$2000
raised monthly with Live Kiosk
Introduction
Primary schools are facing an educator crisis. Turnover is outpacing new hires, resulting in fewer classes and school closures. In under-resourced schools, students often lack not only the basic supplies they need to learn, but also items that help them feel comfortable, supported, and ready to thrive in the classroom. Teachers spend an average of $1,000 of their own money each year to cover the gap.
The Education Partnership (TEP) is easing the burden by serving under-resourced schools. The nonprofit aims to build thriving communities by increasing teacher retention and student engagement. Currently, they’re supporting around 82,000 students and 12,000 teachers in Southwestern Pennsylvania through 3 core programs: their Teacher Resource Center, STEAM Hub, and Adopt-A-School.
Twice a year, qualifying educators can shop for free school supplies at the Teacher Resource Center, filling their shopping carts with essential items to elevate their students’ learning environment and help them succeed academically.
Founded in 2009, TEP has grown from serving 12 schools to 231 schools, within which 96% of students qualify for the National School Lunch Program, and therefore are unlikely to have access to basic school supplies. But demand keeps growing: there are still another 100,000 students who need support in the areas they’re already serving.
To help meet their goal of distributing $8 million in supplies this year, TEP has been exploring untapped opportunities and technology solutions. That’s where Donorbox comes in.
Encouraging more volunteers to donate
As demand for support and services grows, so do costs. The Adopt-a-School program that pairs corporate sponsors with nearby schools has been successful. But acquiring and retaining individual donors remained a challenge. Over the past two years, the team has been strategically investing in solutions to strengthen these donor relationships.
One opportunity TEP identified? Finding a better way to engage the 3,000 volunteers who pass through their doors each year. Historically, very few volunteers donated – around 5%. A cash box didn’t cut it, and even asking volunteers to make a donation as their “extra credit” after every shift didn’t move the needle. There had to be a simpler, more effective option.
The right giving solution, right away
Where could they find a live, easy-to-use donation solution? At the recommendation of a peer, Kiki Reis, Advancement Director at The Education Partnership, looked into Donorbox Live™ Kiosk. It was a great match. “I found Live Kiosk to be exactly what we were looking for at a really affordable price,” she explained.
Kiki got everything up and running in no time, setting up the system in less than 2 weeks. Kiki shared: “It’s very intuitive. It’s just a couple of buttons, so it’s easy for donors to click through themselves. We haven’t had any issues with connectivity either.”
To maximize visibility, they stationed their iPad and card reader next to their monthly donor wall, between the volunteer area and resource center exit. With just a few taps, any visitor can use their credit card to contribute to the cause, at any time.
“I found Live Kiosk to be exactly what we were looking for at a really affordable price.”
- Kiki Reis, Advancement Director, The Education PartnershipAmplifying impact with a new stream of support
Just three months after installing their giving kiosk, TEP is seeing results. “For 3 years we’ve been asking volunteers to make a donation after every shift. We had very little success until we got Donorbox Live Kiosk, and now we’re seeing a ton of success,” Kiki explained. “Several times a week, our volunteers – particularly new volunteers – are making a donation to our cause because we have such an easy, accessible tool.”
Donating in-person suddenly became simpler. “Before, we’d have to tell people to go to our website, navigate to the donate page, type in your credit card, all these things. And with every step, we saw attrition as it became more difficult to make a gift. Now, it’s so easy,” Kiki continued.
They’ve learned that specifying the impact of a gift, like $25 to cover one child’s full set of school supplies, drives higher engagement. Even though their kiosk shows suggested donation amounts, they’ve been surprised at how many people choose to donate more than expected.
“Since we started using Donorbox Live Kiosk, we’ve raised an additional $4,000 or so. Thousands of dollars extra a month is wild for us, because we need individual donors so desperately to meet the demand for our programming. It’s hugely beneficial,” Kiki said.
Thanks to strong wholesaler partnerships, TEP is able to stretch every dollar further. For every $1 donated, their ROI through vendor relationships is about $8 worth of school supplies. “With $4,000 brought in, that’s about $24,000 worth of school supplies that can go back into the community, which is a massive impact,” Kiki explained.
The TEP team has also taken the giving kiosk on the road, bringing it along to three recent fundraising events. Previously, attendees could donate at events, but only with cash or via the organization’s website. Now, they have a contactless option. Kiki said: “We’ve had a ton of success using Donorbox Live Kiosk at events. We always encourage people to bring cash, but the ability to accept credit cards on-site has been a game changer. We saw a huge increase in the number of people who are participating because it’s so easy.”
At golf outings, they’re now able to accept credit cards to pay for raffle and 50/50 tickets, which has been wildly successful. Transactions made far out on the golf course worked. Thanks to supporters’ generosity at recent golf events, thousands of kids went into the new school year with the supplies they needed to succeed.
TEP also brought Live Kiosk to their version of a gala event – the Teacher Appreciation Awards – and found it a lot less cumbersome than before. Donors can choose how much information they want to share, and it’s easy for the organization to send receipts instantly. “Every extra button someone has to click makes them less likely to follow through with a gift. Live Kiosk has solved that problem,” Kiki stated.
What’s even more exciting is the tangible impact these funds will have on 94,000 students and teachers this year. Summer is a busy time at the Teacher Resource Center, welcoming 20 teachers per hour as they “shop” for everything from pencils to tissues to warm clothes. Those who teach STEAM-related courses can rent high-tech classroom kits for all ages, all the way from Pre-K through high school.
During the 2024-2025 school year, The Education Partnership distributed $14.5 million worth of supplies to 201 schools. 95% of educators said these items boosted student creativity and classroom participation. 91% reported that supplies had a critical impact on their own mental health. Not only are the supplies impacting achievement, they’re also bringing peace of mind.
The Future
When asked what she's looking forward to, Kiki started by reflecting on the state of education in 2025\. It’s been challenging to navigate the changes and anticipate what’s next. What she’s most excited about is knowing that The Education Partnership will be able to adjust and continue meeting schools’ needs, whatever they may look like. Their strong community support system and pulse on educators’ sentiments gives them a unique ability to overcome hurdles.
To fuel their mission and serve more people, TEP plans to continue stewarding their Adopt-a-School sponsors and individual donors, investing in a second Live Kiosk based on the success of the first device.
As students go back to school in the coming weeks, many in the area will be better equipped to build real connections with their educators and families, feeling cared for and ready to learn. After all, when students feel their best, they can do their best.
Donorbox features used
- Donorbox Live™ Kiosk
- Campaigns
- Suggested Donation Amounts
- Custom Receipts
