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Corporate Sponsorship Guide

Create programs, adopt schools, and track your impact

Corporate SponsorsUpdated February 2026

Table of Contents

  1. Sponsor Registration4 steps
  2. Corporate Dashboard Overview4 steps
  3. Creating a Sponsor Program3 steps
  4. Adopting a School5 steps
  5. Allocating Funds to Campaigns3 steps
  6. Tracking Impact3 steps
  7. Exporting Reports2 steps
  8. Your Public Brand Visibility3 steps
1

Sponsor Registration

1

Navigate to registration

Go to kidstarter.online/register.

2

Fill in your details

Enter your name, work email, and password.

3

Select Corporate Sponsor

Click the "Corporate Sponsor" role card (building emoji icon). A new field appears for your company name.

FieldTypeExpected InputReq.
Company / Organization NameTextYour company's official name (min 2 characters). This creates your organization on KidStarter.Yes
4

Create your account

Click "Create Account". The system creates both your user account and a new organization (type: CORPORATE, verification status: PENDING) in a single transaction. You are automatically assigned as the Corporate Admin of this organization.

Tip: Your organization starts in PENDING verification status. Contact the KidStarter team to expedite verification so your brand appears publicly.
2

Corporate Dashboard Overview

1

Access your corporate dashboard

Log in and click your name in the top menu, then select "Corporate Dashboard". Or navigate to kidstarter.online/dashboard/corporate.

2

View your stats

The dashboard shows: Total Donated (sum of all allocations), Donations count, and Campaigns Supported.

3

Review recent donations

A table lists recent donation/allocation activity with: Date, Campaign name, Amount, and Donor.

4

Export reports

Click "Export CSV" to download a spreadsheet of all your sponsorship activity. Useful for CSR reporting and tax documentation.

3

Creating a Sponsor Program

1

Navigate to the Sponsor Dashboard

Go to kidstarter.online/dashboard/sponsor. Click the "Programs" tab.

2

Click "Create New Program"

A form appears for your new sponsorship program.

FieldTypeExpected InputReq.
Program NameTextA descriptive name for the program (e.g., "TechCorp 2026 Education Fund").Yes
Budget AmountNumber (dollars)Total budget for this program (minimum $10). This is the maximum amount you can allocate to schools and campaigns through this program.Yes
Tip: You can create multiple programs for different purposes (e.g., one for STEM, one for Arts). Each program tracks its own budget separately.
3

View your programs

Programs appear in a list showing: name, total budget, amount used, number of school adoptions, number of campaign allocations, and status badge (Active/Inactive).

4

Adopting a School

1

Navigate to Adopt a School

Go to kidstarter.online/dashboard/sponsor/adopt.

2

Select your program

Choose the active program from the dropdown that will fund this school adoption.

3

Enter pledge amount

Set the amount you want to pledge to this school.

FieldTypeExpected InputReq.
Pledge AmountNumber (dollars)Minimum $10. Cannot exceed the remaining budget of the selected program.Yes
4

Search for a school

Type the school name (minimum 2 characters). Results show: school name, verified badge, city/country, number of campaigns, and member count.

5

Adopt the school

Click "Adopt" next to the school you want to sponsor. Confirm the pledge amount. The adoption is recorded and the school appears in your Sponsor Dashboard.

5

Allocating Funds to Campaigns

1

Go to Fund Campaigns

On the Sponsor Dashboard, click the "Fund Campaigns" tab.

2

Select program and campaign

Choose the program to fund from, then select an APPROVED campaign from the dropdown. Each campaign shows how much funding it still needs.

FieldTypeExpected InputReq.
ProgramDropdownSelect one of your active sponsor programs.Yes
CampaignDropdownSelect an APPROVED campaign. Shows remaining funding need.Yes
AmountNumber (dollars)Minimum $1. Cannot exceed remaining program budget.Yes
3

Allocate

Click "Allocate". The funds are immediately added to the campaign's raised amount, and your program's budget used is updated accordingly.

6

Tracking Impact

1

View the Overview tab

The Sponsor Dashboard Overview shows budget progress bars for each program, adopted schools with funding amounts, and a recent activity table.

2

Monitor budget usage

Each program displays: total budget, amount used, remaining balance, and a visual progress bar.

3

Export impact data

Use the CSV export on the Corporate Dashboard for detailed reporting. The Impact endpoint (GET /api/sponsor/impact) provides aggregate impact metrics.

7

Exporting Reports

1

Navigate to Corporate Dashboard

Go to kidstarter.online/dashboard/corporate.

