Inside our student and donor verification process

Verification is the slowest part of what we do, and deliberately so. A student profile only becomes public after a person has looked at it.

What students submit

A government-issued ID is required. Proof of enrollment and income or need documentation are encouraged and can be uploaded after signup — students who provide them are prioritized for funding.

Who reviews it

Approved reviewers — administrators and vetted judges — review documents through a controlled queue. Reviewers never see a student's home address, phone number, date of birth, or ID number. Once verification is complete, uploaded identity documents are deleted.

Why donors verify too

Donors who want to fund a named student complete a short identity check. This keeps student profiles away from anyone who has not been checked, and it keeps us aligned with US nonprofit standards.