Many educators and school professionals across the world have transitioned, quite abruptly, to online learning. For many, this was and still remains a stressful and difficult time. Many education professionals have their own families at home to care for, including coordinating the online learning for their children. Additionally, many families now have the additional burden of assisting with distance learning while balancing work from home duties. With all of this uncertainty we know one thing for sure: we are all in this situation together.

We recently had the incredible opportunity to join educator and edtech influencer, Steve Isaacs, on Periscope to discuss the transition to online learning. Our discussion covered everything from general challenges, to helpful resources, to discussing silver linings, to contemplating the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on not only the future of in-person education but also conferences as we know them. Check out the main talking points of our live chat outlined below and also be sure to watch the full video for more in depth discussion!

Monitoring student participation / engagement in an online environment: Many educators have classes size of 30+ students which can already be difficult when it comes to tracking engagement with face-to-face learning… add distance learning into the mix, especially in situations where you are not directly working with the students through even video chat as often as you wish, and this becomes an extra challenge. We discussed some strategies that may be helpful, including a system that works in Steve’s classroom. He shares how he uses Google forms to not only measure student participation, but also to facilitate communication and encourage reflective thinking. However, he also notes that this process is time consuming (although valuable!) What are some strategies that you have used to monitor student engagement and participation?

Limited or absent opportunities to provide verbal feedback: We all know that a combination of verbal and written feedback is beneficial to help students obtain a deeper understanding of the material, their work, and further reflect upon their performance. But what happens when many educators are limited in opportunities to provide verbal feedback to their students? Some districts have restricted video conferencing with students, and others have limited access. Perhaps some students are unable to participate due to barriers with accessing technology. Regardless, many educators are left to rely heavily on written communication and feedback which not only presents its own drawbacks, but is also labor intensive to provide.

Abrupt immersion in tech for less “tech-savvy” educators: Let’s be real. One of the major concerns for many educators was the very abrupt transition to online learning, where many were less than comfortable with teaching within a tech heavy environment. Our lives now revolve around zoom, google classroom, online platforms, and email correspondence. We discuss some ways to cope with this transition, as well as reflect upon our most powerful source of support: each other! Now is the time to focus on expanding and reaching out to your personal learning network (PLN) to grow together. You may find that some tools you found intimidating are actually quite helpful not only during this time, but also for when you return to the classroom.

Managing every aspect of life from home: work from home - workout from home - play from home - learn from home - the list goes on… this poses challenges for not only educators, but also the families and students that they work with. Many families have children at home that they must now assist with online learning while also maintaining their work-from-home duties! This often leads to hectic schedules in order to keep all the online meetings straight, as well as struggling to maintain a balance between work and play. This goes not only for the kids, but for the adults as well! While this is a challenge that does not seem to have an easy remedy, one thing we can do is be kind to each other. We must take solace in the face that we are all in this together, and that everyone is dealing with frustrations and personal struggles in their own way. It is a great time to practice our perspective taking skills before we get too upset over a situation that is simply out of our control.

Implications for conferences and the return to in-person learning: There is no doubt that even after we are given the “green light” to return to school there will be strict regulations. Recently, the CDC published their guidelines for returning to in-person learning… and many educators took to social media to discuss their concerns for the emotional well-being of students everywhere. It’s a difficult situation: we want to maintain safety for students and staff, however we also want to consider what we know is developmentally appropriate for our children.

We also know that conferences are a BIG deal in the world of education. We look forward to opportunities such as ISTE, for example, to expand our professional learning network and engage in professional development. ISTE has already been postponed to November, but even then, what will the environment look like when there are typically over 16,000 attendees? Even if the conferences move forward as planned, will people still want to attend? It’s sad to consider how the social aspect, the after-parties and additional gatherings outside the convention hall, might be impacted. Other conferences such as Games for Change happening in July have moved to an online format. Some of these conferences are even free! While it will certainly be a different learning environment, we also recognize that this can open the door to increased opportunities for educators to attend who normally would not be able to. Additionally, moving conferences to an online format allows attendees to be more selective with the sessions they attend [no more worrying about saving 20+ minutes to run across the convention center to get to the next session!] and perhaps even increase engagement due to heightened interest in the presentations they can choose from.

Discovering creative ways to engage various types of learners: Some kiddos do really well with traditional instruction and assignments, but others do much better when they are given opportunities to demonstrate and explore their learning through a variety of modalities. Whether this be tech, art, or music… we are required to adapt our teaching methods and therefore try new approaches. For example, Steve discussed the Flipgrid Build Challenge where students from all over the world contribute to various challenges including creating a medical facility, inform the public/teach about COVID-19, create an escape room (like get into the bathroom to wash your hands!), and even building a model of the coronavirus. He even reported , “I learned more in an hour about COVID-19 than I have in all the news I watched”, in response to a submission that walked him through a museum that shared facts and information about the virus. Keep listening to hear more about some incredible ideas for further connecting with your students!

Stepping out of your comfort zone with new edtech opportunities: for many educators it feels like sink or swim with edtech at the moment. However, try to view this as a positive opportunity where you finally have the push you [maybe] needed to try something new! We’re all doing our very best right now, and everyone is taking “risks” with this new style of learning. Why not make the most of it and try out some new edtech that you’ve been meaning to dive into? Expanding beyond googlemeets or zoom will only further engage your students and enhance their learning. Let’s keep this going far beyond when things return to “normal”! Another interesting component of edtech is Esports, where students in various clubs complete with other schools. These opportunities, which existed before COVID-19, further demonstrate the power of edtech where they are still able to meet even when schools are closed! Steve also hosts a livestream for his Game Design and Development class, where he shares different tools that relate to content creation and invites various guests to participate such as professional game designers, educators, and students. He shares that, “There is so much happening that is really exciting right now. Even on these live streams, we have a lot of educators and students that are watching and interacting which provides an opportunity to learn with and from each other”. All of these livestreams are uploaded to Steve’s Youtube channel on the playlist: COVID-19 Learning at Home: Content Creation Tools. Be sure to check it out!

An opportunity for professional and personal development: This is a biggie. While we are all dealing with our own personal struggles during this time… we for sure are spending a LOT more time at home! Right now is a fantastic time to seek out personal and professional development opportunities. A bonus is that many of these opportunities are now temporarily offered at a reduced rate or even free! Check out livestreams, Twitter edchats, and blogs of educators that you follow on social media. Twitter alone is a valuable resource to make connections with other educators, exchange ideas, and learn about additional professional development opportunities.

People are the greatest resource: Now more than ever, we must realize the power of collaboration! How incredible is it that we have access to the internet: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube… these are all incredible resources! “The internet was made for learning”, says Steve. We have to agree! At the very least, we suggest engaging with your personal learning network on Twitter and making an effort to join in live streams, Twitter chats, and to simply just join in conversation.

