Giving Back Day 8: Connect to a Classroom in Need

Photo of students playing musicWhile December marks the end of the year for those of us in the business world, it marks the halfway point for another important group of people: students.

It’s no secret that our public schools don’t have enough resources. The question is: what can we do about it? While some might point at the government and call ‘not it,’ Charles Best decided to use social media and absolute transparency to tackle the problem from the ground up. In 2000, he founded DonorsChoose.org so that individuals could connect directly with classrooms in need.

What makes DonorsChoose.org unique is its commitment to integrity through transparency. In The Dragonfly Effect, we discuss the Design Principle “Be Open” because showing people that they’re actually making a difference is arguably the most critical aspect of encouraging action. Not only does DonorsChoose.org post photos of the project taking place, teacher and student letters, and a cost report showing how every dollar was spent, they take it one step further and handle purchasing the classroom materials, shipping items directly to the school so that not a single dollar is wasted.

“Its tough times and you want reassurance that the money you can give is actually doing good. And I think it’s OK and right that people are saying ‘I want to see it and touch it to prove that my 50 bucks makes the world a better place.'” explains Thalia Theodore, the VP of Partnerships and Business Relations at DonorsChoose.org. “Everything is laid out for you before you even open your wallet. If you agree with the costs, proceed. If not, walk away. If you’re excited about the direction of the project and the costs involved, proceed.”