New Private Funding to Support Homeless Students
We are very excited to announce a new opportunity for schools to seek private funding to support their McKinney-Vento students: starting on Monday, July 30, the legendary rock band Pearl Jam, along with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Raikes Foundation, and Deutsche Bank, will match any donations made to projects that support students experiencing homelessness on DonorsChoose.org. The match will continue as long as funds last.
Who can participate?
Anyone employed full-time by a school district or charter school AND who spends 75% or more of his/her time working directly with students can create a project request for materials or support. This means some district homeless liaisons, building-level liaisons, school social workers, school counselors, school nurses, teachers, and others are eligible to create a project request.
How to participate?
Register on the DonorsChoose site (for free) and submit your project requests. DonorsChoose will post the requests on its website, where anyone can contribute. Project requests can range from school supplies, food, clothing, and hygiene supplies, to washers and dryers, bedding, cell phones, and other needs. Participation in DonorsChoose is completely free, but it works on a point system. Upon registration, applicants receive 3 points. This allows them to submit a project request immediately, working with DonorsChoose’s 22 staple vendors.
Questions related to the DonorsChoose website, eligibility criteria, “points,” project guidelines: fundingopps@donorschoose.org