MARSP DonorsChoose Fund: Supporting Classrooms and Building Relationships
Best's Test
In 2000, Bronx high school history teacher Charles Best faced a problem. His school budget didn’t cover all the books and supplies his students needed, so he and his colleagues were spending their own money to fill the gap.
He wondered whether people outside the school could directly support classroom needs and whether seeing the immediate impact of their generosity might make them more likely to give. To test his idea, Best created a crowdfunding website and called it DonorsChoose.
DonorsChoose Today
Fast forward to the present day, and DonorsChoose has become the premier crowdfunding platform for teachers seeking support for classroom projects. With the support of over 6 million generous individuals, corporations, and foundations, it has facilitated funding for nearly 3 million classroom projects. DonorsChoose vets each project request, ships the funded resources directly to the classroom, and provides thank yous and reporting to donors and school leaders. DonorsChoose also prioritizes projects in low-income and historically underfunded districts, where teachers often bear higher out-of-pocket expenses.
MARSP's DonorsChoose Fund: Backing Michigan Classrooms
Over the years, DonorsChoose has earned the trust of educators, district administrators, and donors, including MARSP and the MARSP Foundation. Since 2018, MARSP and the Foundation have jointly contributed $10,000 per year to DonorsChoose projects in Michigan. In 2024, we took that annual contribution a step even further and established an official DonorsChoose Fund.
This fund reflects MARSP and the Foundation’s dedication to supporting today’s public school employees. It complements existing programs such as the Foundation Scholarship Fund, which provides professional development assistance, by investing in day-to-day employee success and career satisfaction.
Spring Into Success: MARSP to Fund Classroom Projects Across Michigan in April
Teachers plan. MARSP supports. Students benefit.
This year, MARSP invites public school staff to create their DonorsChoose classroom projects by April 17, ahead of MARSP’s annual $10,000 funding distribution. Click below to find out how you can participate and support this initiative.
