Disable all preview features

Education : Youth Education Programs and Services

DonorsChoose.org

An online charity connecting you to classrooms in need.

impact data icon

Impact Information is available from our partner, GuideStar

four stars

95.47

134 West 37th St. Floor 11
New York, NY 10018
tel: (212) 239-3615   Web Site
EIN: 13-4129457

Board Leadership
Peter Bloom
Chair

CEO
Charles Best
Founder, Chief Executive Officer

 
 
  Score
(out of 100) 		Rating
Overall Score & Rating 95.47 four stars
  Financial 95.00 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 96.00 four stars
This rating was published 10/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org allows citizen philanthropists to fund specific project requests from teachers in U.S. public schools. We make it personal: donors choose a project that moves them, and then they hear back from the classroom with photos and updates. DonorsChoose.org validates the project request and purchases the resources for the teacher. To date, we have funded over 400,000 classroom projects to bring learning alive for students, providing more than 11 million children with books, technology, supplies, funding for field trips or class visitors, and other resources. Our vision is of a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn.

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org allows citizen philanthropists to fund specific project requests from teachers in U.S. public schools. We make it personal: donors choose a project that moves them, and then they hear back from the classroom with photos and updates. DonorsChoose.org validates the project request and purchases the resources for the teacher. To date, we have funded over 400,000 classroom projects to bring learning alive for students, providing more than 11 million children with books, technology, supplies, funding for field trips or class visitors, and other resources. Our vision is of a nation where students in every community have the resources they need to learn.

Impact Information

data icon
GuideStar is Charity Navigator's trusted partner in sharing information on how this organization seeks impact.  GuideStar has recognized this organization with a Platinum Seal of Transparency for voluntarily and publicly sharing information about how they measure their progress and results.  Learn More about Impact Information.
Reported Results
Total in 2017
Number of overall donors
656,083
Number of clients served
131,184
Number of facilities improved
43,383
This organization has earned a GuideStar's Platinum Seal of Transparency by voluntarily sharing the measures of progress and results they use to pursue their mission. Organizations earn Platinum Seals by selecting from a catalog of over 900 expert recognized metrics or by creating a new metric that best fits their work. This information is reported by the organization and displayed publicly on their GuideStar Nonprofit Profile. With over 1.6 million Nonprofit Profiles, 9 million annual visitors and over 200 data partners, GuideStar is the world's leading source of information about nonprofit organizations. A nonprofit itself, GuideStar is dedicated to providing better data for better decisions for a better world.
This impact information is current as of September 2019, when it was provided to us by GuideStar. At this time, Impact information published on this organization's page has no effect on its rating per our methodology.

Learn more about how we calculate the overall score and rating.

Financial

four stars

95.00

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

96.00

This rating was published 10/01/2019 and includes data from FY2018, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?
Overall Rating Chart
  Program Expenses
(Percent of the charity's total expenses spent on the programs
and services it delivers)		 95.1%
  Administrative Expenses 0.7%
  Fundraising Expenses 4.0%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.03
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.62
  Program Expenses Growth 21.7%
  Liabilities to Assets 5.4%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by DonorsChoose.org on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by DonorsChoose.org on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
Information Provided on the Form 990  
  Independent Voting Board Members
  No Material diversion of assets
  Audited financials prepared by independent accountant
  Does Not Provide Loan(s) to or Receive Loan(s) From related parties
  Documents Board Meeting Minutes
  Provided copy of Form 990 to organization's governing body in advance of filing
  Conflict of Interest Policy
  Whistleblower Policy
  Records Retention and Destruction Policy
  CEO listed with salary
  Process for determining CEO compensation
  Board Listed / Board Members Not Compensated
Is the following information easily accessible on the charity's website?  
  Donor Privacy Policy
  Board Members Listed
  Audited Financials
  Form 990
  Key staff listed

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
DonorsChoose.org (NY) 95.47 four stars
Kids In Need Foundation (OH) 92.38 four stars
PENCIL (TN) 90.91 four stars
A Gift for Teaching (FL) 92.36 four stars
AchieveMpls (MN) 91.63 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $149,840,171
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $149,840,171
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $149,840,171
   Other Revenue $-942,062
TOTAL REVENUE $148,898,109
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $132,205,472
   Administrative Expenses $866,478
   Fundraising Expenses $5,392,605
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $138,464,555
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $10,433,554
   
Net Assets $71,640,071

Program names and associated costs are listed for the top programs as reported on the charity's most recently filed Form 990. The top programs displayed will include the largest three programs, or those programs covering at least 60% of the charity's total expenses, whichever comes first.

Program Name Amount Spent % of Program Expenses
Classroom Project Fulfillment $132,205,472 100.0%

Ratings History
DonorsChoose.org has received 14 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2018-06 10/01/2019 95.47 four stars
2017-06 06/01/2018 96.66 four stars
2016-06 06/01/2017 96.66 four stars
2015-06 06/01/2016 96.66 four stars
 
CN 2.0
2014-06 09/01/2015 96.37 four stars
2013-06 02/01/2014 97.83 four stars
2012-06 06/01/2013 97.78 four stars
2011-06 05/01/2012 96.13 four stars
2010-06 09/20/2011 97.86 four stars
 
CN 1.0
2010-06 07/01/2011 96.97 four stars
2009-06 07/01/2010 96.70 four stars
2008-06 09/01/2009 96.53 four stars
2007-06 10/01/2008 98.64 four stars
2006-06 07/01/2007 95.88 four stars
2005-06 07/01/2006 95.74 four stars

The data displayed on this tab is provided by the IRS in the form of Publication 78 and the Business Master File (BMF).

EIN 13-4129457
Name in IRS Master File DONORSCHOOSE ORG
NTEE Code B12
NTEE Classification Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution
NTEE Type Educational Institutions and Related Activities
Classification Educational Organization
Subsection 501(c)(3)  (View the list of codes)
Activities
Foundation Status Organization which receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public   170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility Contributions are deductible
Affiliation Independent - the organization is an independent organization or an independent auxiliary (i.e., not affiliated with a National, Regional, or Geographic grouping of organizations).
Group Name [Not Applicable]
Ruling Date November, 2000
Filing Requirement 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal Year End June
IRS Forms 990
(provided courtesy of Foundation Center)		 (Log In or Register Now to View Forms 990!)
  • June, 2018
  • June, 2017
  • June, 2016
  • June, 2015
  • June, 2014
Compensation % of Expenses Paid to Title
$323,507 0.23% Charles Best Chief Executive Officer

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
DonorsChoose.org (NY) 95.47 four stars
Kids In Need Foundation (OH) 92.38 four stars
PENCIL (TN) 90.91 four stars
Crayons to Classrooms (OH) 100.00 four stars
Hillsborough Education Foundation (FL) 90.93 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

DonorsChoose.org
134 West 37th St.
Floor 11
New York, NY 10018
tel: (212) 239-3615
EIN: 13-4129457

Visit Web Site

Board Leadership

Peter Bloom
Chair

CEO

Charles Best
Founder, Chief Executive Officer

please wait...

    • I want to donate to DonorsChoose.org

      $
      next

    • Frequency

      back
      next

    • Would you like us to email someone and CC you?

      This email identifies you as the donor but does not specify the amount of your gift.
      back
    A donation of to has been added to your Giving Basket!

    Basket Total:
    Check Out Now or Continue Researching

Join Our Mailing List

Join over 400,000 other informed givers and get updates on charity ratings, new features, hot topics, and tips for donating.

As seen on