Los Angeles Unified has announced a new partnership with DonorsChoose.org, a national education nonprofit, to help teachers tap into a network of more than 4 million donors to fund classroom projects.
The partnership was announced at Gates Street Elementary, which received a check for $15,000 from DonorsChoose.org to pay for classroom materials. Over the last decade, the organization has provided Gates with nearly $435,000 for resources and classroom projects. In total, Los Angeles Unified has received approximately $34.5 million to fund projects in 20,000 classrooms serving more than 500,000 students. One-third of the contributions originated outside California.
“It takes more than one family, one company or one nonprofit. It takes all of us,” Superintendent Austin Beutner said. “Thanks to DonorsChoose.org, our teachers can share information about their goals for their students and their individual classroom opportunities with donors from across the country.”
Los Angeles Unified is one of 10 school districts announced as inaugural partners in the organization’s District Partnership Program. Los Angeles Unified now has a customized landing page on DonorsChoose.org. Principals will be notified each time a project is funded and will receive early notification when there are new funding opportunities for their students and teachers.
“With DonorsChoose.org, people from all over the world play a special part in making dreams a reality for teachers and students,” Board Member Mónica García said. “As a district, we are grateful for partnerships like this one that offer experiences and opportunities for our students and school community.”
More than 4 million individual donors, corporations, and foundations have given over $875 million through DonorsChoose.org to support project from schools in all types of districts.
“Los Angeles Unified teachers know how to create projects that donors around the country will want to help complete,” said Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose.org. “Superintendent Beutner’s partnership with DonorsChoose.org is a testament to his commitment to helping Los Angeles Unified teachers receive more resources that will lead to their students’ success.”