The document discusses a partnership between the National Education Association (NEA) and Fund My Classroom to help address the growing needs of students and teachers. It notes that 50% of public school children live in low-income families and that teachers spend over $1.6 billion out of pocket each year on classroom supplies. The partnership would allow teachers to create wish lists on the Fund My Classroom website and have parents, community members and corporations purchase supplies directly for classrooms. The goal is to help reconnect communities with schools and address the growing educational crisis through a unified effort.

1. National Education Association
and
Fund My Classroom
IMPACT PARTNERSHIP
2014
“ A T A T IME WHE N N E A R L Y 5 0 P E R C E N T O F P U B L I C
S CHO O L CHI L D R E N L I V E IN L OW- IN C OME F AMI L I E S ,
O U R C O U N T R Y MU S T R E F O C U S I T S P R I O R I T I E S ON THE
N E E D S O F THE WHO L E CHI L D AN D B R I D G E THE G A P S
THA T HA V E ON L Y G R OWN O V E R THE L A S T D E C A D E . WE
K N OW WHA T I S A T S T A K E , AN D I T I S WHY WE A R E
E D U C A T O R S . I T I S WHY WE A R E F E A R L E S S AN D WHY WE
W I L L N O T B E S I L E N T . ” – L I L Y E S K E L S E N G A R C I A

2. Selfless Media
(the company bringing you Fund My Classroom)
• We are parents and former teachers with over 100
years of professional experience.
• We are committed to purpose over profit.
• We are a social entrepreneurship based in
Traverse City, MI
• We are looking to be a systemic change in
education not a temporary “band-aid”.

3. Why we won’t be silent
In 2012-2013 School
year, $1.6 billion
dollars was spent out
of pocket by teachers
in our nation.
10% of new
teachers quit in
their first year.
30-40% by year
four.
Classrooms are
LARGER, school
budgets are less,
parents and
community are
disconnected
FAIL

4. The Time is Now.
We are headed for a major educational crisis.
Teachers are quitting at record levels. Our children
are less prepared to compete in an international
marketplace.
It is time. Time for parents, community and
corporations to reconnect and unify to support
education and ultimately… our future.

5. We choose NEA.
Since 1857, NEA
answered the call
to unite as one
voice supporting
the essential right
of every American
child access to a
quality education
As community
members and
parents, we stand
by your side today.
Together we need
to create systemic
change in our
schools.
Resulting in a
measurable
national impact for
each individual
classroom and
child.

6. We Join you as
Part of the Solution:
Teachers
• FundMyClassroom.com is an online site for
teachers to register for supplies and request
funding for field trips or special projects.
Parents &
Community
• Parents and community members shop from the
teacher’s wish list at FundMyClassroom.com and
select items for purchase or donate funds for a trip.
Classroom
Impact
• Classroom supplies and funds are sent directly to
the assigned school or teacher.

7. BIG Impact:
Parents,
Teachers,
Community,
Corporations,
Kids and PTOs
NEA and
State
Education
Assoc
Fund My
Classroom There are over 3
million teachers
across the U.S.
that need our
help garnering
supplies and
funding to teach
65 million kids.

8. Partnering is a good thing.
 We would love the opportunity to partner with the
National Education Association.
 While we would love funding, we are only looking for your
endorsement and assistance in getting the word out that we are
trying to help.
 We would appreciate mention in communication, link and logo on
your website. We are able to reciprocate your logo placement on
our site. We would like to share your encouragement as we
communicate with state education associations.

9. We are Different – A competitive perspective
• We provide the tools for you to be successful, we don’t do the
shopping.
• Because we don’t play middleman, we have fewer overhead
costs
No
Middleman
• We don’t hold funds collected on your behalf if you don’t reach
your goal.
• We don’t decide which of your projects are worthy of funding.
(No one knows better than you what your kids need.)
Not the
Boss
• We don’t add fulfillment or service fees.
• We don’t automatically add a 17% donation
• Our business model calls for sustainability so we don’t have to
pay our people to “sell” our purpose or beg for funding.
No
excessive
fees

10. As a Team, How can we Impact Education?
Fund My
Classroom
National
Education
Association
Educational Benefits:
- Easy Online Access to an abundance of
supplies
- Funding opportunities for field trips
and special projects
- Potential classroom fosters
- Communication forums to discuss
needs and share ideas
- PTO development including
fundraising platform
- Community school store with 10% back
to PTO of selected school
- Improved relationships through
increased communication

11. Our Management Team
Selfless Media’s management team is comprised of well versed professionals
working long hours, sacrificing opportunities for higher pay and committed to
the mission. Between us we are business owners, parents of children in
schools, a student graduating from college, an educator, a finance professional,
a social worker, an entrepreneur, a marketing professional, and all native
Michiganders (except Scott, our token Irishman):
•Martin Fessler, CEO/Founder
•Lee Harrison Perry, Director of Marketing & Communication
•Julie Eikey, Director of Education
•Tim Alfieri, Social Media and Teacher Development
•Scott O’Toole, Designer Programmer
•Heather Wilson, Designer Programmer

12. Success to Date
 10 States committed to working with us
 96 School Districts signed up
 Several hundred teachers on board increasing daily
 Wish Lists being filled
 Classrooms being changed

13. Teacher Response: Hugs
I recently received a variety of items from my wish list and was completely
overjoyed! Everyone in the office began clapping when we realized what was in the
boxes. The supplies are wonderful and I have already put them to good use in my
classroom! The students asked me where the new books had come from and I explained
to them that there were some kind people in our community who cared an awful lot
about them.
For me, the best part of the gift was the note enclosed. I often think that one
of the most difficult parts of being a teacher for me is quieting the
sometimes loud, negative voices. The idea that someone unknown to me
would say such kind, encouraging words lifted my spirits and energized me
more than I can express. Thank you so very much for your vision and your
kindness.
- Long Lake Elementary Teacher
Traverse City, MI

14. Time for Change
“I will listen to your ideas and
maybe you’ll listen to my ideas.
I will work with you. I have to
make this work more than you
do. My colleagues and I have
more skin in this game than
anyone outside the children.” -
~Lily Eskelsen Garcia
KIDS
We’re listening.
We hope you’re
listening too!