Focus on self-care and maintain this as we transition back to “normal”: We’re sure you’ve heard this one before, but as cliche as it sounds, SELF-CARE IS SO IMPORTANT! This means different things to different people: exercise, time in nature, sitting in a quiet space, reading, baking, taking a bath… but whatever it is, make time to do what makes you happy. Perhaps you love to take walks with your family, or plan movie nights. Whatever your choice - be sure to consistently check in with how you are taking care of yourself, and be sure to maintain these habits as we transition back to “normal”. Steve also shared about his experience with using online technology to stay connected with his friends. Online gaming is not just for kids!

Take advantage of [especially FREE] webinars: Steve was super enthusiastic to share about the benefits of webinars. Due to COVID-19, many are either free or extremely discounted. The best part is that you can choose from webinars that are pre recorded so that you can watch them on your own time, or join in to a live session and interact with all the other participants. You may be in a situation where you have more time now than you did before, and that special interest webinar is calling your name. For Steve, one of the webinars at the top of his list involves learning more about Unreal Engine. Think about it as an investment in your professional future… expanding and refining your skills will benefit both you and your students :)

We understand that this is a difficult time for everyone. We want to emphasize the importance of focusing on the silver linings and positive opportunities that have come from this and will continue to come as we work through this situation together. All you can be expected to do is give your very best version of you to your family, students, and of course… yourself. Please be kind to yourself during this time. We look forward to hearing your comments in response to anything we discussed on the live chat! Please feel free to continue the conversation by responding in the comments below or on any of our social media channels.

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2020/05/30/pledgecents-live-with-steve-isaacs/8e99d5a1-53de-4bb8-bbd1-54c3d8243bf4Sat, 30 May 2020 15:53:03 GMT

Think about where you were one month ago - did you ever imagine you would be living the way you are now? In a matter of a few short weeks our daily life routines have come to an abrupt halt. Schools, restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, gyms, and much more are closed. Now, in many states, we are ordered to “shelter in place”. This means that we are encouraged to stay home unless we need to leave for groceries or medical care. We are told to practice “social distancing”, which can begin to feel incredibly isolating for us as humans rely so heavily on socialization and the company of others.

We want to acknowledge this and let you know that we are here for you. We are all in this together, and we will make it through this together! Our team also includes educators who are feeling the additional emotional burden of not being with their students. It’s true that teachers view their class as their students, as it is a out of pride and love for the community that they built together. Many teachers left school for the weekend or spring break without realizing that they would not be returning to their classrooms… which makes this even more difficult.

Our team sat down together to brainstorm a list of suggestions for making the best of this difficult situation. We hope that this helps provide some inspiration and support as you navigate this difficult time. If you have any suggestions to add to the list, please reach out to us by commenting on this post, sending an email to info@pledgecents.com, or by messaging @PledgCents on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.

Make a Schedule
Creating a daily schedule for yourself is a great way to keep yourself motivated during the week! Include time for work, relaxation, exercise, and socialization with friends (digital, of course!). It’s way too easy to fall into the trap of endless netflix and snacking (especially if you don’t have kids!) or on the flip side, to constantly be chasing your kids around to keep them occupied. On that note, if you have children, be sure to include them in your schedule - or even have them help you create a schedule for them! Check out this incredible list of virtual field trips or check out this list of 125 things to do with kids at home for some fun activities to add to your schedule!

[via: Camille Styles, Lifestyle Blogger]

Facetime / Video Chat:
We are fortunate to have such incredible technology where we can chat with anyone in the world in a matter of seconds. Don’t forget to make use of these resources during this time of social distancing, and include time in your day to virtually chat with family and friends. Video chat is a lot more personal than simple talking on the telephone, and you are more likely to be less distracted and more mindful of your conversation. If you have kids, this is a great way to allow them to connect with their friends. You can even take turns doing activities such as reading stories aloud to each other!

Share Special Notes:
How special would your students feel to receive a letter or email from their favorite teacher? You have the power to make their day by taking a few moments to write a personalized letter or email to each student. Not only will this be a wonderful surprise for them, but it allows you to feel that connection with each of your students that you have likely been missing!

[Check out this heartwarming story about a teacher who wrote 100 letters to her students, featured on Good Morning America]

Professional Development:
Now is a great time to take those webinars or online professional development courses that you’ve been putting off because you simply didn’t have the time. Not only might you earn some continuing education credits, but you will likely also feel more fulfilled as you are connecting with your passion for education by growing in your professional practice. Check out this list of free and premium webinars curated by Education Week to get you started.

Start a new Hobby:
Thinking about learning how to macrame? Or perhaps maybe learning how to arm knit? What about learning how to tie dye to join in on the new fashion trend for this spring (or maybe your kiddos would enjoy it!)? Now is the perfect time to try a new hobby or activity! You can still order many items online, you may just need to wait a few extra days. Please continue to limit your trips to the physical stores for only essentials ♡

Get Organized:
Remember “organize the pantry” that keeps getting moved to the bottom of your to-do list? What about that drawer in the kitchen (come on, we all have on!). Now is the perfect time to tackle your organization projects so that you can feel refreshed and ready to jump back into the swing of things once life begins to “normalize” again. You’ll also feel pretty accomplished, too!

Read a new Book:
With the hustle and bustle of our “typical” schedules… we often don’t have much time left over to read for pleasure. Why not make use of the time you have now to catch up on some new reads? Check out this list of the best books of 2020 (so far!) curated by Elle! Also, teachers…we recommend Educated and Ido in Autismland for two inspiring stories!

Get Creative in the Kitchen:
Some of us wish we could be more creative in the kitchen… but time simply does not allow it. Since you’re going to be home anyways…why not try out some new recipes? This is a great time to make some crock pot meals or soups that can be frozen and stored for later consumption! Create an account on Pinterest to browse and save some amazing recipes to try out at home!

Meditation / Personal Development:
This one is super important… no matter what it is, be sure that you are making time for your soul and personal development. This may look different for everyone: yoga, running, meditation, inspirational books… but be sure to feed your soul somehow. A few of our team members really enjoy Headspace. They’re currently offering free meditations during this difficult time [totally worth checking into]!

Strategize for Next School Year
Sadly, many of us are coming to the realization that perhaps we will not be returning to school this year. This is incredibly hard to accept, especially when we feel that there is so much more to do together that can't be accomplished the same way online. However, it is never too late to start thinking about experiences that you would like to bring to your students in the future - whenever that may be. Feel free to reach out to us with any ideas that you might have for fundraising! You can always create a page for anything you need, or browse our Preferred Partner Marketplace for inspiration [and to create a page in literally seconds].

