Mini-Grants Crowdfunding Campaign Raises Over $8,000 to Increase Student Teachers’ Impact in the Classroom

The NC State College of Education’s student teacher mini-grants campaign has succeeded in raising $8,039 — 160% of the crowdfunding campaign’s $5,000 goal — to help student teachers purchase supplies and materials they can use to make a greater impact on their classrooms

In total, 64 donors, including the Mebane Charitable Foundation, came together to support the campaign.

“Through mini-grants, donors are not only benefiting College of Education students here at NC State, they are also benefiting thousands of children in our community who will use these materials and supplies in their classrooms,” said Matt Friedrick, the college’s executive director of development. “Just as importantly, their support will help new educators launch their teaching careers with tools and resources to make it as successful an experience as possible.”

Over 200 NC State College of Education student teachers will enter the classroom in the spring. When they do, many of them will take advantage of opportunities to implement innovative learning experiences that require materials or supplies.

However, student teaching does not include a stipend or paycheck that covers out-of-pocket expenses. That’s where the student teacher mini-grant program comes in. Thanks to the donations received during the crowdfunding campaign, the NC State College of Education will be able to award 40 mini-grants of $200 each to student teachers this spring, which they will be able to use to purchase materials and supplies for their classrooms.

Olivia LaRusso, a senior elementary education major, said she looks forward to the support she will be able to receive as a student teacher. 

“I am so appreciative to donors for helping make this crowdfunding campaign a success,” LaRusso said. “It will help cover the cost of creative, fun and useful resources for student teachers like me to use.”

LaRusso is one of the nearly 200 NC State students who will participate in student teaching this spring. With an average classroom of about 30 students, the project has the potential to reach more than 6,000 children across the state this year.