The Contest 2011: Projects
It’s everyone’s favorite part — suggesting projects! But things have changed a bit from last year, so before you send that email, get acquainted with what’s new, won’t you?
The biggest shift from previous TN/DC fundraisers is that Tomato Nation is now its own leaderboard. You can see the set-up right here; you’ll note that you can now form your own giving pages within the TN contest. That means that you can put together whichever projects you like best — all crafting; all science; all Delaware; all Shakespeare — and add or shuffle them however you like.
That also means that certain prizes and promotions during the contest will focus on giving pages — which ones can add the most donors in a week, for example, or can reach a certain amount of money the fastest.
Creating your own giving page within the TN contest (or moving an existing one under the TN umbrella, which you can also do) is a great way to pick projects and to promote it in a portable way to your family, friends, Twitter and Facebook circles, and so on.
Don’t feel like dealing? No worries; I’ll have a contest giving page going, and you can suggest projects for that list and donate to those if you like.
If you want to create, or move, a giving page for the contest, just head to DonorsChoose.org; create your page, or copy the URL; and email Anna at anna at donorschoose dot org to ask her to add it to the Tomato Nation leaderboard. You can do this now, or later on; it’s up to you. Don’t name it anything obscene or overly jerky, please.
If you want to suggest projects for me to add to the contest’s general giving page, please send me an email at bunting at tomatonation dot com with no more than three (3) projects. Please do NOT send 1) projects with spelling or grammatical errors in the title; 2) projects not listed as “high poverty”; 3) more than three projects, or seventeen emails with three projects each. I know how hard it is to decide among all the worthy projects and students out there — but if you really can’t narrow it down, you should start a giving page (see above).
Any questions about the leaderboard, or your giving page? Email me, or post them in the comments. Questions about the theme will have to wait a few more days.
I like that completed projects are now under a different tab, rather than just going to the very end of the listing!
Woohoo!!! this is going to be fun, trying to come up with a great name for our collaboration giving page!!!
I should have added that IF YOU ARE A TEACHER, you need to follow the instructions, same as civilians — links to projects, not your giving page; no more than three. Thanks!
Is that new logo coming soon to a T shirt near me? I hope so.
Possibly!
I set up a new giving page for my state, got it added, then donated $10 in honor of a relative’s birthday today, and am now the leader. I hereby declare myself smug for the rest of the day.
Ooo! I need to learn how to make a page. I went to high school with Mr. K (from last year — we funded his chess club in Austin, TX) and want to continue showing him TN love.
Just made my giving page and got t attached to the leaderboard! It’s called Ukiah’s Heart, and its dedicated to my son who passed way last April. Give some special needs classrooms some much deserved love and donate to his page. That would be awesome and a nice tribute to my son. He both passed away and was born in April, so this month has special significance for us. Help me pass the time by giving money to Donor’s choose for the month!
I am so excited I set up a page and it posted yesterday and we already have over $1,000 in donations. This is going to be a great month for teachers.
Awesome!
I just want to take a moment here and thank the person who helped complete not one, not two, but three projects on my giving page. Cindy from HI, you are an awesome human being and if you’re ever in the bay area, I owe you a cosmo or two. (Wait until after September when I’m no longer pregnant and can afford to take you up on the offer). Still made my day though. Thanks!
I want to second the huge thank you to Cindy from HI for spreading the love around to so many teachers and their classes. I wish there was a way to thank you in an inbox or something but this is the only way I know how to express my gratitude! I am so excited to participate in Sars TN/DC challenge. The start date has not even arrived yet and already donors are stepping forward to help put needed supplies into classrooms. TN is one place that reminds me how much good there is in people :) I am beyond excited to see what this community will do when the contest begins :)
I have an orphan project if someone would be kind enough to add it to their Giving Page. This project needs a home:
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=538572&verify=1808159757
It’s a project from my hometown that supports music and literacy. Unfortunately it was only posted about a month ago but will expire in about two weeks. I can’t get it funded by then, so I would really appreciate if someone would could add it to their page.
To sweeten the deal, I’ll donate a $50 to this project and help bump up the person’s donor page total. Thank you for your help!
Meant to also include, that I will donate the giftcard after the contest starts to tap into the match money
It has been added to mine, I had a donor request it. Here is the link http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/proposal.html?id=538572&challengeid=155170
Charmaine.
You are the best Charmaine! Thank you so much, and expect a $50 donation when the contest starts!
To the two teachers who sent me lovely messages and nice requests to put their projects on my giving page… Check your e-mail. Donors choose just gave me five $25 gift certificates to send to my friends, and I gave one to the each of you! Hope you enjoy!
Heavens! This must be spring cleaning dust in my eye.