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Home > FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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About ClassWish

What is the mission of ClassWish?

ClassWish.org, an exciting new nonprofit website, helps educators and schools get the supplies they need for their students to excel.

Is ClassWish a nonprofit?

Yes. ClassWish is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions made to ClassWish are tax-deductible.

How can I contact ClassWish?

You can contact us via email or regular mail:

feedback@classwish.org

ClassWish, Inc.
401 Seventh Avenue, office level B
New York, NY 10001

Who Can Use ClassWish

What schools can use ClassWish?

ClassWish is available for all accredited 501(c)(3) or public K-12,private, parochial, magnet, and charter schools in the 48 contiguous states. We hope to add Alaska and Hawaii in the future.

What if I can't find my school on ClassWish?

ClassWish uses a database of schools that have been submitted to the U.S. Department of Education by each state. New schools and addresses updated in the last year may not appear on ClassWish. If you cannot find a particular school, just login and then let us know. We will let you know when we have added it to the database.

Who can create a Wish List?

Educators (as defined in the User Agreement), including teachers, administrators, and PTA/PTO officers are invited to create Wish Lists for classroom or school-wide needs.

What if I can't find an educator I'm looking for on ClassWish?

The educators on ClassWish have signed up individually. Please tell the educators you know about this opportunity to get the supplies they need! Just click here or click "Invite Teachers" from any school page to send an email invitation. Or click here to print a flyer that you or your child can deliver.

Can students get involved with fundraising?

We encourage educators, parents, students, community members and other supporters to take an active role in spreading the word ClassWish.

Educator FAQ

What schools can use ClassWish?

ClassWish is available for all accredited 501(c)(3) or public K-12, private, parochial, magnet, and charter schools in the 48 contiguous states. We hope to add Alaska and Hawaii in the future.

What if I can't find my school on ClassWish?

ClassWish uses a database of schools that have been submitted to the U.S. Department of Education by each state. New schools and addresses updated in the last year may not appear on ClassWish. If you cannot find a particular school, just login and then let us know. We will let you know when we have added it to the database.

Who can create a Wish List?

Educators, including teachers, administrators, and PTA/PTO officers are invited to create Wish Lists for classroom or school-wide needs.

What are the benefits of registering as an educator on ClassWish?

ClassWish.org provides a convenient, rewarding, and efficient way for teachers, administrators, and PTA/PTO officers to inspire parents and others in the community to contribute toward the supplies you need for students to excel.

ClassWish makes it simple:
*Educators create a Wish List of the supplies they need for classroom or school-wide needs.
*ClassWish provides easy tools, such as emails and flyers, to spread the word to parents and others in the community.
*Supporters see exactly what is needed and how they can help.
*Contributions are tax-deductible, and ClassWish's fiscal sponsor, ImportantGifts, Inc., provides a receipt.†
*ClassWish also makes it easy for contributors to seek matching donations from their employers.
*Educators submit a request online for ClassWish to purchase the needed supplies.
*ClassWish receives all educator requests, purchases the items, and has them sent directly to each school.
*To help ensure transparency and accountability, ClassWish.org displays all items sent to educators.

† ClassWish is a project of ImportantGifts, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which is serving as its fiscal sponsor. Under ImportantGifts fiscal sponsorship, charitable gifts and donations made to ImportantGifts, Inc., through ClassWish are tax deductible to donors who are United States taxpayers. Download our tax letter »

How much does it cost to create a Wish List?

It's free!

How do I sign up as an educator on ClassWish?

It's easy! Just register, login to ClassWish.org, and search for your school. Then, click "I Teach Here" on that school page.

How do I sign up as a school administrator on ClassWish?

It's easy! Just register, login to ClassWish.org, and search for your school. Then, click "I Teach Here" below the list of teachers on that school page.

How do I sign up as a PTA/PTO officer on ClassWish?

It's easy! Just register, login to ClassWish.org, and search for your school. Then, click "I Teach Here" on that school page.

Does an educator need the school's permission to join ClassWish?

ClassWish does not require you to get permission. If you are in doubt about school policy, please check with your principal.

What if I teach at more than one school?

