DonorsChoose is an awesome site, created by former educators, that allows educators to create a project idea, select the materials and equipment needed, and get funding for those supplies. The teacher fills out the project format and selects materials and then DonorsChoose does the rest. Donors go to the site (and the site is advertised) and donate to projects. DonorsChoose then orders the supplies and ships them to you. Then you just have to complete the thank you package, which is very easy to do.
Sometimes a project is funded by one donor, other times a project may be funded by a lot of donors. Donors donate any amount they want. I've seen $5 donations up to over $1,000 single donation.
As you complete projects and follow all of the requirements, you earn more points. The more points you earn, the larger (ie. more expensive) projects you can apply.
Teachers can also promote their projects via social media like Twitter and Facebook.
The site is very easy to use and in this economy and shrinking school supply budgets, DonorsChoose can help out. I've gotten thousands of dollars worth of equipment and supplies, as have many of my colleagues. Laptops, digital cameras, printers, Flip video cameras, dissecting equipment, physics lab supplies, and so much more!
You can't afford not to use DonorsChoose.