Sending positivity and well wishes to all during this extremely difficult time. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can help you in any way. Also, if you have anything to add to this list please please reach out to us by commenting on this post, sending an email to info@pledgecents.com, or by messaging @PledgCents on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. Stay healthy and safe, friends!

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2020/03/24/making-the-best-of-a-difficult-situation-stayathomechallenge/0e612c00-11ed-4bde-9427-5c09eb4400dcTue, 24 Mar 2020 14:56:20 GMT

We know how hard educators and other school professionals work each and every day to bring the best educational opportunities and experiences possible to their students. Whether you're a general education teacher, special education teacher, reading specialist, or school speech language pathologist you spend countless hours preparing engaging, standards-aligned and goal driven activities for your kiddos! As we approach spring and the end of the year, it is totally understandable that you may feel like you are lacking in the "time" department - whether that be time to finish all of your school responsibilities or personal time for yourself!

We often hear educators rave about Teachers Pay Teachers... and we even have some members on our team who love to find resources on the site as well! We absolutely love the fact that teachers can share their materials (which they put so much time and effort into creating!) online so that others may also benefit - and those teachers can even make some $$$ in the process! We've decided to run a campaign until February 29th where you will earn $$$ towards a Teachers Pay Teachers online gift card just by raising funds for your page! You will get $5 just for creating a live fundraising page (totally worth it already because that is enough to choose from a TON of incredible activities!) and unlock up to $80!!!! Check out the table below for the full breakdown:

JUST by creating a page, you are guaranteed a $5 gift card! Not sure what you can get on TPT? Check out some ideas below!

• Materials Under $5
• Materials Between $5 - $10
• Materials $10 And Up

There's no reason to wait! It takes just a few minutes of your time to Create a Fundraising Page from scratch and literally seconds to create a fundraising page for one of our Preferred Partners in the PledgeCents Preferred Partners Marketplace

Is any fundraising page eligible to participate?
Yes. All existing fundraising pages and new fundraising pages (created after 2/10/20) will be eligible to participate.

Do the "unlockables" stack on top of each other?
No, unfortunately the unlocked amounts do not combine with each other - with the exception of the $5 for creating a page. Therefore, the maximum amount that you could recieve would be $80 ($5 for creating a page + raising over $2,500).

How will I receive my gift card?
Either when your page is completed or after 2/29/20 (whichever comes first), you will receive an email from our team with the total $$$ unlocked. A link to your Teachers Pay Teachers gift card will be sent via email. Double check that the email you sign up with is up to date!

What if my page is scheduled to end before the end of February 2020 and I want to continue to unlock gift card funds?
Make sure to email our team at info@pledgecents.com and let us know that you want your fundraising page to be extended. We will make the extension on your behalf.

Sign up and create your fundraising page in just seconds today!

---

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2020/02/10/spend-less-time-prepping-this-spring/aa5cd836-3f7f-4737-b94f-515f5e3edad0Tue, 11 Feb 2020 02:14:56 GMT

We love our educators and are always looking for new ways to share our appreciation for everything that they do (both in and out of the classroom!)! During the month of December, we were super fortunate to team up with the amazing team at Vistaprint to offer 100 FREE business cards for each of our incredible teachers! In order to obtain a code to design their business cards, educators were asked to share an image with us on social media to highlight how they spread holiday magic in their classrooms. Check out some of those photos below!

As part of the #TeachersAreProfessionals movement [read our blog to learn more], we believe that educators should be treated and respected as other professionals are, which includes having personalized business cards. We want to empower educators to take pride in being part of such an impactful, powerful field. Providing educators with the opportunity to design their own business cards aligns directly with this philosophy. You may ask yourself, “What would an educator want to do with business cards?” Check out what our friends are saying!

Share them at conferences (can you say next level networking!?), distribute them to families during teacher conferences at school, provide them to principals and school districts when you are a substitute teacher, or even hand them out to families at the beginning of the year or when they tour your school to foster a stronger relationship from the very first day. The possibilities are truly endless! We look forward to seeing what other uses you all discover for them!

We can’t help but smile when we see all the incredible designs that you have created! While numerous cards are still being shipped out, many of our wonderful educators have shared their business cards with us. Check out some of what we’ve received so far below!

Although the window for participating in this specific opportunity has passed, we are excited to share what we have in store for the future! You can also choose to create a fundraising page to fund your own business cards at this time if you wish! (You totally keep 100% of what you raise and it only takes a few minutes!) Stay tuned for even more opportunities to celebrate the education profession. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the latest updates!

Sign up and create your fundraising page in just seconds today!

---

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2020/01/08/pledgecents-vistaprint/7d3bbe53-ec9a-47e7-a8b0-95d4929698ceWed, 08 Jan 2020 22:33:54 GMT

The new year is a fantastic opportunity to make a "fresh start", even when you are technically in the middle of the school year. It's never too late to change things up to benefit both you and your students. We're sharing our top 5 suggestions for Teacher New Year's Resolutions compiled by the educators on our team and some friends in the field. We hope that perhaps these will enourage you and provide inspiration for small changes you can make to support yourself and your students ♥

1. Treat Yo'self!!!
For real, though. It doesn't have to be a fancy spa day... it can be making the time to read a book for pleasure, going for a walk, getting coffee with a friend, binge watching your favorite Netflix show... anything that brings you joy and allows you to R E L A X without worrying about anything school-related! Another fun way to treat yourself throughout the school day is to stash little treats in your desk, pack a lunch that you'll look forward to enjoying, keep your favorite hand lotion on your desk, or even keep a stash of your favorite tea bags and your favorite much close by so that you can sip during your planning period (hoping that you get one!).

2. Refresh your Space!
Got a lot of classroom clutter? (We bet ya do because... well, you're a teacher and we all do!) Take some time to bag up anything that is outdated or not being used and donate it to charity or another classroom that may benefit (or toss it right into the trash if it is time!) Don't forget to take advantage of post-holiday sales to snag some new organization and storage solutions. Check out some of the partners in our Preferred Partner Marketplace who may have special promotions happening as well! As always, you can create your own page to raise $$$ for purchasing storage solutions in a matter of seconds!

3. Be Present.
Remember those teachable moments? Run with them! Take the time to laugh, explore, and learn with your kiddos even when it strays from the lesson plan. They will (and so will you!) remember these experiences more than anything. Find and make time to listen to the stories and silly jokes, even when you are pressed for time. You're in this profession for a reason... don't ever lose that spark! ♥

4. Don't Work Harder... Work SMARTER!
Take the time to evaluate how the classroom has been functioning during the first portion of the year... what can you do to make things easier on yourself? What can you do to give more power to your students and at the same time relieve some of the stress placed upon your shoulders? A great way to do this is to allow more choice! Giving kiddos structured choices, especially when based upon skills they already have acquired and need to fine tune, allows them to feel more ownership over thier work. Also, you can include your kiddos in preparation for various projects by providing them opportunities to work together as a team. The opportunities for cross-curricular education are endless and can truly be integrated into any activity!

