Site helps boost funds for Oklahoma school projects

Oklahomans can give twice as much to education projects through the DonorsChoose.org Web site. Several foundations have agreed to match donations from the public for Oklahoma classroom projects through the "Double Your Impact” program.

DonorsChoose, a nonprofit organization, allows teachers to post proposals for projects so people can contribute to specific projects through the Web site.

Natalie French, DonorsChoose associate director, said it is encouraging to have donations from state foundations because the organization has only been working with Oklahoma teachers for a year and a half. The contributions total more than $100,000.

"It is a little unusual,” French said. "The Tulsa-area foundations, in particular, have been particularly generous.”

Tulsa’s Hille Foundation is offering matching funds for Tulsa County schools meeting certain criteria.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is providing funds for rural high schools and other schools throughout the state. The George Kaiser Family Foundation of Tulsa is matching the Gates Foundation grant for projects in the Tulsa, Bixby, Union, Owasso and Broken Arrow school districts.

The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation is sponsoring a "Double Your Impact” effort for Oklahoma projects not eligible for Hille, Kaiser and Gates funding.

The program will continue until all grant funds have been awarded. On the Web site, a "Double Your Impact” logo will be beside projects that qualify. Teachers can still submit proposals, too, she said.