
You can still participate—earn a $25 DonorsChoose gift code by referring a teacher and helping them post their first project! Click the button below to learn all about our Refer-a-Teacher program.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I have to submit a project?
In order to be eligible for a $50 welcome donation, submit your project between 12:00AM EST 1/1/21 (9:00PM PT 12/31/20), and 11:59PM EST 1/31/21 (8:59 PT 1/31/21).
If I am eligible for a $50 donation, when can I expect to see the donation appear on my project page?
You will see the $50 welcome donation on your project page within 2 business days of your project being approved and posted live on our site.
If I get a $50 donation, will it be matched by LIFTOFF (the Teacher Friends and Family Code that matches up to $50 on first-time DonorsChoose teacher projects) to equal $100?
No. Donors who enter that code during the first week that your project is posted will see their donations double. The $50 welcome donation will not receive the LIFTOFF match. Read more about LIFTOFF in the LIFTOFF Help Center article.
I have submitted a project on DonorsChoose, but it was never approved and posted live on the site. Am I eligible for the $50 welcome donation?
Yes! As long as you have never had a live, approved project on our site, you are eligible for the $50 donation.
I have had a live, approved project on DonorsChoose before, but it wasn’t fully funded. Am I eligible for the $50 welcome donation?
Only teachers who have never before had a live, approved project on our site are eligible for the welcome donation. If you have had a live, approved project on the site but have never before been funded, you will not be eligible for the welcome donation. We invite you to take part in our Refer-a-Teacher Program instead! We also encourage you to check out our Match Offers for never-before-funded teachers, which you can find on our Match Offers Page.
If I am eligible for the welcome donation, can I submit multiple projects in January?
Only the first project you submit in January will receive the $50 welcome donation. However, you can post as many projects on our site as you wish!
Once my project is posted and gets a $50 welcome donation, what should I do to make sure my project gets funded?
Kudos to you for thinking so proactively about your project success! One of the best ways to set yourself up for project funding is to spread the word about the LIFTOFF code to your friends and family. The LIFTOFF code is a special code for new teachers like you that matches up to $50 on first-time DonorsChoose teacher projects. Read more in our LIFTOFF Help Center article. You can also read our Tips for Success Help Center article for additional fundraising ideas
What happens if my project is fully funded before I get my $50 welcome donation?
If your project is eligible for a $50 welcome donation and is fully funded before the welcome donation is applied to your project, we’ll follow up via email within one week to send you a $50 DonorsChoose gift card to use on your next project.
What should I submit for my first project?
For the best chance of getting fully funded, we recommend keeping your first project request under $600. You can check out some of tips on our blog and Help Center:
Our Global Inventory Hub tracks where to request popular materials