5. Stop Being so Hard on Yourself!
You really are your worst critic.... as we all tend to be! Don't let those thoughts get to you, especially when times feel stressful. Remember, you don't need to be a perfect teacher. You simply need to be the best teacher that you can be in this moment. You are always learning and growing, just like your students. Model and live this #GrowthMindset and strive to be better each day without over criticizing yourself and the amazing work that you are doing! When you have a day that didn't seem to go the best? LET IT GO! There is always a new day to contininue the growth and learning. :)

Of course we don't expect you to make each of these items your personal new year's resolutions... but we hope that this provided some inspiration for small changes you can make to support you and your students as you to continue to grow throughout the new year! Wishing you health, happiness, and continued growth in 2020!

Sign up and create your fundraising page in just seconds today!

---

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2020/01/01/5-new-years-resolutions-for-teachers/43ccdc4e-fe36-4f45-bf1a-e502b0faea09Wed, 01 Jan 2020 23:18:51 GMT In the midst of the holiday season, we usually stress to our kids how important it is to be thankful! One of the best ways to secure investors and make them feel appreciated is also to show your thankfulness to their contribution to your project. Here are a few different ways that you can give thanks to those that support you!

1. Write a Thank You Letter
   There’s a few ways that you could write a letter. If you have the time, having each of your kids write a thank you letter is a personalized and great way to show the overall impact they have had on your students. If you cannot fit that into your routine, then write a letter yourself and have all of your students sign it. Mail it to your investor and you have a great personalized thank you! Check out Lemony Snicket’s advice on writing a Thank you Letter!
   

   
   [via:Pinterest]

2. Send a Video
   Sending a video is another way to show thankfulness! This is a fantastic way because it can portray emotion and your investor will get to see the people they had an impact on! Whether it’s showing your kids using what you bought with the money they have or just having your smiling kids say thank you, investors will appreciate seeing and hearing from your students that they made a difference!

3. E-mail
   Sending a quick e-mail right after you receive a donation shows immediate gratitude to your investors. Just a few short sentences is all that’s needed and you have instant thankfulness that means the world! Combine this one with another thank you strategy after your fundraiser is complete and you’ll have happy investors!

4. Thank You Box
   A thank you box gives you flexibility with what you put into it. Possible items included could be:

As your project approaches becoming fully funded, start looking at a few of these ways to show thanks to your investors. The holiday season is all about thankfulness, but it never goes out of style!

Sign up and create your fundraising page in just seconds today!

---

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2019/12/21/giving-thanks-to-investors/95c1cc39-f7b3-49fb-8a25-b1c1bf9dd86bSat, 21 Dec 2019 21:17:34 GMT Every year, #GivingTuesday has grown more popular around the world. People are sharing and contributing to the social needs that mean the most to them. This year, #GivingTuesday is December 3, 2019. On this day, the world will turn to supporting social intiatives surrounding medical, education, and community resources.

FINAL
Most $$$ Raised
1. Give to Families in Need this Season - $1,045
2. Supplies for Children's Ministry in Tanzania - $710
3. GivingTuesday - El Cajon Valley Marching Braves - $665

Most Facebook Shares
1. Coaching Teachers through Hands On Integration - 109
2. Learners on Fire with Kindle Fire - 38
3. Osmo Learning and iPads in the Classroom - 14

Most New Investors
1. Give to Families in Need this Season - 11
2. Fast & Fun Assessment Program for My Littles - 6
3. GivingTuesday - El Cajon Valley Marching Braves - 5

1) Create a fundraising page (either by yourself or with a team of peers).

2) Before #GivingTuesday, start sharing with your community that your page will be participating in a contest on #GivingTuesday. Let them know that is the day they can make a big impact for you.

3) On #GivingTuesday, start sharing and sharing...and share more (Facebook, Twitter, emails, text your friends, launch a beacon, etc.!) You have 24 hours to maximize the opportunity to win prizes, raise funds, and raise awareness. Be sure to keep an eye on the PledgeCents Twitter feed to stay up-to-date throughout the day on the latest winners, mini contests, and more ! Trust us, you don't want to miss this.

Create your fundraising page!

All pages live on #GivingTuesday will eligible to participate! Get your fundraising page started, grab your team, and let the festivities begin! participate

In 2017, organizations raised more than $177 million online and we hosted the first #GivingTuesday - PledgeCents Competition which put over $3,000 of additional funds into our fundraising pages. We saw more than $30,000 contributed to pages on PledgeCents! Last year in 2018, our competition brought thousands of dollars into our fundraising pages! This year we are raising the bar, and hope to help create an even bigger impact!

CLICK HERE TO CREATE A FUNDRAISING PAGE!

Through our partnerships with our philanthropists and organizations, we are once again thankful to invest money back into classrooms and communities on #GivingTuesday! Keep reading to learn how to join in our #GivingTuesday fun!

Don't forget, you can sign up for one of our partners in the Preferred Partner Marketplace... it literally takes ONE MINUTE to sign up, and we create the page for you :)

Is any fundraising page eligible to participate?
Yes. All existing fundraising pages (live before December 3rd) and new fundraising pages (started on December 3rd) will be eligible to participate.

Am I allowed to win more than one competition?
No, we are limiting one winner per each category in blue. However, even if you win a category in blue, your fundraising page would be eligible for the prizes in orange.

If I have a fundraising page up before December 3rd, do the funds I have earned so far count towards the #GivingTuesday competition?
No. All fundraising pages will be considered at 0 as soon as it's 12:00am CST on December 3rd.

If I win, how will I be notified?
We will have a leaderboard on this page that will be updated throughout the day. At the end of the day, the fundraising pages that have won will receive an email from our team to notify them.

When will the funds be placed into my fundraising page if I win?
All winning fundraising pages will receive investments within 24 hours after #GivingTuesday is over on December 3rd, 2019.

What if my page is scheduled to end before (or on) December 3rd, 2019?
Make sure to email our team at info@pledgecents.com and let us know that you want your fundraising page to be extended. We will make the extension on your behalf.

Sign up and create your fundraising page in just seconds today!

---

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2019/11/17/take-part-in-givingtuesday-with-pledgecents/d553ed04-b083-4089-8604-913b5394123fSun, 17 Nov 2019 22:13:12 GMT Stop paying out-of-pocket.

