How can school district leaders leverage the benefit of crowdfunding for their schools while maintaining internal controls and student protection?

Consider the following factors when evaluating crowdfunding websites.

• Financial accountability
• Ownership of materials and supplies
• Safety and privacy

Only trust crowdfunding websites that meet these criteria.

• Purchase and send resources directly to verified schools, instead of depositing cash into teachers’ personal bank accounts. If your staff receives cash, it can put them and the district in a risky situation.
• Publicly display details about every item funded and provide clear explanation of overhead costs.
• Require teachers to report how the resources were used in the classroom and how students benefit.
• Designate that the school, rather than the teacher, ultimately owns the funded resources.
• Notify principals when items are being shipped and provide line-by-line reporting of every item to the district upon request.
• Have mechanisms in place to protect students’ privacy, as well as a privacy policy tailored to the unique needs of students in public schools.

Contact your local Horace Mann representative for more information.

WBSC-0615 (1-20)