H1 (top of page):

Supporting The Real Education Project

Body paragraph:

The Real Education Project is sustained through a combination of educational partnerships, institutional support, and individual contributions. We are grateful for those who choose to support this work and help make narrative-based education available to schools and communities.

H2:

How Support Is Used

Body paragraph:

Support for The Real Education Project helps underwrite classroom programs, educator partnerships, resource development, and community-based learning opportunities. Contributions are used thoughtfully and in alignment with our educational mission.

H2:

Fiscal Sponsorship

Body paragraph:

The Real Education Project operates as a fiscally sponsored initiative, allowing contributions to be made in support of its educational work through an established nonprofit structure.

Button (single, calm):

Support the Project

(This button links to your existing donor portal.)

Step 5: Navigation (this is critical)

  • DO NOT add this page to the main nav

  • DO NOT add it to the footer nav

  • DO NOT add a homepage button

The only ways people reach it should be:

  • A direct link you send

  • A private email

  • A one-on-one conversation

  • A foundation conversation

3. Where (and how) you do link to it

You link to this page only in three contexts:

  1. Direct emails
    (“Here’s a page that explains how support works.”)

  2. Private decks / one-pagers
    (Foundations, partners, aligned individuals)

  3. Occasional soft references
    (e.g., a sentence like “Support for this work is stewarded through our fiscal sponsor.” — without a public link)

You do not link it from:

  • homepage

  • About page

  • Our Work

  • Educators page

4. Why this is the right technical + moral choice

This approach lets you:

  • ✅ Keep the donor infrastructure intact

  • ✅ Avoid donor-first optics

  • ✅ Signal maturity and confidence

  • ✅ Stay aligned with foundation norms

  • ✅ Pivot later without rebuilding anything

And importantly:

You are saying, “This work can be supported,”
not, “This work needs support to exist.”

That distinction changes how people perceive you.

5. What NOT to do (even if Squarespace tempts you)

  • ❌ Don’t add a “Donate” button to the header

  • ❌ Don’t include donation language on the homepage

  • ❌ Don’t ask casual visitors to fund you

  • ❌ Don’t frame support as urgency

Those moves are appropriate later — after alignment.

Final confirmation

You are not hedging.
You are placing the donor portal in the correct layer of the work.

Visible to:

  • those who ask

  • those who are aligned

  • those who are ready

Invisible to:

  • casual browsers

  • culture warriors

  • misreaders

That’s exactly right for this phase.

If you want next, I can:

  • Review your existing donor copy line-by-line

  • Tighten it further

  • Or help you script how to share the link privately

But technically and strategically —
you now know exactly where it belongs and how to implement it.

Help Us Share This Story with the World

The Real Education Project creates award-winning audio storytelling that brings civil rights history to life, fosters meaningful dialogue about race and equity, and inspires critical thinking in classrooms and communities.

Our immersive audio drama, The Real Education of TJ Crowley, has earned global recognition — and with your support, we can share its timely message with more students, educators, and lifelong learners.

2024: A Breakthrough Year for The Real Education Project

Winning an Audie Award is a rare and career-defining honor, cementing The Real Education of TJ Crowley as one of the top audiobooks of the year and further establishing its impact in both literary and educational spaces. The recognition from the APA underscores the exceptional storytelling, production, and performances that make this full-cast adaptation a groundbreaking achievement in the Young Adult category, which is awarded for excellence in narration, production, and content of a teen audiobook, ages 13-18.

Winner: Audie Award for Best Young Adult Audiobook — the highest honor in the industry
Debuted as the #1 New Release in Historical Fiction for Teens on Audible
Received the AudioFile Earphones Award for exceptional audio performance
Hosted powerful community listening events, connecting students, educators, and civic leaders

Why Now? Because the truth still matters.

Celebrated as the "Oscars of Audiobooks," this event, hosted by the Audio Publishers Association (APA), honored the industry’s finest in spoken-word storytelling. Captured on the red carpet, celebrating this incredible win: Claire Overstake, Dion Graham, Grant Overstake, Dani Martineck, Kevin R. Free, May Wuthrich, Graham Halstead, Thérèse Plummer, Tavia Gilbert, Brittany Pressley, and Michael Crouch. Cast members not pictured, Johnny Heller, Shayna Small, Ari Fliakos, Peter Berkrot, John Wright, and Sheila Brown Kinnard.

