DonorsChoose.org fast became my favorite charity in 2011. Seeing my donations go right to work and getting those handwritten thank you notes is just so satisfying, Donorschoose.org provides a easy way for people to donate directly to specific projects at public schools across the U.S. It was started in 2000 by Charles Best (@charlesbest), a teacher at a public high school in the Bronx. Since then, it has grown to serve all the public schools throughout the United States.

The organization collects proposals from teachers and makes them available to public schools through its website. Individual donors can select projects and contribute as much as they are prepared to. DonorsChoose.org then purchases necessary supplies and provides them to the schools, and generates a line-item budget which is sent to the donor. In addition, donors who contribute $100 or more to a project, or who complete the funding for a project, also receive a “thank-you package” of thank-you notes from students, photographs of the project, and a letter from the teacher.

DonorsChoose.org Informational Handout (PDF)

http://cdn.donorschoose.net/docs/DonorsChoose_org-NationalOverview.pdf

When you have a moment, check them out. You can search your own geographical area and give to local schools.