How can I purchase Glowforge when I don't have the budget?
At Glowforge, we’re often approached by districts, libraries, and after-school programs that want to add our 3D laser printer curriculum but need funding. Through online fundraising platforms, teachers and administrators are taking their fundraising efforts to the masses, explaining what they need and why they need it, and finding that small amounts from a large number of people go a long way.
How much funding do I need?
This will depend on where you're implementing Glowforge.
For educators, we recommend at least Glowforge Pro and the Air Filter. With its enhanced speed and power, Glowforge Pro supports all-day classroom use. Glowforge Pro's Passthrough Slot enables giant-sized prints to maximize students' creativity!
The Glowforge Air Filter allows you to use Glowforge anywhere in your school — no window for venting needed.
Additional items to consider include our Extended Warranty, Glowforge Premium, and additional Proofgrade materials.
Click the button below to request a quote reflecting the recommended setup.
Request a Quote NowFundraising Sites
DonorsChoose
A favorite among schools and districts, DonorsChoose makes it easy to crowdfund for things like school trips and classroom supplies. They have financial transparency and features that make it easier for administrators to know what projects are getting funded in their schools. They even have a Teacher Guide to Success to help make the process even easier.
Unlike other sites, DonorsChoose does not charge teachers commission when they use the site, though they must shop at the site’s vendor partners when using their funds.
The best way to write a compelling ask to fundraise for your new Glowforge is to hone into what makes your class unique. Your supporters want to know how your students can benefit from Glowforge and how it will inspire them to reach for uncharted opportunities.
Browse Successful DonorsChoose Campaigns
ClassWish
ClassWish allows donors to contribute to any type of school, public, private or parochial, unlike some (DonorsChoose, for example) that only allow public schools to participate. ClassWish does charge a processing fee of 2.9 percent, plus 30 centers per transaction, and you must buy from the site's vendor partners.
Adopt-A-Classroom
The mission of this site is inspiring, and donors are not forgotten once they've contributed — they receive updates on how their money was used. This site charges no fees but does require that all purchases be made with its approved list of vendors.
PledgeCents
Commonly referred to as the "GoFundMe for teachers," PledgeCents has over 1,700 schools in 51 states on their platform. Once all the funds are raised, PledgeCents will send the check directly to your organization. They do not have platform fees, and educators who use their service get to keep whatever funds they raise, regardless of whether it meets their final goal.
Fundraising Page Templates
Don't know where to start? Use our fundraising language outlines.
Images for your Fundraising Page
If you don't have photos of your own classroom, feel free to use ours to make your fundraiser stand out!
Classroom
Glowforge Projects
Interested in Grant Funding too?
In addition to useful pointers about funding sources, we’ve included tips on successful grant application and first-hand stories from educators who’ve made a difference in their classrooms with Glowforge.