BloggersChoose, improving public education by word of mouse

I recently learned about a new initiative from DonorsChoose.org, a non-profit that accepts grant requests from K-12 teachers and makes them available to donors from across the country. DonorsChoose has set up BloggersChoose.org, a way for us bloggers to spread the word. Anyone can create a challenge, and then publicize it.

I've set up one on Economics and the World, though the only proposal I've found to include so far is one that's local: a high school in Richmond, CA. An economics teacher there is looking to buy copies of books that will get students fired up about learning the subject: Freakanomics, Nickeled and Dimed and the like.

If you're not in a position to give, consider putting together your own challenge, and publicizing it to your network!

I think it's an intriguing approach to fundraising, one that empowers individuals to multiply their own impact by involving others. Plus, they provide a tracking page to see how generous your blog readers are compared to others responding to challenges in your area.

DonorsChoose.org won the 2005 Amazon Nonprofit Innovation Award.