We decided that enough is enough and, in partnership with educators, we started a movement, #TeachersAreProfessionals... a drive to empower educators, support them as the professionals they are, and help them bring valuable resources to their classrooms. Over the last year, we have been working closely with Alice Keeler on formalizing and finalizing the initial stages of the #TeachersAreProfessionals Campaign. We are excited to announce that we are finally ready to launch the first phase to the over 10,000 educators who have responded nationwide.

1. You will need to click here to create a fundraising page for yourself under TAP. The first 1,000 pages created will receive a code to order free business cards from our partners at VistaPrint!

2. Once your page is live, you will be able to share it and raise awareness and funds.

3. We will be providing flash funding and matching opportunities for pages throughout the campaign to some lucky educators who are actively sharing.

4. Once funds are raised and your page is complete, you will have the option on how you'd like to receive your funds: An Amazon e-gift card, 1 Year discounted access to Screencastify, 1 Year discounted access to Formative, or a PD Book from David Burgess Publishing.

So, your next steps are to create your fundraising page (this will take you seconds, literally...here is an example of what it will look like) and begin sharing your page! Once you get your page started, you will receive an email from our co-founder Andyshea Saberioon to officially welcome you to Phase 1 of #TeachersAreProfessionals! If you are one of the first 1,000 educators to create a page, then you will also receive the code for your business cards.

We're super excited to move forward alongside Alice Keeler with #TeachersAreProfessionals and are thrilled to finally share this news with you! As always, reach out to us with any questions (info@pledgecents.com)!

While we are in the business of helping educators crowdfund to offset additional costs, we also can't help but to be enraged by the lack of respect for those who dedicate themselves to the field of education. We've heard from thousands of teachers and over 80% of them are paying more than $250 a year out of pocket. More than 30% are paying between $500 and $2,000. On top of the hundreds of dollars educators spend out of pocket, add in the cost of EdTech tools and that price will soar even higher.

Together, let’s change the culture around teachers paying out of pocket.

We already know that most teachers pay out of pocket every year for their classroom, and this tells us these expenses are not wants but needs. Teachers NEED unrestricted funding each year to make their classrooms the best learning environments for their students. We want to help you with this. We want to help you with funds to spend on your classroom: NO RECEIPTS. We trust you with our kids, we can trust you with spending on your classroom. We want you to choose the EdTech tools you want to use. Research shows that technology provides no significant difference in learning when we use it the same way we were using non digital tools. To make a real impact the technology has to be used in an innovative way by a passionate teacher. No product is a magic bullet, the magic bullet is YOU the teacher.

"High quality products require talented people to create, market, sell, maintain, and provide professional development around. Unless you are a billion dollar company that can afford to spend millions on giving away EdTech to schools, free is not a business model." - via Alice Keeler @alicekeeler

It's not that EdTech companies are being stingy, but rather that educators are not provided the appropriate funds to maintain their products and subscriptions. In addition, many of the great EdTech companies are struggling to stay in business due to educators not being able to afford their products! The #TeachersAreProfessionals movement will work with EdTech companies in various ways to provide and maintain a more affordable way for educators to access and use these valuable tools.

Educators are professionals and are qualified in the art of teaching. How many professionals do you know of, aside from independent contractors, that pay for their own supplies - the supplies necessary to complete their job? Unfortunately, we know many educators who struggle to acquire the materials they need. Together, let’s change the culture around teachers paying out of pocket.

---

As always, if you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com or reach out to use on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2019/08/26/teachersareprofessionals-campaign-launch/e7011317-9cf5-45bc-980d-e464c5d64f1dMon, 26 Aug 2019 23:37:03 GMT

We are helping you clear your back-to-school wishlist!

We couldn't help but notice the #ClearTheList hashtag trending everywhere! We absolutely love this initiative, as ensuring that educators have the materials they need to provide the best education to their students is our main mission! This wonderful movement further supports equal educational opportunities for students everywhere!

We will choose random lists to clear, provide $$$ matching opportunities, and Twitter / Facebook share matching opportunities to help as many educators as we can to #ClearTheList! It doesn't have to end there. Even if a list is completely cleared, educators will still have the opportunity to raise more funds to further support their students and classroom needs throughout the year! There is no limit to how much $$$ you can earn!

Click here to sign up at PledgeCents.com (Or to sign in to your account if you already have one!).

Create a new fundraising page and simply set your "goal" as the total amount of your wishlist! Be sure to include #ClearTheList in the title to indicate that you'd like to participate in the campaign! Also select your organization as "#ClearTheList Campaign" so that we can easily send you all funds in the form of an Amazon e-giftcard. If you created a list on Amazon, you can include a link in the description or you can simply list the items that you'd like to fund for your classroom. You don't need to get super fancy here, but it totally helps to be transparent and include links + prices for those investing in your classroom!

The more you interact with your PledgeCents page, the more you'll have opportunities to #ClearTheList! This means sharing on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. We will look at the number of shares + likes when determining which opportunities your page will be eligible for. Be sure to use the hashtags #ClearTheList + #PCclearthelist and tag @PledgeCents so that we can follow along and RT / share your list! We're here to support you every step of the way!!!

We will also choose random pages to fully clear!

Keep sharing as AWESOMELY as you are now, but be sure to include the above hashtags, tag us, and include your PledgeCents page link!

FAQ

• Is any fundraising page eligible to participate?
  • You must inlude #ClearTheList in your title to indicate that you'd like to join in the campaign!
• How will I know when I am selected for a special opportunity?
  • You will receive email correspondence from the PledgeCents team when your page has been selected for special matching opportunities or to be fully cleared!
• How will I get my items?
  • We will send you an Amazon e-giftcard with all of your funds so that you can make the purchase directly. If you raised additional funds beyond your goal, those will be included in the total amount as well. It is important that you select "#ClearTheList Campaign" as your organization so that we can easily send you the e-giftcard directly!
• Can I extend my fundraising page?
  • Make sure to email our team at info@pledgecents.com and let us know that you want your fundraising page to be extended. We will make the extension on your behalf.
• What all can I purchase from Amazon?
  • Your items must be items that will positively impact your classroom or group of students. No items purchased on this wish list can be used for personal use. However, we will not check up on you because we believe that you are the professional, and you will use the items appropriately.

Sign up to get started on your #ClearTheList PledgeCents campaign today!

---

As always, if you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com or reach out to use on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram!

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2019/08/21/clearthelist-pledgecents-style/f9ddbc8b-6803-4a02-a442-afc78766e71aThu, 22 Aug 2019 00:13:45 GMT

Teacher Appreciation Week is just around the corner. The National PTA has designated May 5-11 as this year’s time to take that extra step to honor those that educate our children. We can help you take this year’s Teacher Appreciation Week to the next level and really show that special teacher some love!

