Upromise, an online service that helps students save and raise money for college, has launched an online video contest called Tuition Tales. The promo gives users the chance to describe why they or someone they know deserves $25,000 for college expenses.And Bronx-based nonprofit DonorsChoose.org connects underfunded teachers directly with those that want to donate.

Open since 2000, DonorsChoose has facilitated the contribution of nearly $19 million to fund more than 43,000 projects reaching nearly 1 million students, and tapping 57,000 donors from all 50 states, reports SpringWise.