Why Are Teachers Still Crowdfunding Classroom Supplies in 2025?
The system is broken, and educators are bridging the gap with their wallets—and your kindness.
Every fall, like clockwork, teachers across the country refresh their Amazon wishlists, write heartfelt DonorsChoose descriptions, and post hopeful links on social media asking for support. And every fall, they face the same uncomfortable reality: the classroom they’ve been entrusted to lead isn’t fully stocked.
It’s not because teachers are unprepared.
It’s not because we’re asking for luxuries.
It’s because even the basics aren’t guaranteed anymore.
Let me paint you a picture.
You walk into your classroom on day one. You’ve spent your summer preparing curriculum, attending unpaid training, and probably spending your own money on gas to pick up posters, markers, storage bins, tissues, and snacks—because you know some of your kids won’t come with what they need. You find out your school supply order didn’t come in full. Your copy limits are cut again. Your whiteboard markers are dry. There’s one pair of scissors for a class of thirty.
So you do what teachers always do: you improvise.
You reuse.
You share.
You make do.
And when that’s not enough, you crowdfund.
Because the kids still deserve the best we can give.
Crowdfunding Isn’t a Trend—It’s a Lifeline
Districts are operating on shoestring budgets, some with millions in deficits. Talk of raises is a political football—dangling on the hope of a future vote that may or may not pass depending on local taxpayer sentiment. Meanwhile, teachers are getting emails mid-summer telling them their position has been cut. Others are pulled into a meeting and told they’re being reassigned to a different campus or role without warning or input.
It’s not just about supplies.
It’s about stability.
And in the chaos, crowdfunding becomes the one place where a teacher can ask for help—and get it.
Let’s be clear: we’re not asking for fuzzy rugs and Pinterest-perfect classrooms. We’re asking for:
Graph paper for algebra students who don’t know where to start.
Notebooks for kids who show up empty-handed and still eager.
Tissues and hand sanitizer during flu season.
Snacks for students who haven’t eaten since lunch yesterday.
Chargers and headphones so kids can access their online curriculum.
Calculators for standardized tests.
A charging station so students can safely lock up their phones and still be reachable in an emergency.
And when we say “I have 180 students,” we mean 180 stories, 180 needs, and often…180 individual costs that add up fast.
When Teachers Crowdfund, We’re Also Advocating
There’s something vulnerable about putting your needs online, asking strangers or friends to fill a gap your district won’t. But teachers do it anyway—not because we want to, but because we have to.
We are constantly told to “do more with less.” And we do. But every year, the “less” gets even less.
It’s easy for people outside education to say “That’s what the district should pay for.” And they’re right. But until the budgets reflect that belief, until legislators prioritize education over politics, until every zip code is treated with equity, we will keep showing up and fighting for our kids.
And sometimes, fighting looks like hitting “publish” on a wishlist.
How You Can Help
If you’re reading this and you’re not a teacher, you might be wondering what you can do. Here’s how to make a difference:
Find a teacher’s wishlist—ask your friends, check hashtags like #ClearTheList, or reach out to a local school.
Donate small—even $5 makes an impact when pooled with others.
Share the link—visibility matters. You never know who’s willing to give.
Vote for education—support candidates who fund public schools, not strip them.
Listen to teachers—our stories aren’t complaints; they’re cries for the help our students deserve.
We’re Not Asking for Handouts. We’re Asking for a Hand.
We became teachers to teach—not to beg for basics or duct tape a broken system together. But we’re still here, still fighting, still loving these kids enough to ask.
So when you see a teacher’s wishlist, know it’s more than a cart of supplies. It’s a promise to show up, even when the system doesn’t.
And maybe, just maybe, your kindness is what helps that promise stay afloat.
My husband and I are both teachers, we have a combined list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/O0F500US5RXS?ref_=wl_share
Website where you can find nearly 49,000 other teacher lists: http://myclassroomwishlist.com/
Those 49,000 translate to probably millions of students. The teacher who created the wishlist website has spent 4 years trying to get other teachers seen. Follow her on TikTok or instagram @teacherwishlists.
When you see a list posted on Facebook or TikTok, please share out. You never know who may see it next, which brand might see the movement and the small ripples become huge waves. A tsunami if you will.