Disable all preview features

Education : Youth Education Programs and Services

DonorsChoose

Support a classroom. Build a future.

four stars

96.66

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 96.66 four stars
  Financial 97.50 four stars
  Accountability & Transparency 96.00 four stars
This rating was published 06/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, the most recent 990 received at that time.
Why isn't this based on more recent data?

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose 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 vets the project request and purchases the resources for the teacher. To date, we have funded over 1.5 million classroom requests for 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 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 vets the project request and purchases the resources for the teacher. To date, we have funded over 1.5 million classroom requests for 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 & Results Score

data icon
Score
100/100
Program Name: Classroom Project Fulfillment
Program Name: Classroom Project Fulfillment

Note: The Impact & Results score currently has no effect on the nonprofit's Star Rating.

The Impact & Results score is a measure of how well a nonprofit delivers on its stated mission. To issue a score, Charity Navigator estimates the actual impact the nonprofit has on the lives of those it serves, and determines whether it is making good use of donor resources to achieve that impact. Learn more about our Impact & Results methodology here.

Program Activities
DonorsChoose crowdsources funding for educational materials and experiences on behalf of teachers in U.S. public schools serving PreK‚Äö?Ñ?¨12 students. Teachers post "projects" they need funding for on the DonorsChoose website, where donors are able to select projects and donate online. DonorsChoose then orders and ships the requested items to teachers.
Impact Statement
$900 generates $800 in cost savings for a public school teacher in need.
Assessment Benchmark
Impact & Results scores of funding for teachers and classrooms programs are based on income generated relative to cost. Programs receive an Impact & Results score of 100 if they increase income for a beneficiary by more than $1.50 for every $1 spent and a score of 75 if income increases by more than $0.85 for every $1 spent. If a nonprofit reports impact but doesn't meet the threshold for cost-effectiveness, it earns a score of 50.
Methodology
ImpactMatters analyzed publicly available data to rate the cost-effectiveness of DonorsChoose.
Data Source
Output data collected during the program. DonorsChoose publicly reports the dollar value spent on classroom materials and experiences, which we use to calculate savings generated for teachers by the nonprofit's program.
Method for Attributing Outcomes
We assume that, in the absence of DonorsChoose, public school teachers would have continued to spend their own money on the educational materials and experiences they and their students need. We assume that the dollar amount spent by DonorsChoose on these materials and experiences exactly offsets what teachers would otherwise have spent out of their own pockets on equivalent purchases.
Details
Analysis conducted by ImpactMatters and published in August, 2020.
This impact information is current as of September 2020, when it was provided to us by ImpactMatters. 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

97.50

Accountability & Transparency

four stars

96.00

This rating was published 06/01/2020 and includes data from FY2019, 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)		 95.0%
  Administrative Expenses 0.8%
  Fundraising Expenses 4.0%
  Fundraising Efficiency $0.03
  Working Capital Ratio (years) 0.72
  Program Expenses Growth 9.1%
  Liabilities to Assets 3.2%
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by DonorsChoose on recent 990s filed with the IRS.
All data for Financial Performance Metrics calculations was provided by DonorsChoose 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 (NY) 96.66 four stars
AdoptAClassroom.org (MN) 96.87 four stars
RAFT (CA) 88.82 three stars
Kids In Need Foundation (MN) 88.26 three stars
Crayons to Classrooms (OH) 98.33 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

REVENUE  
Contributions  
   Contributions, Gifts & Grants $148,408,048
   Federated Campaigns $0
   Membership Dues $0
   Fundraising Events $0
   Related Organizations $0
   Government Grants $0
Total Contributions $148,408,048
   Program Service Revenue $0
Total Primary Revenue $148,408,048
   Other Revenue $1,598,045
TOTAL REVENUE $150,006,093
   
EXPENSES  
   Program Expenses $124,018,709
   Administrative Expenses $1,323,766
   Fundraising Expenses $5,466,714
TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES $130,809,189
   
Payments to Affiliates $0
Excess (or Deficit) for the year $19,196,904
   
Net Assets $90,475,783

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 $124,018,709 100.0%

Ratings History
DonorsChoose has received 15 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator.

Form 990 FYE Date Published Overall Score Overall Rating
CN 2.1
2019-06 06/01/2020 96.66 four stars
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
$335,548 0.25% Charles Best Chief Executive Officer

Highly Rated

Charity Name & State Overall Score Overall Rating
DonorsChoose (NY) 96.66 four stars
Kids In Need Foundation (MN) 88.26 three stars
PENCIL (TN) 91.45 four stars
Crayons to Classrooms (OH) 98.33 four stars
Hillsborough Education Foundation (FL) 98.23 four stars

Compare These Charities (Highly Rated)

This charity has an official representative registered with Charity Navigator.

Charity Contact Info

DonorsChoose
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

      $
      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