Teachers have to collaborate with each other on a lot of things, such as the wellbeing of students, lesson plans that intertwine and department-wide projects, among other events. However, in the interest of helping out a child in need, many educators are willing to make advances and come together using online fundraising tools.

According to My Wabash Valley, Terre Haute, Indiana, teacher Jodi Southard recently raised more than $100,000 in donations for the sister of one of her first grade students. After finding out that eight year old Katelyn Newell needed a heart transplant, Southard took to the Teachers Pay Teachers website, where educators pay others in their field for access to lesson plans and other materials for help.

"[It was] so practical because so many people are online and it's very easy to donate through PayPal," Southard told the news outlet. "Moving forward in technology, this is just another way to look at fundraising."

RTV 6, Indiana's ABC affiliate, reported that the teacher had hoped to raise $500 in total, but after just a week, educators had donated $9,800. The source said that Southard and 21 other teachers donated products, like lesson plans, and the proceeds go to Newell's family. 

Organizations that are looking to raise funds through grant opportunities or local campaigns can use nonprofit financial management solutions to improve their chances of success. The software can help program leaders identify potential donors and send out applications with accurate accounting information.