Our Teacher Appreciation Week contest is officially launching May 5 and will run through May 11! Whether you are a teacher or someone showing support for a special educator in your life, this contest is for YOU! We have teamed up with some of our Preferred Partners to share some amazing prizes! Entry is simple: create a fundraising page. You’ll gain additional entries into special contests by meeting various goals - check out the table below for all the details!

*All subscriptions are valid for one year, Mackin credit is $100.

Also, be sure to keep tabs on our social media profiles including Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook so that you don’t miss when we drop flash contests throughout the week!

Educators love to build communities in their classrooms. We often hear from teachers that the one thing that makes them the happiest is family involvement. PledgeCents streamlines the process so everybody can get involved and show their student’s teacher how much they care!

Here are 3 ways you can be a part of the classroom community during Teacher Appreciation Week:

1) Keep it a surprise: Try to be as covert as possible when asking what is needed in the classroom. You can go to the school administration and see if the teacher has made any requests for special supplies or equipment. During the big reveal, make sure to take a video; we promise the reaction will be priceless.

2) Share your story: In the fundraiser description, tell why your student has the most amazing teacher. How has this teacher impacted the students in the classroom? What do they do everyday that makes them a superhero? When the teacher gets a chance to read it, it will mean just as much as the supplies or materials.

3) Grab your squad: One of the biggest hurdles during Teacher Appreciation Week is coordination. By posting a fundraiser to PledgeCents, everybody can contribute on their own time no matter how busy their schedule is! Don’t forget to share with the grandparents, as they love to get involved too. The best part is, you no longer have to worry about who to make a check out to or that Jimmy actually gave that $20 bill to Kara to give to her mom.

(Bonus) Beat the heat. If you live in an area that starts getting steamy this time of year, ask about the air conditioning in the building. A lot of schools that we work with have older buildings that don’t have central air conditioning and it can get extremely hot in the classrooms. In order for students to focus, they must feel comfortable. You can create a fundraiser to raise money for fans or window units to make sure everybody keeps cool! Plus, when they give you that thank you hug, it will be a lot less sweaty. :)

Looking for another way to really honor an amazing educator in your life? Submit a “Teacher Spotlight” about your student’s favorite teacher (or better yet… have them write the story!) and share it with us. We love highlighting awesome educators on our blog and social media… and we might even send them a little something just for being so amazing! We want to hear about the educators in your communities that have a powerful impact on your students. Email our social media manager at Heather@PledgeCents.com to have your feature published!

FAQ

Is any fundraising page eligible to participate?
Any fundraiser is eligible to participate, but only fundraisers created on or after May 5, 2019 will be eligible for the “create a fundraiser” contest category as outlined in the table above.

How do I enter if I am already live?
Your current fundraiser will not be eligible for the “create a fundraiser” category, but you can still participate in the other contest categories as outlined in the table above by raising money, sharing to Facebook, and referring friends!

How do I know if I am entered?
All current fundraising pages can participate by raising funds, sharing on Facebook, and referring friends. All fundraisers created on or after May 5, 2019 will also be eligible for the “create a fundraiser” contest category.

What if my page is scheduled to end before (or on) May 5th, 2019?
Make sure to email our team at info@pledgecents.com and let us know that you want your fundraising page to be extended. We will make the extension on your behalf.

When do I get my stuff?
The winner of each category will be able to decide when they would like to redeem their prize. The winners will receive an email from our team to notify them that they have won.

How will I get updated to know if I am eligible to win a prize?
Every participating fundraiser will receive an email from our team to notify them that they are eligible to win any prize listed above.

If I win a subscription, when would it begin?
You can choose when you would like for your annual subscription to start.

Sign up and create your fundraising page in just seconds today!

---

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2019/05/03/make-a-teachers-day-teacher-appreciation-week-2019/f5f89b06-9fed-4553-af1a-80d379e01bf8Sat, 04 May 2019 00:42:16 GMT

The days of selling candy bars door-to-door are long gone! Educational fundraising has continued to evolve over the years in the direction of crowdfunding, which involves funding a project by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people. Our team here at PledgeCents continues to work hard each day to learn about and adjust to the everchanging needs of the educational community in order to provide the most efficient experience for our users. Our goal is simple: ensure that educators have access to the tools they professionally recommend as necessary for the success and growth of their students.

Recently, our co-founder Andyshea Saberioon was interviewed by exeutive producer, Laura Taglialavore, from ABC 13 Houston to share what makes PledgeCents such a special, powerful platform. The interview highlights the success of 7th grade teacher Farkhunda Azeem from Spring Branch ISD, as well as other individuals who share why they love using PledgeCents to support their students.

Check out the video below!
via: ABC 13 Houston

There are various platforms that have stepped into this evolving space that allow people to create fundraising pages online, but we believe that we do it best. Why? We have a small team of dedicated individuals who pride ourselves on infusing a personal touch into every project we undertake.

In 2018 we went #NoPlatFormFees ... meaning that you keep every cent you raise. Additionally, we support needs beyond the classroom walls. We've had fundraising pages from everything to service trips... to community gardens... to providing care packages to those less fortunate.... to supporting all those affected by tragedy such as Hurricane Harvey.

We continue to work hard to make a difference, and provide the best educational opportunities for students across the country. Our Preferred Partner Marketplace, with over 70 participating companies, allows educators to create a fundraising page for powerful #edtech tools in just seconds! Additionally, we continue to support educators through our #TeachersAreProfessionals movement, where we are focusing on empowering teachers while encouraging them to speak up for the needs in their classrooms and communities.

Stay tuned to learn about upcoming new opportunities to impact even more educators, communities, and students!

Sign up and create your fundraising page in just seconds today!

---

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2019/01/04/the-evolving-landscape-of-educational-fundraising/439a5dea-fc43-4f1a-a473-5ead03b65ae3Fri, 04 Jan 2019 18:58:33 GMT Every year, #GivingTuesday has grown more popular around the world. People are sharing and contributing to the social needs that mean the most to them. This year, #GivingTuesday is November 27, 2018. On this day, the world will turn to supporting social intiatives surrounding medical, education, and community resources.

In 2016, organizations raised more than $177 million online and we hosted the first #GivingTuesday - PledgeCents Competition which put over $3,000 of additional funds into our fundraising pages. We saw more than $30,000 contributed to pages on PledgeCents! Last year in 2017, our competition brought over $30,000 into our fundraising pages! This year we are raising the bar, and hope to help create an even bigger impact!