At this time, we ask each ClassWish educator to select just one school to display on their profile. If you teach at more than one school, please select the one school that you would prefer to have appear on your profile. Any supplies you request will be sent to that school. Please note that these supplies then become the property of that school, and can only be used there.

What if I change schools?

To help us honor donors' preferences that all contributions go to support the school they intend to support, we ask educators to spend all of the money in their account for one school before seeking contributions to benefit another school. Any supplies ClassWish provides will be sent to the school with which your Wish List is affiliated. These supplies become the property of that school, and can only be used there. You cannot take materials ClassWish provides from one school to another.

How do I create a Wish List?

Creating a Wish List is as easy as shopping online. And since you don't have to pay for the items, it's even more fun!

Once you have signed in and indicated that you are an educator, you can create a Wish List in just minutes. Just search our online catalog for the items you need, and click to add them to your Wish List.

To encourage contributions and to help ensure accountability, we encourage you to include additional information for each wish, such as grade level, and a short comment about why the supplies will improve the children's education.

What kinds of items can I add to my Wish List?

You can include on your Wish List any supplies or equipment that supports the educational needs of your students and that are available from the ClassWish.org online catalogue and meet the ClassWish Eligibility Requirements.

What if the supplies I need are not available on ClassWish.org?

We already have more than 50,000 items and will be adding more, soon. If there is anything you need and can't find, just let us know, and we will do our best to add it.

What if I can find cheaper prices elsewhere?

The prices you see on ClassWish.org are the same low prices that you will see on the websites of our vendors. Wish Lists can only include supplies found in the ClassWish online catalog. If you have a vendor you would like to recommend, please contact us, as we plan to add additional vendors soon.

Can I fund a field trip through ClassWish?

We do not yet provide fundraising for field trips, but may in the future. If there are any particular needs you would like us to address, please just let us know.

Can I view other educators' Wish Lists?

Yes, you can get inspired by other Wish Lists either by clicking on one of the educators on the ClassWish homepage or by using our school search and clicking on one of the educators associated with that school.

Who is likely to contribute to my Wish List?

Most of us care about children, education, and our communities. You Wish List is likely to receive contributions from parents, grandparents, neighbors, local businesses, alumni, friends, and others you ask.

How do I get people to contribute toward my Wish List?

Many people are eager to help their local schools; they just need to be asked. The first step is getting the word out about your Wish List. Our customizable emails and printable flyers make it easy to spread the word, so you can start getting funding for the supplies you need. We also encourage you to use your existing channels of communication with parents, friends and colleagues.

How long does it typically take for contributions to arrive for the supplies I display on my Wish List?

The more energetically you spread the word, the faster people will know about your needs, and the sooner they will have the opportunity to contribute toward the things you need.

Does my Wish List expire after a certain period of time?

Wish Lists do not expire, and educators are able to add, edit, and delete items at any time, as well as deactivate them.

How will I know when a contribution has been made to help fund items on my Wish List?

You can see a list of contributions made to help fund items on your Wish List by logging in to ClassWish.org, visiting your Wish List, and clicking "details" next to your Wish List balance.

What if someone makes a contribution toward my Wish List and then reverses the credit card transaction?

If someone reverses a credit card transaction toward your Wish List, we will deduct those funds from the amount available for your Wish List.

Do contributions made to benefit my Wish List expire?

If your Wish List is inactive for 12 months, or if you leave the school with which it is associated, ClassWish may elect to transfer the balance in your Wish List to another Wish List at the same school or elsewhere.

Once contributions are made, how do I get the items I want?

Once your Wish List has received contributions, you can add items from your Wish List or other items from our online catalog to My Requests. After receiving your request, ClassWish will order the items and deduct the amount shown for the items, shipping and tax from the balance of what was contributed toward your Wish List, and we will have the items shipped directly to your school. If the total price of the items you request, plus shipping and tax, exceeds the amount available in your Wish List, you can make a contribution toward your own Wish List.

Can you explain the sales tax charge listed on My Request page?

A few states do not charge sales tax, and many states exempt nonprofits from sales tax. However, some states charge sales tax, even on items sold to nonprofits, and we need to collect that. If your school is in a state that charges sales tax to nonprofits, the sales tax will appear on donor checkout pages and on educator Request pages.

