Setting Up Your Fundraising Grow Page at DonorsChoose.org

To Create your Fundraising Grow Page (5-7 min):

Step 1:
Go to www.DonorsChoose.org and click “MY ACCOUNT” in the upper right corner.


Step 2:
Sign in as a “I am here to support classrooms in need,” so that you can set up a Giving Page.


Step 3:
Fill out your contact information (which DonorsChoose.org will only use to mail you student thank-you notes, if you fund a classroom project.)


Step 4:
Click on “Submit and Create a Giving Page.”


Step 5:
Select "Mustaches for Kids," and then create the title of your Giving Page. You’ll need to include your name in the title, and you can also use your Mustache name, like, Joe ‘The Walrus’ Romanelli.
Make sure to join the “Mustaches by City” Giving Group (STL, duh), and then associate yourself with your city. If you cannot find your city listed, please email us at: info.mfk.stl@gmail.com.


Step 6:
Fill out your message, encouraging family, friends and co-workers to sponsor your Mustache!
Also, click “Add” to add a picture of you, with or without a ‘stache!


Step 7:
You have a number of options: let DonorsChoose.org autofill your page with projects or manually select eligible projects. If you choose to manually select, click on “Search for Projects,” so that you can add classroom projects to your Giving Page. Try and select projects for schools in Missouri, but anything goes.


Step 8:
Search for projects by finding projects by City or County.


Step 9:
When you find a project you’d like to add, click on the project, then click on “Add to Giving Page.”
On the following screen, you will click “Add to selected Giving Page.”
We suggest adding 10 – 15 projects when you’re starting your Giving Page.


Step 10:
Scroll to the top of your Giving Page set up. Click on “View this Giving Page (permalink).”


Step 11:
Bookmark your UNIQUE LINK to your Giving Page.
This is the link you should use every time you ask people to donate for your Mustache.
So you should not send people to www.DonorsChoose.org to make donations – you should send them to your unique link! UBER CRITICAL OR THE DONATION WON'T GO TO YOUR STACHE!

DONE! Sit back and have a beer.


FAQs
Below are answers to some commonly ‘stached questions. Email info.mfk.stl@gmail.com if you have any further questions.

Giving Pages
What if I don't want to set up a Giving Page?
We strongly encourage you to set up a Giving Page, so you can track your donors and donations. Your Giving Page allows you to view all donations made for your ‘stache. If you have donors give straight to www.DonorsChoose.org, or if they give to one of the general M4K chapter pages, you will have no official way of knowing that they donated!

How can I tell how much money my 'stache has raised?
In the upper left-hand corner of your Giving Page, you can see how much your ‘stache has raised, how many donors have contributed, and the number of students reached by their donations.

How can I tell if people donate through my Giving Page?
After you have set up your Giving Page, you can log into your account anytime at www.DonorsChoose.org, and click on “My Giving Pages.” Towards the bottom of the page, you can click on “View all of my donations,” and see a list of your donors and which projects they funded.

How do I handle cash or check donations?
When a Mustache sponsor gives you a check, you will need to log into your donor account, fund a project on your Giving Page with their donation, then follow the instructions to mail the check to DonorsChoose.org. You can then forward the tax-deductible receipt that you receive via email to the donor.
When a Mustache sponsor gives you cash, you will need to log into your donor account, fund a project on your Giving Page with your own credit card or check. You can then forward the tax-deductible receipt that you receive via email to the donor.

What if other Growers choose the same project(s) I did on my Giving Page?
It is ok if you have the same projects as other Growers on your Giving Pages. Your Giving Page will only record donations given on your unique Page!

What happens if/when a project on my Giving Page is fully funded?
When projects on your Giving Page are fully funded, they will stay at the bottom of your Giving Page, as record of the number of projects you had funded. You will want to make sure that you always have several unfunded projects on your Giving Page at any given time.

How do I log onto my Giving Page to add more projects?
To add more classroom projects to your Giving Page, you can go to www.DonorsChoose.org, click on “Sign In” in the upper right-hand corner, then click into your Giving Page. You can then click on ADD MORE PROJECTS.

For Teachers:

I have friends who are teachers, how can I help them to post projects on DonorsChoose.org?
DonorsChoose.org is available to all public school teachers across the country. If you have friends who are public school teachers, please encourage them to visit www.DonorsChoose.org and click “Sign In.” DonorsChoose.org will walk them through the process from there!