Through our partnerships with our philanthropists and organizations, we are once again thankful to invest money back into classrooms and communities on #GivingTuesday!
Each fundraising page will be placed into a "class" based on its individual total goal amount. At the end of the day, the fundraising pages with the most money invested and the most facebook shares for each "class" will win additional investment money deposited to their pages. Throughout the day, any fundraising page that is actively raising money and accumulating facebook shares will be entered into random drawings for Amazon gift cards and Facebook share matching campaigns ($1 invested for every share!). Additionally, scheduled drawings will be held throughout the day to award customized Amazon gift boxes to the rundraising page that has received the most investments during each time period. Click here to see all participating fundraising pages.

Winners to be announced throughout the day and will be posted below.

1) Create a fundraising page (either by yourself or with a team of peers).
2) Before #GivingTuesday, start sharing with your community that your page will be participating in a contest on #GivingTuesday. Let them know that is the day they can make a big impact for you.
3) On #GivingTuesday, start sharing and sharing...and share more. You have 24 hours to maximize the opportunity to win prizes, raise funds, and raise awareness. Be sure to keep an eye on the PledgeCents Twitter feed to stay up-to-date throughout the day on the latest winners, mini contests, and more!

Get your fundraising page started, grab your team, and let the festivities begin!

*Final Results below*

Competition for the $0-$499 "class" :
Most Money Invested: $100 prize
1. Cathy Kulenkamp, Find Your Voice Throwable Microphone: $115
2. Sherri Wilkins, Give My Students a Voice: $40
3. Josie Finnell, Engaging Our Minds and Bodies in Learning: $32

Most Facebook Shares: $50 prize
1. Leslie Costides, Making a Learning an Adventure with Classcraft: 26
2. Cathy Kulenkamp, Find Your Voice Throwable Microphone: 20
3. Sherri Wilkinsr, Give My Students a Voice: 15

Competition for the $500-$999 "class":
Most Money Invested: $250 prize
1.Madeleine Greene, Classroom Supplies: $220
2.Farkhunda Azeem, Weathering, Erosion and.....DRONES!!!: $65
3.

Most Facebook Shares: $100 prize
1. Farkhunda Azeem, Weathering, Erosion and.....DRONES!!!: 18
2.Madeleine Greene, Classroom Supplies: 11
3.David Sweeney, Connecting Our Classroom Through Chromebooks: 1

Competition for the $1,000+ "class":
Most Money Invested: $400 prize
1. Morgan McLaughlin, Klein Oak High School Tennis Program: $1,290
2. Tammy Stringer, Katy ISD Food for Families: $915
3. Shannon Morton, Whitmore Lake Class of 2019 Project Graduation: $640

Most Facebook Shares: $200 prize
1. Amy Mardis, ¡Pickett a Puerto Rico! Immersion and Service Trip: 893
2. Kymberli Wregglesworth, The Cardinals Take D.C.: 235
3. Ashley Hufnagel, Learning Programming with Ozobots: 197

Custom Amazon Gift Box Winners:
Most $$$ Raised before 10am:

Tammy Stringer, Katy ISD Food for Families: $705

Most $$$ Raised between 10am-2pm:

Shannon Morton, Whitmore Lake Class of 2019 Project Graduation: $705

Most $$$ Raised between 2pm-7pm:

Morgan McLaughlin, Klein Oak High School Tennis Program: $510

Most $$$ Raised between 7pm-12am:

Shannon Morton, Whitmore Lake Class of 2019 Project Graduation: $300

FAQ

Is any fundraising page eligible to participate?
Yes. All existing fundraising pages (live before Nov. 27) and new fundraising pages (started on Nov. 27) will be eligible to participate.

Am I allowed to win more than one competition within my "class"?
Yes. You are able to win both competitions for your "class" and win additional prizes from mini contests and raffles.

If I have a fundraising page up before November 27th, do the funds I have earned so far count towards the #GivingTuesday competition?
No. All fundraising pages will be considered at 0 as soon as it's 12:00am CST on November 27th.

If I win, how will I be notified?
We will have a leaderboard on this page that will be updated throughout the day. At the end of the day, the fundraising pages that have won will receive an email from our team to notify them.

When will the funds be placed into my fundraising page if I win?
All winning fundraising pages will receive investments on December 1st, 2018.

What if my page is scheduled to end before (or on) November 27th, 2018?
Make sure to email our team at info@pledgecents.com and let us know that you want your fundraising page to be extended. We will make the extension on your behalf.

Sign up and create your fundraising page in just seconds today!

---

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2018/11/20/pledgecents-givingtuesday-2018/d023769e-3e50-4648-8352-99e26c2d683cTue, 20 Nov 2018 17:46:00 GMT

We’re so thrilled to announce that we’ve recently hit our latest milestone… $2,000,000 raised on the PledgeCents platform! First and foremost, thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has supported us and believed in our mission to bring equal education opportunities to all children and to relieve teachers of the financial burden they endure as they work hard to bring the best possible experiences to their students!

Around this time last year, we announced that we met the $1,000,000 raised milestone. It’s been an amazing and exciting year since then, and we’ve had so many opportunities to help raise funds for various needs to support classrooms and communities around the country! We thought that this would be the perfect time to showcase what we’ve been up to throughout this last year, and to highlight some of our most notable fundraising pages along the way!

Unfortunately, our timeline starts off on a somber note. In August of 2017, the category 4 Hurricane Harvey hit Texas and became the country’s first major category 3 or higher storm since 2005. It caused about $125 billion worth of damage, and ranks as the second-most costly hurricane to hit the U.S since 1900. Of course there were more needs than ever from communities and educators in those areas, and we felt that we wanted to help however we could by supporting them through our fundraising platform. This especially hit home for us, since our co-founders are both from Texas and our company grew there from the early stages. We had many fundraisers created for this cause on our platform, and in total over raised over $300,500!

Link to Andyshea Saberioon's fundraiser.

Spring Branch Education Foundation raised over $183,000 for students and families that have been impacted within their community.

Link to Cece Thompson's fundraiser.

Katy ISD Education Foundation raised over $100,000 to support staff and families in their community in time for Thanksgiving.

Link to Janet Theis's fundraiser.

That’s right! Last October we announced that we elimited platform fees entirely. Why? Because we truly believe that #EveryCentCounts and we wanted every last penny to come back to the communities they were meant to serve. No matter the amount you raise, no minimum or maximum, you will keep every last bit (minus the 3% payment processing fee by WePay). Soon after we announced that we were going “fee free”, we shared that we would be expanding to allow fundraising pages to be created for all needs that will positively impact the cornerstones of our community.

Project Nyame Nsa has embarked on an exciting new project in Zambia. They recently purchased 17 acres and plan to build a children’s village comprised of twelve three bedroom homes, a medical clinic, chapel, school, guest house, soccer field, as well as land for farming. They are currently raising funds continue supporting their mission.