2

Click Export CSV

The CSV download includes all donation and allocation records with: dates, campaign names, amounts, types, and program details. Use this for CSR reporting, board presentations, and tax documentation.

8

Your Public Brand Visibility

1

Get your organization verified

Contact the KidStarter team to verify your organization. Once verified and set to public, your brand appears across the platform.

2

Where your brand appears

Once verified: "Backed by [Your Company]" text on sponsored campaign cards in the browse page; "Supported by" card on campaign detail pages (sidebar, below the donate button); "Community Sponsors" strip on the homepage; Your organization profile page at kidstarter.online/o/[your-slug] with impact statistics.

3

Organization profile

Your public profile shows: company name, verified badge, type, location, impact stats (total raised, campaigns funded, schools adopted), and links to campaigns you have supported.

KidStarter · Small Donations, Big Futureskidstarter.online

help.title

Getting Started
Sign Up↗ /registerFull Guide (PDF)
Create an account at /register. Choose your role: Donor (support students), Teacher (create campaigns for students), Parent/Guardian (create campaigns for your child), Corporate Sponsor (sponsor schools and campaigns), or Charity (collect tax-exempt donations). Your role determines which dashboard features you see.
💡 Tip: Use your school email address if you have one — it speeds up organization verification later.
Onboarding Wizard↗ /onboarding
After registration, the onboarding wizard walks you through 4 steps: select your role, link your school/organization, choose a plan (Free, Teacher, or School), and confirm. You can skip and return later.
📝 Example: A teacher at Lincoln Elementary would: 1) Select "Teacher", 2) Search "Lincoln Elementary" in the org directory, 3) Choose the Free plan, 4) Confirm and land on their Creator Dashboard.
Plans & Pricing↗ /pricing
KidStarter offers three plans: Free (1 campaign, basic features), Teacher Starter ($5/mo — up to 10 campaigns, share kit, priority review), and School Plan ($20/mo — multi-teacher, school dashboard, bulk tools). All plans include Stripe payments and donation receipts (tax-exempt receipts for charity-backed campaigns).
📈 Benchmark: Similar platforms charge 5–8% platform fees. KidStarter charges 0% platform fee — only Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee applies.
Language Switcher
KidStarter supports 8 languages: English, Portuguese, Spanish, Hungarian, French, German, Slovak, and Czech. Click the flag icon in the top navigation bar to switch. Your preference is saved in a cookie and persists across sessions.
💡 Tip: The language auto-detects from your browser settings on first visit. Override it anytime with the flag switcher.
Campaigns
Creating a Campaign↗ /dashboard/creatorFull Guide (PDF)
Navigate to your Creator Dashboard (/dashboard/creator) and click "Create Campaign". Fill in: student first name + last initial, their story, funding goal, category (STEM, Arts, Sports, Tuition, Supplies, General), and optionally upload a hero image.
📊 Impact: New campaigns enter DRAFT status. They become publicly visible only after passing moderation review (PENDING_REVIEW → APPROVED). Rejected campaigns can be edited and resubmitted.
⚠ Watch Out: Never include a student's full name, address, or other PII in the campaign story. Our moderation team will reject campaigns with identifying information.
Campaign Status Flow
Every campaign moves through a lifecycle: DRAFT (created, not submitted) → PENDING_REVIEW (submitted, awaiting moderator) → APPROVED (live, accepting donations) → FUNDED (goal reached) → COMPLETED (funds disbursed). Campaigns can also be REJECTED (with reason) or PAUSED (temporarily hidden).
📝 Example: Maria's campaign was created on Monday (DRAFT), submitted Tuesday morning (PENDING_REVIEW), approved Tuesday afternoon (APPROVED), reached its $500 goal by Friday (FUNDED), and funds were disbursed the following week (COMPLETED).
Campaign Verification
Every campaign must be verified before going live. Upload evidence of school affiliation: enrollment letter, school ID, teacher badge, or guardian consent form. These documents are reviewed privately by the moderation team and never shown publicly.
📈 Benchmark: GoFundMe has no verification for education campaigns. DonorsChoose requires teacher accounts only. KidStarter verifies both the creator AND the student's school enrollment.
💡 Tip: Campaigns with clear, scanned documents get approved faster than blurry phone photos.
Share Kit
Each approved campaign gets a Share Kit: pre-generated images (square for social, story for Instagram/WhatsApp, QR code for print), one-click share buttons (WhatsApp, Email, X, LinkedIn, Facebook), and a copyable campaign link. The post-donation share prompt is your highest-converting tool.
📊 Impact: Campaigns that are actively shared raise 3–5x more than those that aren't. Each share can generate 2–5 additional donations on average.
