Yes. The Authentic Educator is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sustained entirely through community support. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Donations support the real, day-to-day work of The Authentic Educator.

Funds are used to support neurodivergent students through learning materials and hands-on supplies, technology and access tools, transportation and gas, and the planning and support time required to meet students where they are.

If you choose a specific donation category, your contribution is used for that category. If you give to General Support, funds are applied where the need is most immediate.

Some supporters choose to give through the Amazon Wishlist (Amazon). Items from the wishlist are used directly with students in active learning environments.

Donations do not affect who receives support or how students are treated. They simply help keep access open and the work sustainable.

Yes—The Authentic Educator is interested in working with volunteers who are aligned with this work and the way students are treated here.

I am specifically interested in connecting with social workers, therapists, counselors, and school personnel who have experience supporting neurodivergent children and are comfortable with big behaviors and nervous system–based needs.

Volunteers must be able to remain regulated during moments of escalation, honor student autonomy, and respond with compassion rather than control. All volunteers are expected to adhere to clear standards around dignity, consent, and relationship-based support. This is not a place for compliance-driven behavior management, punishment, or coercion.

Depending on fit and availability, volunteer involvement may include supporting learning activities, outdoor or hands-on projects, preparing materials, or serving as an additional regulated adult presence. Roles are developed intentionally and with student trust and safety as the priority.

If this sounds aligned, you’re welcome to reach out to learn more. Not every inquiry will move forward, and that selectivity is intentional.

Yes. The Authentic Educator accepts in-kind donations when they align with current student needs.

The easiest way to give in-kind is through the Amazon Wishlist (Amazon), which reflects materials and supplies that are actively being used with students.

If you have items you’d like to donate outside of the wishlist, you’re welcome to reach out first. Because this work is highly individualized and space is limited, not all items can be accepted, and we may decline items that don’t fit current needs.

All accepted in-kind donations are used directly to support students.

Yes. Donations may be made in honor or in memory of someone meaningful to you.

If you choose to dedicate a donation, I will respond personally to acknowledge it and share how the contribution is being used. These donations are received with care and intention and are treated as more than a transaction.

Honor and memorial donations are used to support the work of The Authentic Educator and the students and families it serves.