Q&A

How can I donate via check or apps?

Checks payable to "Reward Our Teachers" can be mailed to 1635 Ben Roe Dr, Los Altos, CA 94024

Zelle, Paypal or Venmo payments can be sent to team@rewardourteachers.org

Feel free to contact us at team@rewardourteachers.org to discuss other ways to donate. 

How much should I give?

One economic analysis estimates that a teacher’s value is about 2x their compensation. (i) 

We know that many factors impact a family’s decision on donated amount and we encourage you to organize a fundraiser within the classroom and utilize employer matching to raise a generous award. 

How is this different from the PTA or school fundraiser?

Most educational charities or funds focus on new teaching programs, facilities, materials, scholarships - all very necessary. 

Here,  you give directly to the teacher. Our goal is to directly reward the most valuable asset of a child’s education and help retain teachers. 

Studies show that it is teachers who make the most impact on a student’s education - an outstanding teacher can have a 2-3 times greater impact on a range of outcomes like test improvement scores, college enrollment, or long-term earning potential. 

Is my donation deductible?

If you donate directly to Reward Our Teachers through our website or via check, yes, your donation is tax deductible and you will receive a receipt. You can also choose to donate through a classroom fundraiser where one parent is using a corporate match - in this case, your donation goes directly to the parent and is not tax-deductible, however, the total amount donated doubles and has a much greater impact. 

When will the teacher receive my award?

This will depend on the speed of the employer match. The donor amount can go to the teachers within a week. When you fill out our award form, you can specify if you have preferences around delivery details and we can work with you. 

How do I know this is a legitimate organization?

We are a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. You can see our IRS determination letter here and you can also check our current status on the IRS website - search for our EIN 88-4102518