💡 Tip: Share within the first 48 hours of approval for maximum momentum. Post the QR code in your school's physical spaces.
Campaign Updates
Post updates to your campaign with text and photos showing the impact of donations. Updates appear on the campaign page and notify past donors. Go to your campaign page → "Post Update" section.
💡 Tip: Post an update with a photo within 1 week of receiving funds. Donors who see impact updates are 4x more likely to donate again.
Donations
Making a DonationFull Guide (PDF)
Click "Donate Now" on any campaign. Choose a preset amount or enter a custom one (minimum $1). Enter your name (optional — leave blank for anonymous) and email (for receipt). You're redirected to Stripe's secure checkout page.
💡 Tip: You don't need an account to donate. But creating one lets you track your donation history and get tax center access.
Donation Receipt↗ /receipt
After donating, you receive a receipt token (e.g. "abc123def"). Save this! You can look up your receipt anytime at Donors → Receipt Lookup (/receipt). The receipt shows: amount, date, campaign, and a unique token. For charity-backed campaigns, the receipt also displays the charity name, tax ID, and a "Tax-Exempt Donation" badge.
Tax Center↗ /tax-center
The Tax Center (/tax-center) provides information about tax deductibility of donations, including FAQs about charity-backed campaigns, tax-exempt receipts, and how to use your receipt for tax claims. Donations to charity-backed campaigns generate tax-exempt receipts with the charity's name and tax registration number.
⚠ Watch Out: KidStarter provides general tax information only. We are not tax advisors. Consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.
Organizations
Organization Directory↗ /organizations
The public directory (/organizations) lists all registered schools, nonprofits, and corporate partners. Each org shows: name, type, country, verification status, member count, and active campaigns. Users can search, filter by country, and claim membership.
Claiming an Organization
If your school or org is already in the directory, click "Claim" on its page. You'll need to verify via your institutional email address (e.g. name@lincoln-elementary.edu). Once verified, you're linked to the org and can create campaigns under it.
📝 Example: Ms. Chen searches "Lincoln Elementary", finds it in the directory, clicks Claim, enters her school email, receives a verification code, and is now linked as a member.
Admin — Discovery & Enrichment
Discovery Console↗ /dashboard/admin/discovery
The Discovery Console (/dashboard/admin/discovery) is the admin tool for finding, scraping, and enriching organization data. Access it from the Admin Dashboard → "🔍 Discovery Console" button. It shows all organizations in a table with enrichment status.
Seed Organizations
Click "Seed Organizations" to populate the directory with sample schools and partners. This creates org entries with names, types, countries, and website URLs. Useful for initial setup or demo purposes. You can also add orgs manually via /organizations or the API.
💡 Tip: For production, import real school data via CSV or the API at POST /api/organizations instead of using the seed function.
Web Scraper / Enrichment
The enrichment engine scrapes an organization's website and extracts structured data. Click "Enrich" next to any org with a website URL. The scraper fetches the page HTML (15-second timeout) and extracts: meta description, org-level contact emails (info@, contact@, admin@ — never personal emails), social links (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook), and page title.
📊 Impact: Enriched organizations have more complete profiles, which builds trust with donors and helps campaigns get more visibility. Orgs with descriptions and social links get 2x more campaign views.
📝 Example: Enriching "Lincoln Elementary" (website: lincoln-elementary.edu) extracts: description from meta tag, contact@lincoln-elementary.edu from page text, LinkedIn URL from footer links, and "Lincoln Elementary School — Excellence in Education" as page title.
⚠ Watch Out: The scraper respects a 15-second timeout. If a site is slow, blocks bots, or uses heavy JavaScript rendering, the scrape may fail. Retry later or add data manually.
Enrichment Fields & Confidence
Each extracted field has a confidence score (0.0–1.0). Scores reflect extraction reliability: meta descriptions score 0.8 (reliable), emails score 0.7 (need human review), social links score 0.9 (URL pattern matching is accurate), page titles score 0.6 (may include site navigation text).
💡 Tip: Always review extracted emails before approving. Verify they belong to the actual organization, not an ad network or third-party service on the page.
Approving Enriched Fields
After scraping, review extracted fields inline. Click "Approve" to push a field to the org's public profile (description, contact email, social links). Click "Reject" to discard. Approved fields immediately update the organization's listing in the public directory.
📊 Impact: Approving a description field makes the org more discoverable in search. Approving contact emails enables the platform to send verification and notification emails to the organization.