Do I have any flexibility in the way I use the money that is contributed?

Absolutely! We know educators need flexibility in meeting their needs. You can see the items contributors recommend you request, but you may request the money contributed toward your Wish List be used for whatever items you need, even if they are not already on your Wish List or are not the items suggested by the contributors. Just be aware that contributors will see what items we deliver to you, and keeping contributors happy is usually the best way to get more contributions.

What are the shipping fees on item requests?

Our vendor stocks more than 13,000 items, and also sells other items that are not in-stock. Most items are sent by UPS, and larger items are generally sent by truck. The shipping rates are as follows:

In-stock Items (sent by UPS)
For orders up to $59.99, shipping is $7.95.
For orders $60.00 or more, shipping is free.

Special-Order Items
Items not stocked by our vendor are shipping by UPS or truck, depending on the size.

Special-order items sent by UPS:
For orders up to $59.99, shipping is $7.95.
For orders of $60.00 or more, shipping is free.

Special-order items sent by truck:
For orders up to $599.99, shipping is $75.
For orders $600 to $2,399.99, shipping is 15% of the total price.
For orders of $2,400 or more, shipping is 5% of the total price.

Will the contributors see which supplies ClassWish delivers to me?

Yes. Each educator Wish List and each school Profile Page displays all of the supplies that ClassWish has delivered for their use.

Where do you ship the items I request?

All items ClassWish provides are shipped to the address that we have on file for your school. We receive these addresses from the U.S. Department of Education. If the address that appears for your school is not current, there is a place for you to indicate this when you submit a Request. We will then confirm the correct address directly with your school before shipping your items.

Can you ship items to my home address or an address other than my school address?

No. To help ensure that the supplies are used only for educational purposes at the school for which you register on our site, ClassWish can only ship supplies to the school address listed in our database.

Who owns the supplies ClassWish provides?

All items ClassWish provides are contributions from ClassWish to the school to which they are shipped.

What is your return policy?

Educator may return items ONLY if they arrive damaged. Items must be returned within 10 days of receipt.

In order to return an item, please send an email to: returns@ClassWish.org. Be sure to include your name, school, Request number (you can find this on the Request Confirmation email you receive), the shipping number (from the packing slip), the item or items you wish to return, and the reason for the return.

ClassWish will issue return call tags and instructions on how to return the item(s).

ClassWish will have our vendor send a replacement if possible. If not, the amount of the returned item (including sales tax and shipping and handling fees) will be credited to your Wish List.

What are the eligibility requirements for an educator?

ClassWish invites teachers, librarians, guidance counselors, school nurses, coaches, principals, administrators, other school employees directly serving students in an educational capacity, and officers acting on behalf of school Parent Teacher Association units recognized by the National Parent Teacher Association and on behalf of other parent teacher organizations (collectively, “Educators”) in K-12, public, magnet and charter schools, and private and parochial that are exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that are in the 48 contiguous states or the District of Columbia (collectively, “Allowed Schools”) to create wish lists (“Wish Lists”) indicating the supplies and equipment they need for their students to excel and to submit requests (“Requests”) for ClassWish to provide particular items funded by contributions to such Wish Lists.

ClassWish does not accept Wish Lists or Requests from teacher's assistants, student teachers, substitutes, part-time after school teachers, or staff developers.

Funded Requests cannot be transferred to another teacher.

In order to register on ClassWish.org and create Wish Lists and Requests, you must attest to the following:

  • I confirm that I am an Educator in an Allowed School, as those terms are defined above;
  • I confirm that I am NOT a teacher's assistant, student teacher, substitute, part-time after school teacher, or staff developer;
  • The activities for which I intend to use any items received through ClassWish are legal and fall within the standards of my state and/or local board or department of education, and the policies of my school;
  • All information I provide to ClassWish is accurate, and I will promptly update the information to keep it accurate;
  • Any Requests I submit and any items I receive are solely for use in my classroom and/or school and any items I request through ClassWish will not be for my or anyone else’s personal use;
  • I agree that any items provided to me by ClassWish shall become and remain the property of the school to which ClassWish has them delivered. I will not take such items to another school.
  • I commit to including in my Wish Lists and Requests only items that will benefit my students’ education, including extracurricular activities, and to use any items that I receive from ClassWish only for such purposes.
  • I agree that in the event that ClassWish determines that any items I received through ClassWish are not being used in accordance with these Eligibility Requirements, I will return such items to ClassWish at my expense.

