Published: May 10, 2008 12:19 am            

Instructors net another source for grant funds

Teachers often are skilled grant writers, requesting funds from school foundations and community organizations for classroom projects.

But teachers and community members, alike, can participate in providing resources for students with the availability of www.donorschoose.org.

The Web site posts teachers’ grants, with descriptions of the proposed project and costs of materials. Community members, whom the site calls “citizen philanthropists,” can donate a couple of dollars — or hundreds.

“It may be hard to go out and find a $1,000 sponsor,” Amber Graham Fitzgerald, Enid Public Schools school and community relations director, said. “With this, people can give what amount they want.”

Varna Nolen, an Adams Elementary School special services teacher, has had four grants funded through donorschoose.org.

She learned about the site from a workshop. It’s been around for about six years, Nolen said, but just recently became available for teachers in Oklahoma.

“I lit the fire under my school to get involved,” Nolen said. Within two weeks of checking out the site, Nolen and two other Adams teachers had grants funded.

“Maybe someone only has $20 to give,” she said. “Collectively, with one person’s $20 and another’s $100, a teacher’s project can get funded.”

Another benefit of the program, she said, is it doesn’t involve school funding. The Web site purchases the teacher’s materials with the donated money, then sends it directly to the teacher.

“There’s no middle man,” Nolen said.

In addition to Adams, other EPS sites have been successful in receiving grants.

Nolen said Enid Public School Foundation, which provides grants to district teachers twice a year, is “awesome,” but this is another avenue teachers can explore.

“With donorschoose.org, every teacher has the opportunity to get funded,” Nolen said. Teachers can leave grants online for up to eight months.

To make grant donations to a school, go to www.donors choose.org and select “Okla-homa” from the “Viewing All States” menu. Type “Enid” or other school district, in the keyword search to access teacher proposals.

“It’s a great resource,” Fitzgerald said. “It allows people to get involved and make a difference.”