The Karat School Project: Giving Kids Tools to Dream

KSP equips under-resourced students in the U.S. and West Africa with the school supplies they need to learn. Here's what they need — and how to give with proof.

A child sitting in a classroom without a pencil is not failing school. School is failing them. The Karat School Project was built on exactly this belief: that access to basic educational tools — backpacks, notebooks, pencils, calculators — is not a luxury but a prerequisite for learning, and that children in under-resourced communities in both California and Côte d'Ivoire deserve them without condition. Givelink, a Transparent Giving Platform that connects donors to verified U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofits with photo proof of delivery, partners with KSP to connect donors who want to give something specific to students who need it specifically. Here is the real picture.

Key Takeaways

• KSP operates programs in both the U.S. and West Africa — school supply donations cross both geographies.
• Education tools are the gap — families who qualify for free lunch don't always have pencils, notebooks, or backpacks.
• Item-level giving is the most direct path — cash enters a budget; specific goods reach a specific student.
• Givelink donors give 60% more times per year than traditional platform donors (Givelink data, 2026).
• Photo delivery confirmation shows donors exactly which supplies arrived and when.

What KSP does — and why it matters

The Karat School Project's tagline is "Dream. Believe. Achieve." — and those aren't aspirational words. They describe a sequence that can only begin when a child has the tools to sit down and learn.

KSP works in under-resourced communities where the gap between what schools provide and what students need is filled by nothing. A first-generation college prep student who doesn't own a calculator can't complete the homework that would get her to the next level. A kindergartner who doesn't have crayons can't participate in the activities that build the fine motor skills reading requires. These are not abstract inequities. They are Tuesday afternoon problems that KSP solves.

Across their U.S. programs and their work in Côte d'Ivoire, KSP provides educational materials, learning support, and the message — consistently, through every supply pack — that this child's education matters to someone.

"Giving was always supposed to be a thread between two lives."

When a donor in San Francisco gives a backpack to a KSP student, that thread runs from a checkout screen to a child's first day of school. The photo makes it visible.

What KSP needs from donors right now

Item	Who Uses It	Notes
Backpacks	K-12 students	New only; grade-appropriate sizing
Notebooks / composition books	All grades	Lined and blank both needed
Pencils, pens, colored pencils	All grades	Bulk packs most efficient
Calculators (scientific)	Grades 6-12	Critical for STEM courses
Rulers, scissors, glue	Elementary	Craft and math supplies
Crayons / markers	Grades K-5	Art and early literacy

Why this matters in 2026

With inflation compressing family budgets and school district supply lists growing longer, the gap between what families can afford and what students need is wider than at any point in the last decade. The 2025-2026 school year began with 1 in 3 Bay Area students — and a much higher proportion in KSP's partner communities — lacking at least one essential supply item (FGT data, 2026).

Givelink in action with KSP

A donor in San Jose gave a set of scientific calculators and notebooks through Givelink to KSP's U.S. program. Twelve days later, a photo arrived: the supplies laid out on a table at KSP's distribution space, ready for students. She gave again the following month. Browse KSP's wishlist on Givelink and put a tool in a student's hands this week.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Karat School Project need most?

KSP's highest-demand items are backpacks, notebooks, pencils, and calculators for their U.S. and Côte d'Ivoire programs. Specific, grade-appropriate supplies are preferred over general donations.

How do I donate school supplies to KSP?

Through Givelink, you can browse KSP's live wishlist, select specific items, and receive photo-confirmed delivery when goods arrive. Your gift is tax-deductible and you never need to leave home.

Is the Karat School Project a legitimate nonprofit?

Yes. KSP is a verified 501(c)(3) nonprofit with operations in the U.S. and West Africa. Their Givelink profile includes Charity Navigator evaluation data for independent verification.

Give a student the tools to start

Browse KSP's wishlist on Givelink and give something a student will use on Monday morning.

Stay Human.

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Panos Kokmotos is Co-Founder and COO of Givelink.