GoGuardian Gives
A program designed to show our support for the amazing work teachers do.
We know that many educators like you use money from your own pockets for school supplies, student’s clothing, and even food to keep kids fed over the weekends and breaks. In the wake of natural disasters, some of you also help rebuild classrooms and homes, and then still find extra time and resources to dedicate to your students. In fact, the average teacher in America spends almost $500 a year on classroom supplies. We want to help!
GoGuardian Gives is a program designed to show our support for the amazing work teachers do. The idea is simple: you tell us what you need, and if your project is selected, we’ll support you with a donation. Our hope is that this program will raise awareness around gaps in school funding, while directly helping teachers and students.
Here's how it works
Every month we’ll award $1,000 to an educator-led initiative(s) via DonorsChoose.org.
To apply, simply:
- Register and start a project at DonorsChoose.org;
- Fill out the form below with a link to your project;
- Keep doing your good work!
Our team will review the applications on a monthly basis and select a project to fund.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of projects are you looking for?
We’re looking for projects that have the biggest positive impact on students. That could be anything! Classroom materials, first aid kits, pillows for reading zones. If you need it, we want to know about it. The only thing we’re not looking for are requests for GoGuardian licenses.
- Why use DonorsChoose.org instead of giving the money directly to teachers?
Because they’re really, really good at this! DonorsChoose specializes in funding classroom projects. They’ve mobilized donors to give more than $1 billion and fund over 1.7 million projects. They take care of the hard parts of giving, including vetting requests, purchasing items, and shipping materials directly to verified schools and their commitment to efficiency and transparency has been recognized by Charity Navigator with their highest rating. Working with them makes it easy to give. Learn more about DonorsChoose.org.
- Why not just make GoGuardian free?
We’d love to, but GoGuardian is a business. Because our team has specific talents, backgrounds, and interests, we’ve chosen to try to realize our vision by building the best possible tools for teachers and students to communicate and collaborate. For more information about our approach to edtech, check out this post from our CEO, Advait Shinde.
GoGuardian Gives Winners
Strategy + Classroom Community = Fun
This project is for strategy games. Our students need more games that will challenge them, push them to think, and build perseverance. Strategy games like Bits and Pieces and Sequence push students to think while having fun. Board games are collaborative and creative and students need support as they build perseverance and grit. These games are step one in taking our students to a high level of thinking skills. Sharpening our critical thinking is crucial to honing the next future of creative and forward thinkers. The two critical thinking books will do just that. This group of students is going to change the world- with the help of strategy games and critical thinking!
Cliffhanger Quandry
Nothing is more frustrating than picking up a good series and not being able to finish it! This project is designed to help bring partial series in our classroom library to completion. I want students to be able to truly get invested in a story in our classroom library. This cannot happen if the story gets interrupted halfway through because we are missing one or more books in the series. This project will help guarantee that when a student finds a novel they are enjoying in the classroom library, they will be able to fully pursue it (and the next one, and the next one!).
Walk While We Read
Do you need the ability to move while you work? So do my students! My elementary students are always looking for ways to move while they practice their tasks. Many of them find it difficult to be stationary doing the school day. These standing desks and walking pads will allow them to move and groove as they learn new skills this school year. The generation we are teaching now requires different ways to instruct them. They are used to being engaged with video games or moving frequently. These tables and walking pads will allow them to learn in a way that is more accessible to them. My building is full of diverse learners that I see each and every day. Please help this dream come true for them!
Our Impact So Far
Founded in 2017 by Guardian Jessica Lee, the GoGuardian Gives program has impacted numerous organizations and shows no signs of stopping. From participating in awareness-raising American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (AFSP) walks to assisting the LA Food Bank and inspiring students at career days and panels, Guardians don’t just stop there.
Over the course of three Daymaker campaigns from 2020 to 2021 — focused on back-to-school and holiday giving — 195 Guardians helped 317 children by raising $40.3K for everything from school supplies to gifts on their holiday wish lists. The team plans to continue back-to-school and holiday giving campaigns in 2022.
We know each Guardian has important causes they personally support, so GoGuardian leverages Percent Pledge to provide each employee with credits and matching funds to enable donations to charities of their choice. So far, GoGuardian and 160 employees have impacted 46 non-profits by donating $22,349 — with that number growing on a regular basis.