Verifying Organizations
After enrichment, change an org's status to "Approved" to make it visible in the public directory. Unverified orgs are hidden from public view but still accessible by direct URL. Verification confirms the org is a real, legitimate institution.
📝 Example: Workflow: 1) Seed/import org with website → 2) Click Enrich → 3) Review and approve fields → 4) Change status to Approved → Org appears in public directory.
Admin — Moderation
Moderation Queue↗ /dashboard/modFull Guide (PDF)
The moderation queue (/dashboard/mod) shows all campaigns with PENDING_REVIEW status. Moderators and Platform Admins review each campaign's story, student info, evidence documents, and funding goal before approving or rejecting.
Reviewing a Campaign
Click a campaign in the queue to see full details: student first name + last initial, story text, category, goal amount, hero image, and uploaded verification evidence. Check for: specific and verifiable need, appropriate goal amount, valid school affiliation, no PII exposed.
⚠ Watch Out: Red flags: vague or generic stories, unusually high goal amounts (>$5,000 for individual students), no school affiliation, duplicate content from other campaigns, or requests for cash rather than specific items/services.
Approve / Reject / Pause
Approve makes the campaign live and publicly visible. Reject returns it to the creator with a reason code — they can edit and resubmit. Pause temporarily hides an approved campaign (preserving data) if issues arise post-approval. All actions are logged in the audit trail.
💡 Tip: When rejecting, select a specific reason code. "Insufficient evidence" is more helpful than "Rejected" — it tells the creator exactly what to fix.
Admin — Analytics
Admin Dashboard↗ /dashboard/adminFull Guide (PDF)
The Admin Dashboard (/dashboard/admin) shows platform-wide metrics: total raised, total donations, active campaigns, pending reviews, total users, and a 7-day donation chart. Quick actions: Discovery Console, Guides, and Finance CSV Export.
Finance CSV Export
Click "📊 Export Finance CSV" on the Admin Dashboard to download a CSV of all donations with: date, amount, donor email, campaign, status, Stripe payment ID. Useful for accounting, reconciliation, and tax reporting.
⚠ Watch Out: The export contains donor emails (PII). Handle in accordance with GDPR and your data protection policy. Do not share publicly.
Corporate Sponsorship
Sponsor Program↗ /dashboard/sponsorFull Guide (PDF)
Corporate sponsors create programs with a budget, target regions, and categories. Programs can be: Direct Sponsorship (fund specific campaigns), School Adoption (pledge to a school), or Matching (match community donations). Managed at /dashboard/sponsor.
Adopt-a-School↗ /dashboard/sponsor/adopt
From /dashboard/sponsor/adopt, a corporate sponsor selects a school from the org directory and pledges a funding amount. This creates a SchoolAdoption record. The sponsor can then allocate funds to specific campaigns at that school, track spending vs budget, and export impact reports.
📝 Example: TechCorp adopts Lincoln Elementary with a $10,000 annual budget. They allocate $2,500 to "Laptops for CS Lab", $1,500 to "Art Supplies Room 204", and keep $6,000 for future campaigns. The Sponsor Dashboard shows 40% allocated, 60% remaining.
Vendor Partners
Vendor Portal↗ /dashboard/vendor
Vendor partners (meal providers, school supply companies) manage their offers at /dashboard/vendor. They create voucher codes that students can redeem at participating locations. Vouchers are funded from campaign budgets.
Meal Vouchers
Meal vouchers are codes (e.g. "LUNCH-A3F2") redeemable at vendor locations for student meals. Created by vendors, funded from campaign budgets, distributed to students. Each voucher has: amount, expiry date, student assignment, and redemption status.
📝 Example: A campaign raises $200 for student meals. The creator purchases 40 × $5 meal vouchers from FoodPartner. Each student receives a code they show at the cafeteria. The vendor marks codes as redeemed, and the dashboard shows redemption rates.
Platform Settings
Trust & Safety↗ /trust-safety
KidStarter's trust and safety page (/trust-safety) explains: campaign verification process, PII protection, payment security (Stripe PCI-DSS), content moderation, and reporting mechanisms. Every campaign shows a "Verified" badge after passing review.
User Roles
Platform roles: DONOR (browse, donate), CREATOR_TEACHER (create campaigns, post updates), CREATOR_GUARDIAN (create campaigns for their child), ORG_SCHOOL_ADMIN (manage school-wide campaigns), CORPORATE_ADMIN (manage sponsor programs), CHARITY_ADMIN (manage charity, enable tax-exempt receipts), MODERATOR (review campaigns), PLATFORM_ADMIN (full access), FINANCE_OPS (financial exports and reporting). Roles are assigned during registration or by admins.
💡 Tip: Users can have only one role. To change a user's role, a Platform Admin must update it from the Admin Dashboard user management section.