đź’¬ Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is supportMyTeachers.com?
A: TipMyTeacher is a platform where anyone can send a support gift and a personal thank-you message to a teacher who made an impact on their life.
Q: Is this a donation platform?
A: Yes — but not to schools or districts. All support gifts go directly to a fund or account chosen by the teacher, so they can use it in a way that helps them most.
Q: Do teachers keep 100% of the support gift?
A: Yes! Teachers receive 100% of each gift, minus any standard fees from the payment or donation platform they choose (like PayPal or Venmo). TipMyTeacher takes no cut.
Q: Can I give any amount?
A: Yes! Most support gifts range from $2 to $20, but every amount is welcome — and each one counts as one bonus raffle entry for the teacher.
Q: I’m a teacher — how do I sign up?
A: Click “Sign Up as a Teacher” and fill out the form. You’ll need to provide a payment or donation link and a short bio. We’ll set up your profile so supporters can find you.
Q: Are gift amounts public?
A: No. We only show how many supporters each teacher has — not the dollar amounts.
Q: Why does each gift count equally?
A: We believe appreciation shouldn’t be about who can give the most money. In our system, a $2 gift means just as much as a $20 one.
Q: What happens after I sign up as a teacher?
A: We create your public profile using your info. Once it’s live, you’ll get a shareable link to post with friends, students, or families.
Q: I sent a gift — how do I know the teacher received it?
A: Your support gift goes directly to the teacher’s chosen donation link. If you'd like it counted toward the leaderboard or raffle, you can email a screenshot to support@tipmyteacher.com.
Q: Is supporting a teacher allowed?
A: Yes! Support gifts on TipMyTeacher.com are voluntary, personal gestures of appreciation given after the fact. They are not tied to school grades or classroom performance.
Teachers can choose to receive support through a personal account or an official classroom fund, always following their local school or district policies.
Q: Can I support the same teacher more than once?
A: You can give as many gifts as you'd like! However, only one gift per supporter per teacher counts toward their year-end bonus total. You can also purchase bonus raffle tickets to further support your favorite teacher.
Q: What are bonus raffle tickets?
A: These are $5 tickets that anyone can buy to increase a teacher’s chances at winning a year-end bonus. Each ticket is an extra entry in the raffle.
Q: How are bonuses awarded?
A: In December, we award teachers in two ways:
Top 3 teachers nationwide (by number of supporters)
3 randomly selected teachers (from all entries)
Bonus Pool Example Split:
25% to 1st place
15% to 2nd place
10% to 3rd place
50% divided evenly among 3 random raffle winners
Every support gift = 1 entry, no matter the dollar amount.
Q: Where does the bonus money come from?
A: 75% of our platform revenue (raffle tickets, ads, optional support fees) funds the bonus pool. The other 25% helps run and grow the site.
Q: Is supporting a teacher tax-deductible?
A: It depends. If your gift goes to an official charitable organization or approved classroom fund (like DonorsChoose), it may be tax-deductible — and the donation platform will provide any necessary documentation.
If your support gift goes directly to a teacher’s personal account (like PayPal or Venmo), it is considered a personal gift and not tax-deductible.
Q: Can I find any teacher?
A: You can browse featured teachers or use the search tool. If your favorite teacher isn’t listed, invite them to sign up!
Q: How can I help spread the word?
A: Share TipMyTeacher with friends, family, former classmates, or on social media. Amazing teachers deserve to be celebrated!
⚠️ Important: How to Submit Bonus Raffle Tickets
When buying bonus raffle tickets, include the following in your payment notes or memo:
The teacher’s full name
The number of tickets you're buying
Example:
Ms. Harper – 3 Tickets
⚠️ If we can’t match your ticket to a teacher, it won’t count — so please make sure their name is included!