# DonorsChoose MCP

> DonorsChoose finds educational funding needs for public schools. Search across US states, filter by subject matter like Math or Literacy, and pinpoint projects that are urgently close to expiration. It gives you a complete view of classroom proposals and resource gaps nationwide.

## Overview
- **Category:** government-public-data
- **Price:** Free
- **Tags:** crowdfunding, classroom-projects, education, funding-needs, social-impact

## Description

Need to find out where school supplies are lacking in America? DonorsChoose connects your AI agent directly to the data from the leading crowdfunding platform for public schools. You can search across the entire US, pinpointing projects by state, ZIP code, or academic subject. Need to know which projects need help right now because they expire soon? The system tracks those urgent needs automatically. It pulls detailed records on everything, including itemized lists of resources requested and school information. Connecting this data via your Vinkius connection lets you run complex research queries—all through a simple conversation with your agent. You get the full picture of educational proposals without ever leaving your chat window.

## Tools

### get_donorschoose_api_metadata
Retrieves technical data about your current API connection setup.

### get_classroom_project_details
Fetches all the detailed information for a single, specific classroom project.

### quick_regional_funding_audit
Returns a quick, summarized overview of all active projects in an entire specified region.

### list_high_poverty_needs
Finds and lists projects that come from schools located in high-poverty areas.

### list_latest_classroom_proposals
Lists all classroom proposals that were posted most recently across the platform.

### list_projects_by_state
Generates a list of projects within an entire US state, like California or New York.

### list_projects_by_subject
Filters and lists all available proposals based on the academic subject they cover (e.g., Math).

### list_urgent_funding_needs
Identifies projects that are close to their funding expiration date or flagged for high urgency.

### search_projects_by_zipcode
Narrows down project searches to only include those within a specific US ZIP code area.

### search_classroom_projects
Searches for classroom projects using general keywords or themes across the platform.

## Prompt Examples

**Prompt:** 
```
Search for classroom projects in New York about 'Literacy'.
```

**Response:** 
```
I've found 8 projects in New York focused on Literacy, including 'Books for Our Classroom Library' and 'Reading Corner Rug'. Would you like to see the funding goal for any of these?
```

**Prompt:** 
```
Show me urgent projects near ZIP code '90210'.
```

**Response:** 
```
I've identified 3 urgent projects near 90210, including a science lab request at Beverly Hills High. One project is only $50 away from being fully funded. Should I pull the details for that one?
```

**Prompt:** 
```
List the newest classroom proposals.
```

**Response:** 
```
The latest proposals include projects for 'Special Education Sensory Tools' in Texas and 'Music Room Instruments' in Florida. Both were posted in the last hour. Would you like to see the school names for these new projects?
```

## Capabilities

### Find projects by location
Search for classroom funding needs using keywords, specific US states (e.g., Texas), or precise ZIP codes.

### Track urgent financial deadlines
Identify projects that are close to their funding expiration date or flagged as high-priority support needs.

### Research by academic subject
Filter all available proposals based on a specific educational topic, like 'Science' or 'Art'.

### Get deep project data
Retrieve detailed records about any specific classroom proposal, including the school and requested items.

### Review regional status
Get a quick, high-level summary of all active projects within an entire geographic area.

## Use Cases

### Auditing a new grant territory
A community organizer needs to see if their target district has funding gaps. They tell the agent: 'Show me all projects in this area.' The agent uses `quick_regional_funding_audit` and then runs `list_projects_by_state` for comparison, giving a complete picture of opportunities.

### Finding materials for an upcoming school event
A researcher needs to find examples of science classroom requests in the Midwest. They ask the agent to 'search projects by subject' using `list_projects_by_subject` and then narrow that list down using `search_classroom_projects` with keywords like 'robotics'.

### Rescuing a time-sensitive project
A donor learns about a school near 90210 whose funding deadline is next week. They ask the agent to 'show me urgent projects here.' The agent uses `search_projects_by_zipcode` combined with `list_urgent_funding_needs` to provide immediate, actionable results.

### Initial project discovery
A philanthropy manager is starting a new campaign and needs ideas. They ask the agent to 'list the newest classroom proposals.' The agent uses `list_latest_classroom_proposals` so they can see what's trending right now.

## Benefits

- Pinpoint immediate needs: Use `list_urgent_funding_needs` to instantly see projects that are running out of time, ensuring your support goes where it's needed most.
- Target specific areas: Run a deep search using `search_projects_by_zipcode` to audit funding status for a precise neighborhood or school district.
- Focus on impact: Filter results by subject matter with `list_projects_by_subject`. Need Math supplies? See every related proposal immediately.
- Get the big picture: Instead of searching everywhere, run a regional scan using `quick_regional_funding_audit` to get a high-level summary across an entire state.
- Deep dive on single projects: When you find something interesting, use `get_classroom_project_details` to pull every piece of metadata and resource list for that specific request.

## How It Works

The bottom line is that your AI client handles all the complex searching and data retrieval from the platform automatically.

1. Connect the DonorsChoose integration to your AI client and authorize it with your API key.
2. Tell your agent what you're looking for—for example, 'show me urgent projects in Florida.'
3. Your agent runs the query and returns a list of proposals matching your criteria.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How do I search for a project in my specific town using the DonorsChoose MCP?**
You use `search_projects_by_zipcode` and provide only the 5-digit code. This immediately limits your results to that precise geographic area, making initial filtering fast.

**Can I find all science projects in California using list_projects_by_state?**
No, `list_projects_by_state` only lists everything for the whole state. For a subject like Science in CA, run `list_projects_by_subject` first and then filter those results by state.

**What's the best way to find out what projects are new?**
You use `list_latest_classroom_proposals`. This tool gives you a feed of every project that was posted most recently, so you don't miss any emerging opportunities.

**How do I check the full details on one specific project?**
Call `get_classroom_project_details` and provide the unique ID for that proposal. This pulls every single piece of metadata, including itemized resource lists.

**What is the best way to check for time-sensitive or expiring funding needs using the `list_urgent_funding_needs` tool?**
It compiles a list of projects nearing expiration or high urgency. The results highlight how close they are to reaching their goal, allowing you to prioritize support immediately.

**If I want to focus only on science or math, how do I use the `list_projects_by_subject` tool?**
You pass the desired subject area directly into the tool. This returns a list of all current projects matching that specific academic category for focused support.

**How can I find projects specifically in high-poverty areas using the `list_high_poverty_needs` tool?**
This function compiles proposals from schools identified as being in high-poverty zones. It helps you direct resources to where they are needed most urgently.

**Before running searches, how do I verify my API setup and check the service limits using `get_donorschoose_api_metadata`?**
This retrieves metadata about your current connection. It confirms connectivity status and provides essential details needed to ensure all subsequent calls work correctly.

**How do I get a DonorsChoose API Key?**
For general public access, you can use the API key 'DONORSCHOOSE'. If you require a unique key for high-volume use, you can apply for one through the DonorsChoose developer site.

**Can the agent make donations directly?**
This integration currently focuses on searching and auditing project data. Making actual donations should be completed via the project links provided by the agent on the DonorsChoose website.

**Which geographical areas are covered?**
DonorsChoose covers public and charter school classroom projects across all 50 US states.