The Blue Valley Northwest Girls Basketball team raised funds to purchase new travel suits, team backpacks, equipment, team socks, and a team book study to support their upcoming season!

The Plano East Senior High PTSA - Students on Service submitted a fundraiser to purchase, install, and maintain a hydroponics system in their garden!

Our first #PCgobblegiving during 2016 was SUPER successful, so we decided to go at it again! We held a fundraising competition and the organization who earned the most points received 10 Thanksgiving turkeys! Spring Branch Education Foundation (Houston, TX) won last year’s contest with 3,600 points!

In photo: Winners from 2016 - Coach Ryan Hintz's high school basketball team from Kansas City. Coach Hintz's team raised close to $10,000 and rallied support from over 100 investors!

In addition to #PCGobbleGiving, November is also when the world participates in #GivingTuesday! Every year, #GivingTuesday has grown more and more popular around the world. People are sharing and contributing to the social needs that mean the most to them. In addition to giving away over $2,500 to top performing fundraising pages, we gave away a FREE 3D PRINTER from our friends at BEEVERY CREATIVE!!!

The annual EdTech Awards , organized by EdTech Digest , recognizes people in and around education for outstanding contributions in transforming education through technology to enrich the lives of learners everywhere. This year, the PledgeCents team was honored to announce that we have been named as a finalist in both the Trendsetter and Cool Tool categories, and have also received additional recognition for the stellar work of our co-founders. The EdTech Awards is arguably the largest and most competitive recognition program in all of education technology, and we are grateful to be grouped with some of the best, most inspiring names in education.

We had decided that enough is enough and, in partnership with educators, have started a movement, #TeachersAreProfessionals. This initiative, championed by Alice Keeler, is a drive to empower educators, support them as the professionals they are, and help them bring valuable resources to their classrooms.

Christine McCoid

Theresa L. Christensen

Alice Keeler

Laura Gilchrist

Educators are professionals and are qualified in the art of teaching. How many professionals do you know of, aside from independent contractors, that pay for their own supplies - the supplies necessary to complete their job?

"High quality products require talented people to create, market, sell, maintain, and provide professional development around. Unless you are a billion dollar company that can afford to spend millions on giving away EdTech to schools, free is not a business model." - via Alice Keeler

Wake up, change is coming. Want to get involved / learn more information? Visit: www.TeachersAreProfessionals.com!

This past July, our co-founder Andyshea Saberioon traveled to Chicago for his 4th year attending ISTE! Each day was jam-packed with learning, sharing, and connecting with educators and allies to the profession from around the world. We enjoyed following along with your ISTE adventures and stories from our amazing online PLN and community, so we created a blog post that shares what WE were up to! :)

Some highlights from the trip included sharing the #TeachersAreProfessionals movement alongside Alice Keeler, being interviewed for the OnEducation Podcast, visiting with some of our partners, joining in a Periscope interview with Brian Smith who was one of our first teachers to ever use PledgeCents, checking out the Questathon event that our partners over at Classcraft were hosting, and meeting with some of our very wonderful educator friends while making new friends as well!

We understand that back-to-school season can be a bit overwhelming... the planning, the set up, building connections with your students, professional development, just plain getting back into it all again after the summer... and we came up with another way to try and help! During this past back-to-school season, we held a fundraising competition where the top 5 fundraising pages submitted their Amazon wishlists and we fulfilled them (up to their prize amount)!

Shout out to teacher Emmaline Imbriglia who raised 1,032 points with her fundraiser Hooray for K 2018! She also got to submit a wishlist for up to $125 worth of products from Amazon!

We’re proud to have partnered with Teach For America (TFA) for the 3rd year in a row! Over this last summer, first year TFA corps members have raised over $265,000 to support their students’ learning! It was also amazing to see so many second year corps members and TFA alumni return to use PledgeCents this last summer…together over $300,000 was raised this summer for our TFA family!

Additionally, we’d like to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to the top three institutes who raised the most funds this summer!

Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Delta

THANK YOU again to everyone who has supported us from day one, and continues to support us as we work to improve and learn every day. We’ve been fortunate to be involved in so many amazing fundraising initiatives, events, and have met so many people and created amazing relationships… but we’re ready to continue growing and moving forward!

Have questions, comments, or suggestions on how we can improve?
Email us at info@pledgecents.com!

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2018/09/24/timeline-to-2-million/2be3bbb0-c2cd-4c9b-8f6d-46831f4e51eaTue, 25 Sep 2018 03:14:01 GMT

We’re proud to have partnered with Teach For America (TFA) for the 3rd year in a row! Over this last summer, first year TFA corps members have raised over $265,000 to support their students’ learning! As we all know, every last cent helps especially when setting up a new classroom, and that’s why we are proud to have zero platform fees! It was also amazing to see so many second year corps members and TFA alumni return to use PledgeCents this last summer…together over $300,000 was raised this summer for our TFA family!

Our team was excited and fortunate to visit eleven institutes throughout the summer: Atlanta, Dallas, Delta, Houston, Miami, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Phoenix, New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles. Speaking with so many individuals who share such a passion and dedication to the field of education was truly wonderful and inspiring. In addition, while we were unable to join in for the Tulsa and Chicago institutes, both were active on our platform and joined in to raise additional funds for their classrooms!

We’d like to give a HUGE SHOUT OUT to the top three institutes who raised the most funds this summer!

Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Delta

This year, we helped streamline the sign-up process for corps members even more and provided the funds via an amazon gift-card so they could make whatever purchases they needed! It was so amazing to see that over 6,000 people invested in these fundraisers to support these amazing educators and their deserving students! There were many fundraisers which stood out among the rest, and managed to raise exceptional amounts of funds! While it was so hard to pick and choose which to share, we’ve highlighted a few below because we just can’t imagine keeping all the excitement to ourselves.

Click for more info.

Click for more info.

Click for more info.

Click for more info.

Another big shout out to all TFA corps members who raised additional funds for their classrooms! Your students are lucky to have you, and will surely appreciate the new supplies and experiences that you will share with them. Thank you again to Teach For America for allowing us to join in their quest of bringing equal educational opportunities to all children! We can’t wait to join you all next summer… but in the meantime, we’re here to continue helping support you and your students throughout the school year! Best wishes for an amazing year of learning and growth to all!

Want to partner with PledgeCents so we can help your organization like we do with Teach for America? Please email info@pledgecents.com and let's partner together!

Sign up and create your fundraising page in just seconds today!

---

If you have any questions, email us at info@pledgecents.com.

]]>http://blog.pledgecents.com/2018/09/20/teach-for-america-summer-2018/d7ede52c-6faa-4872-a136-7ee842e196b6Thu, 20 Sep 2018 23:46:10 GMT