Contributor FAQ

What can I support?

You can browse ClassWish.org to find Wish Lists created by educators, administrators, and PTA/PTO officers for classroom or school-wide needs.

Can I choose how my contribution is used?

You can make a general contribution toward a Wish List or can indicate your preference that your contribution be used for particular items, and the educator who created the Wish List will see your preference. However, in order to give educators greater flexibility in meeting the most pressing needs of their students, they may request that the funds be used to purchase any items available through the vendor catalogs on ClassWish.org. All items provided through contributions to ClassWish will be displayed on ClassWish.org.

What are the shipping fees on items that educators request?

Our vendor stocks more than 13,000 items, and also sells other items that are not in-stock. Most items are sent by UPS. Larger items may be sent by truck. The shipping rates are as follows. The total order amount cited refers only to the total for the items and does not include any sales tax or shipping that may be added:

In-stock Items (sent by UPS)
For orders up to $59.99, shipping is $7.95.
For orders $60.00 or more, shipping is free.

Special-Order Items
Items not stocked by our vendor are shipping by UPS or truck, depending on the size.

Special-order items sent by UPS:
For orders up to $59.99, shipping is $7.95.
For orders of $60.00 or more, shipping is free.

Special-order items sent by truck:
For orders up to $599.99, shipping is $75.
For orders $600 to $2,399.99, shipping is 15% of the total price.
For orders of $2,400 or more, shipping is 5% of the total price.

Will I see how my contribution is used?

Wish Lists will show what has already been sent to the educator, as well as what they are requesting. Remember, they can use contributions for any items we offer, as they think best, to fill their most pressing educational needs.

What kind of supplies will do the most good for education?

ClassWish lets you see exactly what each educator and school needs.

How do I actually pay for my contribution?

We accept all major credit cards. Our credit card processing service is provided by PayPal, and we use an SSL certificate signed by a Certificate Authority (Comodo) for security on the page that accepts your credit card information. You can check the security of this page by looking for a locked padlock icon, usually found in the Address Bar or Status Bar of your browser. When that lock is secure, and the web address starts with "https", your information is protected. Clicking on the lock icon will give you more detailed information about our identity, the Certificate Authority and the certificate itself.

Why is there sales tax on some items?

A few states do not charge sales tax, and many states exempt nonprofits from sales tax. However, some states charge sales tax, even on items sold to nonprofits. If you are contributing toward a Wish List in a state where we will have to pay sales tax, we need to collect that. In those cases, the sales tax amount will appear on the checkout pages.

Why is there a credit card processing fee for my contribution?

Some websites that process charitable and educational donations add large fulfillment fees. ClassWish adds only the fee that we have to pay for processing the credit card payment: just 2.9% and 30 cents per transaction. The amount of the processing fee will be included in your donation amount displayed at checkout and included in your receipt.

Can I set up a recurring contribution to the educator of my choice?

Not at this time. We hope to offer recurring contributions in the future.

Can I make a matching gifts challenge grant, by which my money would match donations made by others?

Not yet, but if you are interested in that, please let us know.

Is my contribution tax-deductible?

Yes. ClassWish is a nonprofit, and our fiscal sponsor is ImportantGifts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Under ImportantGits fiscal sponsorship, contributions made to ImportantGifts, In.c, through ClassWish are tax deductible to donors who are United States taxpayers.

Will I receive a receipt for my contribution?

Yes, we will email you a receipt for your tax-deductible contribution. If you do not receive a receipt from us within a few hours, please check your spam folder. If it's not there, please contact us by email at receipts@classwish.org to confirm that we received your contribution. We will try to get back to you by the next business day.

If you register before making a contribution, you will also have a record of your contribution on the site.

Will my employer match my contributions to ClassWish?

