Kauffman Foundation gives $200,000 to match donations for area school supplies

Anyone giving a small donation for school supplies in Kansas City area classrooms can now see the money doubled with matching funds from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

The money could go to microscopes, yoga balls, 3-D printers or other classroom materials needed in low-income schools where teachers often spend their own cash to make up for a lack of supplies.

To help bridge the gap, the Kauffman Foundation is giving a $200,000 grant to the nonprofit DonorsChoose.org to provide matching funds when members of the public donate to projects in individual classrooms.

The grant represents a partnership between the Kauffman Foundation, which focuses on entrepreneurship and education, and DonorsChoose, which connects individual donors with public school classroom projects.

“If someone gives $30, we’ll give $30, and the classroom will get $60,” said Lauren Beatty, a spokeswoman for the Kauffman Foundation.

In addition to buying twice the school supplies, the matching funds will give a boost to the goodwill of regular people who don’t have the deep pockets of the Kauffman Foundation.

“It gives citizens a chance to be philanthropists, like we do every day,” Beatty said.

To receive matching funds from the Kauffman Foundation grant, teachers at public schools where at least 40 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch can post project proposals on DonorsChoose.org/kansascity.

Then area residents can browse projects and contribute as little as $1. Each qualifying donation will receive matching funding.

Low-income public schools in Jackson, Clay, Cass, Wyandotte and Johnson counties are eligible for the grant money.

The Kauffman Foundation also will distribute 2,500 gift cards worth $30 each at community events and civic organizations throughout the winter. Card recipients can log on to DonorsChoose.org/kansascity, enter the code printed on the card and contribute the $30 to the project of their choice.

This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 7:32 PM with the headline "Kauffman Foundation gives $200,000 to match donations for area school supplies."