Donations FAQ

1. Why should I donate to Science Buddies?
2. How is Science Buddies run?
3. How is Science Buddies funded?
4. Who recommends Science Buddies?
5. What do teachers say about Science Buddies?
6. What do you plan to do with my donation?
7. How do I donate?
8. Where do I send checks?
9. Are my donations tax-deductible?
10. If I make a donation, how do I get my tax receipt?
11. Can I give you a targeted or restricted donation to be used for something very specific?
12. If I can't afford to donate, or don't want to, what else can I do to support the Foundation?

1. Why should I donate to Science Buddies?

   Every year Science Buddies helps millions of students and teachers conducting science projects. Hands-on scientific investigations, such as science projects, are acknowledged to be the best way to teach science literacy. Science Buddies supports these activities by providing free science fair project ideas, answers, and tools to teachers, parents, and students from all walks of life. Our objective is to save our users' time while guiding them to a successful outcome.

   By reducing the hassles of doing a science fair project, Science Buddies aspires to improve project quality and increase science fair participation, turning a good learning experience into a great one.

2. How is Science Buddies run?

   As a website with low overhead costs, Science Buddies is an extremely cost-effective organization. In 2008, our cost per visitor served was just 10 cents!

   Every year Science Buddies serves millions of students and teachers on the web. Thanks to our online environment we have put in place sophisticated tools to measure the results of our programs. Please read our Annual Reports for more information. Science Buddies adheres to the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability. We are proud that 81.3 cents of every dollar donated funds programs rather than overhead.

3. How is Science Buddies funded?

   Science Buddies is a 501c3 charity that depends on donations to operate. Mostly, we get donations from corporations. In the coming months, we're going to be trying some new fundraising strategies so that we won't have to rely so much on only one source of support (corporate). By broadening our fundraising to earn support from a variety of sources (like individuals, private foundations, government), Science Buddies will be more stable especially in economic times that are unpredictable or downright terrible for the companies that support us now.

4. Who recommends Science Buddies?

   2008 Parents' Choice Recommended Award

   American Library Association Great Websites for Kids

5. What do teachers say about Science Buddies?

   Teachers in grades K-12 are thrilled to have open access to the Science Buddies resources. Here are quotes from just a few of our fans:

   "...Your Topic Selection Wizard tool has been a huge help with all students in all grades. Every teacher wants to know where I came up with this tool...The Science Fair Project Guide is also worth its weight in gold as it serves as a valuable reference when students need help with a particular step in the scientific process...Your guide explains these steps in a manner that is easily understood even at the first grade level. There are sites out there that charge for less information. This site should be saved in all science teachers' web site favorites...Keep up the great work and hope you have great success with the funding in keeping this site free for all teachers and students."
     — Terry Hufstetler, Educator, Challenger Learning Center, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

   "Your site has been invaluable to me as a teacher... When students—no matter what their academic abilities are—are given the opportunity and motivation to investigate something of interest to them—it is AMAZING what they can accomplish!! THANKS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION to their success."
     — Karen Delgado, Union Township Middle School, Hampton, New Jersey, USA

   "Thank you everyone at sciencebuddies.org! I am a new teacher at a rural school. I teach all the junior high and high school science classes—five different topics. I have also been assigned the organization of the science fair this year and your website has saved my life! My students have used your materials to assist them in writing procedures, in understanding the analysis of their information and they will use your suggestions on organizing their displays. I am so grateful for websites like yours. Thank you for your generosity and ingenuity."
     — Jesse C. Graves, 7-12 Science Teacher, Rapelje, Montana, USA

   Read more teacher testimonials...

6. What do you plan to do with my donation?

   Funds raised will be used to keep our resources online and to support programs such as our Ask an Expert online advice forum, to develop new educational content for students and teachers, to cover computer and technical expenses, and to pay for program staff (e.g. our staff scientists who develop new Project Ideas for our online library).

7. How do I donate?

   To donate, please visit our fundraising page. You can donate using any major credit card (including VISA, Mastercard, Discover or American Express), PayPal, or by sending a check to Science Buddies.

8. Where do I send checks?

   Send checks to:

   Science Buddies c/o Kenneth Lafferty Hess Family Charitable Foundation
   P.O. Box 5038
   Carmel, CA 93921
   USA

9. Are my donations tax-deductible?

   Donations to Science Buddies are tax-deductible in the United States. Canadian citizens may also deduct their contribution on any income earned in the United States. If you live outside of the United States, you can request a receipt for a donation but we cannot guarantee that it will be tax deductible in your country.

10. If I make a donation, how do I get my tax receipt?

    Anyone who donates $100 or more will receive a tax receipt as long as their contact information was included with the donation. You may request a tax receipt for a smaller amount by sending an e-mail to scibuddy@sciencebuddies.org (please include your contact information, the method you used to donate, and the amount of your donation).

11. Can I give you a targeted or restricted donation to be used for something very specific?

    Charities based in the United States, including Science Buddies, are required to honor restrictions requested by donors. This means that if you specify your donation needs to be restricted for a specific use, we will either honor your request or return your donation. But before you decide to do that, please consider that unrestricted donations are much more useful for us. Every restriction imposes administrative overhead and planning costs, and increases internal complexity.

12. If I can't afford to donate, or don't want to, what else can I do to support the Foundation?

    There are many ways to show your support. Your time is just as important as a monetary contribution. For instance, you can volunteer on our Ask an Expert forums and help students answer their science project questions, you can volunteer to author one of our project ideas, or contact us at scibuddy@sciencebuddies.org to learn about other volunteer opportunities.