Many companies match employee contributions, and this is a wonderful way to double your impact! Also, many companies favor contributions to educational nonprofits. Be sure to ask your company whether they match contributions; their policy on what types of contributions they match; and their limits on matching. If your company will match your donation, submit your ClassWish receipt and whatever form they require. If they match your contribution, the funds will be credited to the same Wish List (but not necessarily the same items) as you originally supported.

Will the educator know I contributed?

Educators can see the date and amount of contributions, plus the items recommended by the contributor. However, we do not disclose to the educator the identity of the contributors. The reason is that we do not want to stigmatize children whose parents are not in a position to contribute as much, or at all.

Does ClassWish give the educators money or the supplies?

We send educators supplies, not money.

Educators can visit the site at any time to see how much has been contributed toward their Wish List and which items their contributors recommend.

We all know that educators need flexibility in meeting the needs of their students, so we permit them to make adjustments and request that ClassWish use the money contributed toward their Wish List to purchase any items they require, even if those items are not already on their Wish List or are not the ones suggested by the contributors.

After receiving an educator request, ClassWish will order items from our vendor partners and deduct the amount shown for the items plus shipping and tax from the balance of the educator's Wish List. We instruct our vendors to ship all supplies directly to the school, and we display all items provided by donations through ClassWish on the educator's Wish List.

Will I be able to see which supplies ClassWish delivers to the school?

Yes. Each Wish List page displays all of the supplies that ClassWish has delivered for that educator's use.

How long does it take for the educator to receive supplies after I make a contribution?

Educators can see your contribution as soon as it is made. As soon as they want, they can request that ClassWish purchase the items they need. ClassWish orders the items within two business days and has them delivered to their school. Items are typically sent by UPS, which takes just a few days. Larger items are sent by truck, which may take a bit longer.

Will I be notified when items are sent?

We do not notify individual contributors when items are sent to the schools, but the Wish List page will display the items sent to the educator. Educators can also submit success stories to explain how the supplies they received helped the children learn.

Who owns the supplies ClassWish provides?

All items ClassWish provides are contributions to the school to which they are shipped.

Can I contribute the supplies listed on an educator's Wish List instead of making an online contribution?

ClassWish is not able to handle contributions of materials. If you have items to donate, we encourage you to contact an educator, school or nonprofit organization in your community that might be able to use them.

Can I suggest an item for an educator to add to their Wish List?

ClassWish offers an online messaging system between educators and contributors. To send a message to an educator, just login and add them to your Favorite Teachers list. You will then be able to send them a message from the My Messages page. You may also be able to contact the educator through your local school.

Can I contact the educator that I support or visit the classroom?

ClassWish does not facilitate classroom visits. However, ClassWish does offers an online messaging system between educators and contributors. To send a message to an educator, just login and add them to your Favorite Teachers list. You will then be able to send them a message from the My Messages page. If you would like to become more involved with your local school, we recommend that you contact an educator, the principal, or the PTA/PTO about your interest.

Spreading the Word

How can I spread the word about ClassWish?

Our customizable emails, printable flyers, and banners ads make it easy to:

*Capture more resources for your classroom and school. Just get the word out to friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, and local businesses.

*Spread the word within your school. Be sure that everyone in your school knows about ClassWish: parents, teachers, the principal, and the PTA/PTO.

*Spread the word to other schools by telling educators and parents you know.

Use your imagination, and let us know what worked for you!

Privacy and Security

Is my online donation secure?

ClassWish.org uses an SSL certificate signed by a Certificate Authority (Comodo) for security on the page that accepts your credit card information. You can check the security of this page by looking for a locked padlock icon, usually found in the Address Bar or Status Bar of your browser. When that lock is secure, and the web address starts with "https", your information is protected. Clicking on the lock icon will give you more detailed information about our identity, the Certificate Authority and the certificate itself.

For added security, ClassWish.org does not store any part of the credit card number used for your donation.

Does ClassWish share my information?

No! We take your privacy very seriously. We will never sell or share your personal information without your explicit consent. We password protect all pages that have your private information, including address and order history. Please see our Privacy Policy.

How do I prevent ClassWish emails from appearing in my spam folder?

To make sure that you receive contribution receipts and other important emails from ClassWish, please add admin@classwish.org to your address book or "safe senders" list in your email program.

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