Exponential Scholars donates $2.25 million to cover all North Carolina DonorsChoose projects
The nonprofit Exponential Scholars contributed $2.25 million to fund every open classroom request on DonorsChoose for North Carolina, helping over 3,200 projects.
Founded in 2025 by Holly May, Exponential Scholars pledged $2.25 million to clear every pending DonorsChoose request from North Carolina educators, impacting roughly 3,200 classroom projects across over 1,000 schools. The foundation’s president and CEO, May, grew up in a small rural town and credits her education and career to a sense of responsibility to give back. The funding will provide items such as books, pencils, and laboratory equipment, removing the financial burden that many teachers currently shoulder.
According to a 2025 CouponBirds survey, teachers in the state spend an average of $1,632 of their own money each year on classroom needs, the second-highest amount nationwide. Teacher salaries in North Carolina lag behind the national average, highlighting the significance of the donation for educators and students alike.
Why it matters
It relieves teachers' out-of-pocket costs and improves classroom resources in a state where educators spend high personal amounts on supplies.
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