The Student Excellence Foundation offers our Fund-A-Classroom program to enhance education in classrooms and Library Learning Centers (LLCs) in District 200.

Fund-A-Classroom is an online crowdfunding platform exclusive to District 200.  Donations are directed by the giver to a specific campaign or campaigns initiated by educators, who are responsible for attracting donations.  It’s distinct from our Student Excellence Grants which are funded from donations to the Foundation from businesses and individuals, including educators (via the WWEA) and parents.

We’re partnering with a new online platform, Kaleidoscope, to manage Fund-A-Classroom applications and donations. 

For educators looking to initiate a campaign, click here. 

To see current and past campaigns and/or donate, click here.

When an educator proposes a campaign, it’s reviewed by the school principal and a District administrator, as well as the Foundation, to make sure it complies with school, District, and Foundation policies. Once a campaign is approved it’s placed on a landing page with other active campaigns and is eligible to receive donations. Then it’s up to you to attract donors to make it a reality.

Who can create a campaign?  District 200 educators who work directly with students (teachers, LLC Directors, counselors, social workers, principals, etc.)

What can I ask for?  Any resource that’s needed to benefit students, but not including anything covered within the normal school operating budget or teacher stipends/salaries.

When can I initiate a proposed campaign?  Anytime! Unlike grants, there are no submission deadlines for Fund-A-Classroom. Educators are encouraged to submit a campaign as needs arise during the year.

How much can I ask for?  There’s no specific amount, but most successful proposals range from $250-$1,500. The higher the price tag, the more compelling a proposal should be — you’ll need to attract more donors, or larger contributions, if your goal is higher.

How long will it take for my campaign to be funded?  Most successful Fund-A-Classroom campaigns are funded within several days to several weeks.  When you fill out a campaign application, you’ll be asked to establish an end date for your fundraising.  Your end date should consider when you need the requested resources.  The more you’re able to market your project, the more likely it will get funded.

Our policies for donations to Fund-A-Classroom campaigns are detailed here.

How is starting a Fund-A-Classroom campaign different from starting a project on Donors Choose, Adopt-a-Classroom, or other crowdfunding websites?

Other crowdfunding websites rely on donors finding your project on a national website, aren’t tied to your school or District 200, and don’t have the endorsement of your school or District 200. With Fund-A-Classroom, potential donors start on the Student Excellence Foundation website, and proceed to a list of campaigns in District 200. It also provides unique resources for you to promote your campaign via social media; you can enter updates to your campaign that are automatically emailed to your donors.  In addition, donations are tax deductible to the extent of the law, and purchases (made by the District) are not subject to Illinois sales tax.

Fund-A-Classroom campaigns are managed by the Student Excellence Foundation and are focused on the District 200 community.  We promote the program to potential community and corporate donors, and maintain a database of those donors to benefit future campaigns.

If you have any questions about the Fund-A-Classroom program, feel free to contact us at FundaClassroom@StudentExcellenceFoundation.org. We’re happy to help!