9 Best Charities that Donate School Supplies | Full List with Details
Education is the foundation of any society, but unfortunately, not all children have access to the supplies they need to succeed in school. Every year, countless families struggle to afford basic school supplies, leaving their children at a disadvantage. The good news is that there are charities out there working tirelessly to make a difference. By providing free school supplies to those in need, these organizations are helping to level the playing field and ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn and grow.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most significant charities that donate school supplies, and discover how you can get involved in supporting their important work. So, if you’re passionate about education and want to make a difference in the lives of children, keep reading!
Here are 9 Best Charities that Donate School Supplies:
1. DonorsChoose
Starting our list, first up is DonorsChoose, a non-profit organization that connects public school teachers in the United States with individuals who want to support classroom projects. Teachers can submit project proposals on the organization’s website, requesting funding for specific materials, supplies, or experiences that they believe will enhance their students’ learning.
The organization has funded over 1.8 million projects in public schools, benefiting more than 53 million students, and has received support from notable individuals and organizations such as Oprah Winfrey and Google. They have a 4 star charity rating with an outstanding score of 99% on Charity Navigator.
2. The Kids In Need Foundation
It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing school supplies to students and teachers in under-resourced schools in the United States. The organization was founded in 1995 and has since distributed more than $1 billion worth of school supplies to over 8 million students and 200,000 teachers.
The Foundation operates several programs, including the National School Supply Program, which provides free school supplies to teachers in high-poverty schools, and Second Responder. The organization partners with corporations, foundations, and individual donors to support their mission of ensuring that every child has access to the tools they need to learn and succeed in school. They have a charity rating of 89% on Charity Navigator with 3 stars.
3. Crayons to Computers
It strives to provide free school supplies to teachers in the Greater Cincinnati area. The organization was founded in 1997 and has since distributed over $250 million worth of new and gently used school supplies to local schools and their students.
Crayons to Computers also operates several programs, including the Mobile Outreach Program, which brings free school supplies directly to schools, and the Teacher Free Store Online, which allows teachers to shop for supplies remotely. The organization relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support their mission of ensuring that every child has the tools they need to succeed in school. Noting stats, as on Charity Navigator, they have a rating of 94%.
4. First Book
FirstBook aims to provide new books, educational resources, and other essentials to children in need. The organization was founded in 1992 and has since distributed over 200 million books to children in low-income communities in the United States and Canada.
The organization serves educators, program leaders, and others who work with children in need, ensuring that they have access to the tools and resources they need to promote literacy and learning. First Book relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to support their mission of providing equal access to education for all children. They have a charity rating of 89% with 3 stars as on Charity Navigator.
5. Operation Backpack
It is a program of Volunteers of America that provides backpacks filled with school supplies to homeless and at-risk students in the United States. The program was founded in 2002 and has since provided over 150,000 backpacks filled with grade-appropriate supplies to students in need.
Backpacks are distributed to homeless shelters, foster care agencies, and schools serving low-income families. The program aims to ensure that children experiencing homelessness or housing instability have the tools they need to succeed in school and achieve their full potential. VoA has 3 star ratings on Charity Navigator at 85%.
6. Back-to-School Bash
It is a program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America that provides school supplies and other essentials to low-income families in the United States. The program typically takes place before the start of the school year and includes a variety of activities and resources for children and families, such as free health screenings, haircuts, and educational workshops.
Back-to-School Bash aims to alleviate the financial burden that back-to-school shopping can place on low-income families and ensure that children have the tools they need to succeed in school.VoA has a charity rating of 90% as on Charity Navigator with 4 stars.
7. Assistance League
Assistance League is a non-profit organization that provides philanthropic programs to support children and families in need. The organization was founded in 1935 and has since grown to over 120 chapters throughout the United States.
Assistance League programs include providing school uniforms, clothing, and backpacks to low-income students, supporting foster youth in transitioning to independent living, and providing emergency assistance to families in crisis. Assistance League is staffed by volunteers and operates with the belief that all individuals and families should have access to basic necessities and opportunities for a better life. They have been rated 99% by Charity Navigator with 4 stars.
8. Pencils of Promise
Then we have the Pencils of Promise, an organization that works to increase access to education for children in low-income countries. The organization was founded in 2008 and has since built over 500 schools, trained thousands of teachers, and provided education to more than 130,000 students.
The organization also implements programs to improve student health and well-being, such as water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives. Pencils of Promise operates with the belief that every child deserves access to quality education, and works to break down barriers to education for children around the world. As on Charity Navigator, they have 3 star ratings at 88%.
9. Good360
Ending with Good360, it is a non-profit organization that connects companies with excess goods to nonprofits in need. The organization was founded in 1983 and has since distributed over $10 billion worth of goods to charities serving communities in the United States and around the world.
Good360 partners with corporations to source and distribute donated products, such as school supplies, furniture, and clothing, to foundations working in disaster recovery, education, and other areas. The organization operates with the belief that excess goods should not go to waste, but rather be put to good use in supporting communities in need. Good360 relies on the support of corporate partners and individual donors to support their work. As per Charity Navigator, they are a 4 star charity with a total score of 92%
Final Thoughts
Charities that donate school supplies play a vital role in ensuring that every child has access to the tools they need to succeed in the classroom. By providing free supplies to those in need, these organizations are helping to level the playing field and create a more equitable society.
But while these charities are doing important work, we must also consider the systemic issues that contribute to educational inequality. Access to school supplies is just one aspect of a much larger problem, and we must work together to address the root causes of this issue.
As individuals, we can support these charities by donating supplies or volunteering our time. But we can also advocate for policy changes that address educational inequality, such as increased funding for public schools or reforms to the education system as a whole.
By combining our individual efforts with collective action, we can create a world where every child has access to a quality education and the tools they need to succeed. So let’s continue to support these charities and work towards a brighter future for all.
