Wise Giving Wednesday: Support Students and Teachers This Back-to-School Season

Back-to-school season is the perfect time to support trusted charities helping students, teachers, and classrooms thrive.

Why Back-to-School Giving Matters

This August, an estimated 54.4 million K-12 students and 5.9 million teachers are heading back to school.

For many families, this time of year is filled with formative memories and familiar emotions: the nervous excitement of new backpacks, classrooms, and friends; comforting children as they begin a new school year (or prepare for their last); and parents simultaneously enjoying and lamenting the end of summer break.

At the same time, back-to-school season is a reminder that costs can be unmanageable for some parents, that classrooms are often under-resourced, and that helping students succeed takes a village.

How Charities Make a Difference During Back-to-School Season

It may surprise you to know just how active charities are in supporting students and schools, and the variety of ways your charitable giving can make a difference.

Supporting students, teachers, and classrooms.

Some charities focus directly on helping classrooms thrive by providing books, school supplies, and other educational resources.

For example, DonorsChoose.org helps teachers obtain resources and materials that public schools may not otherwise be able to provide. Communities in Schools connects students with the relationships and community resources they need to thrive. Richmond-based Read to Them partners with schools to build a culture of literacy by providing books and tools. The organization reports that, for many children, the books they receive through its programs are the first books they have ever owned.

Promoting Student Health, Learning and Well-Being.

Many charities work alongside schools to improve students’ health, nutrition, mental health, and overall well-being.

BBB Accredited Charities help increase food security through school pantries and backpack meal programs, provide health services and health education, expand access to mental health resources, promote school readiness and inclusive education, improve schoolyards and outdoor learning spaces, and much more. For example, Feeding America and its network of local food banks offer food panties located inside or close to schools; the American Heart Association partners with schools to promote happy and healthy students; and the Military Child Education Coalition develops resources that help educators support military-connected students.

Creating Healthier Learning Environments

Some charities help schools create healthier places to learn through outdoor classrooms, school gardens, playgrounds, and environmental education.

Trust for Public Land works with school districts to transform schoolyards into vibrant green spaces that support learning, play, and community use. The Nature Conservancy offers resources to help schools build school gardens, and the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-Schools program helps schools integrate environmental learning into everyday education.

Tips for Supporting Back-to-School Charities Wisely

If you are looking for ways to give this back-to school season, here are a few tips to help you give wisely:

• Reflect on What Matters Most to You. There are many ways to help kids succeed in schools, including food security, literacy, green spaces and playgrounds, inclusive education, health or environmental education, and much more.

• Support Charities in your Community:  Whether their programs include backpack drives, school meals, or after-school programs, you can make a difference in your community by donating or volunteering.

• Support National Charities with Broad Reach. For example, organizations like  Feeding America or Communities in Schools have both national and local reach.

• Ask the Charity How You Can Best Support Them. There are many ways to help, including volunteering to mentor students or read with children, donating school supplies or food, or making a financial contribution.

• Know Where Retail Donations Go. This time of year, some retailers promote school supply drives or roundup campaigns. Ask who benefits, which specific charity will receive the donations, and how the contributions will be used.

• Understand Crowdfunding. Some schools use online giving platforms to raise money for specific classroom needs. If you are considering giving through a crowdfunding campaign, it is safest to donate to someone you personally know and trust. Review the platform’s policies and procedures, keeping in mind that while some crowdfunding sites take steps to vet campaigns, others do not. Organizations like DonorsChoose.org and AdoptAClassroom.org also offer ways to support specific classroom needs and school projects.

BBB Accredited Charities Supporting Teachers and Schools

BBB Accredited Charities With Cause Programs in Schools

Find More Trusted Charities to Support

In addition to these charities, many others serve children and youth both in the U.S. and internationally. 

Always visit Give.org to see if the charity meets the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability (i.e., a BBB Accredited Charity).

If a BBB charity report is not available, review the organization’s website for additional details about its services, needs, and achievements.

Recent Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:

• American Jewish World Service
• National Eczema Association
• Best Buddies International

Finally, remember to let us know by going to give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.