In 2007, Beth Schmidt was a Teach for America member teaching English to 165 tenth graders in South Central Los Angeles. Still relatively inexperienced, she initially assigned a research paper on migrant workers—a task unlikely to engage her largely uninterested students. Predictably, only about 10 percent submitted their papers.
Recognizing the need for a new approach, Schmidt shifted her strategy. For the next assignment, students were asked to explore a personal passion and research a related summer program in Los Angeles. This time, nearly all the students turned in a paper.
“There was this significant shift from apathy to a distinct excitement, and it got them writing,” Schmidt recalls.
Inspired by this success, Schmidt completed a marathon to raise $12,000, enough to send seven students to their chosen programs. The transformation in the students when they returned was remarkable. “It felt like a total 180,” she says, noting their increased confidence and broader visions for their futures.
Eager to expand on this initial success, Schmidt founded Wishbone.org in 2012, a non-profit crowdfunding platform designed to assist low-income students in securing funds for elite summer programs. To date, Wishbone has helped send 378 students to various programs, raising over $1 million. Recently, through a partnership with Uncommon Schools—a charter school system in New York City—Wishbone is set to broaden its reach by supporting 104 students in the upcoming summer term, marking the first school-wide fundraising campaign for the organization.
Schmidt is hopeful that this will be just the beginning.
Crowdfunding for Educational Opportunities
The idea that crowdfunding can aid in financing education, rather than just funding creative projects, is gradually gaining traction. A leading example is DonorsChoose.org, which enables teachers to raise funds for classroom essentials. Over 1.7 million contributors have supported nearly 236,000 educators. Other initiatives, like UpStart, connect students with investors willing to fund their education in exchange for a share of future earnings. These models aim to address the gaps in an educational system that often neglects underprivileged students.
However, Wishbone distinguishes itself from typical crowdfunding platforms. Campaigns cannot be launched by just anyone; students must undergo an extensive application process that includes a personal essay and sponsorship from a teacher or coach who can advocate for them. Additionally, Wishbone partners with multiple summer programs covering various interests—academics, athletics, and the arts—and negotiates partial scholarships. Students are then tasked with raising the remaining funds, averaging around $1,000 each. Impressively, every student who has created a campaign on Wishbone has achieved full funding.
“The success stems from having a teacher who knows the student personally and is willing to share their campaign,” Schmidt explains. “This creates a strong motivation to support that student.”
Fresh Perspectives
Kenneth Herrera, Uncommon Schools’ director of college completion, cites Wishbone’s consistent success rate as a significant factor in the partnership. The summer programs offered provide students with experiences that often elude them in their regular school days—namely, exposure to new people, environments, and activities.
“They’re introduced to different experiences beyond their usual classroom routines,” Herrera states. “This often enhances their motivation to seek more possibilities in life.”
This enthusiasm often resonates within the student community. Last year, Nicole Doyle successfully raised nearly $8,000 on Wishbone to attend a college prep program at Syracuse University. Upon her return, she described her experience as “life-changing” and was driven to motivate younger classmates to pursue similar opportunities. “I felt transformed when I got back. I even revised my college essay,” she states. “It gave me a new outlook on what I needed to do to distinguish myself.”