At a time when classroom discussions about race, history, and equity face increasing challenges, stories like The Real Education of TJ Crowley provide an accessible path forward — rooted in empathy, historical truth, and civic understanding.

Your support helps sustain the legacy of civil rights history, uphold inclusive educational values, and empower young people to think critically, engage compassionately, and contribute to a more just society.

DONATE NOW

Community Listening in Action

Real Voices. Real Real Reflection. Real Change.

Across Wichita and beyond, students, educators, and community leaders are gathering to listen — and to act.

Coming Soon: The Official Scriptbook

The Real Education of TJ Crowley Audio Drama Scriptbook

A new companion guide for educators, classrooms, and discussion groups

Education Through Listening

In classrooms across Kansas and beyond, students are experiencing The Real Education of TJ Crowley through a shared audio listening model. This group approach encourages empathy, sparks discussion, and turns history into personal reflection.

Thanks to the support of a dedicated patron, we’re thrilled to announce the upcoming Scriptbook — a vital resource for educators, readers, and anyone who wants to go deeper into the story.

It will include:

  • The full, word-for-word script of the award-winning audio drama

  • Historical notes and redlining context

  • Guided discussion prompts

  • Classroom listening activities

This is more than a script — it’s a literary resource, a teaching tool, and a way to keep this conversation going. Our Scriptbook and teaching guides are designed to support this model — with real questions, real voices, and real impact.

✨ Make a Gift

Our Supporters Made This Possible

The audio project was made possible with funding from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Also, from The Lenox Foundation, The Stecher Family Foundation, Massachusetts Mutual Insurance Co., Bird by Bird Outreach, and the following individuals: Abbe F. Large, Mike and Sally Harris, Marcia Ross and Jeff Kaufman, Michael Simon, Michael Birzer, Gretchen Eick and Michael Poage, and Sarah Bagby.

We honor your belief in the power of truth-telling, and we thank you for helping us build something that will educate, inspire, and endure.

Why Your Gift Matters Now

In a time when inclusive education is under threat and stories about race and justice are being erased, your support ensures this work continues. You're not just funding an audiobook — you're preserving civil rights history and empowering the next generation.

Your donation today ensures this story continues to be heard.

Your contribution is tax-deductible and directly fuels our mission to preserve civil rights history, empower educators, and inspire lasting change.

About this Project

The Real Education Project is a nonprofit initiative developed by Grain Valley Publishing in partnership with NonProfitGO, our trusted 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.

Together, we’re working to preserve civil rights history, promote truth in education, and expand access to powerful storytelling tools like The Real Education of TJ Crowley and the forthcoming Scriptbook.

Want to help preserve history and protect the truth?

Now’s the time.

donate now

Donations are processed through NonProfitGO, our official 501(c)(3) sponsor.

Donate Now

Prefer to Donate Another Way?

Online – Donate securely via PayPal or credit card
Bank Transfer – Contact us to request routing and account info
By Check – Make payable to NonProfitGO (our fiscal sponsor)

Memo: “The Real Education Project”
Mail to: NonProfitGO, 303 S. Broadway, Suite 121, Wichita, KS 67202

All gifts are tax-deductible and go directly to supporting our mission.

Thank You. Truly.

Your generosity helps preserve the truth, amplify unheard voices, and bring this powerful story into classrooms and communities that need it most.

Questions? Contact us here.

Get Involved

Join our mission to create systemic change through education and art. Whether you’re an educator, community leader, or activist, there are many ways to support The Real Education Project:

  • Donate

  • Partner with Us

  • Volunteer

Contact Us

For inquiries about our programs or partnerships, please reach out to us:

  • Email: info@realeducationproject.org

  • Phone: (123) 456-7890

Follow us on social media for updates and ways to get involved.

About Us

The Real Education Project operates under the sponsorship of NonProfitGO, which supports over 200 nonprofits. This partnership enables us to focus on addressing racial, social, and economic inequalities with financial oversight and guidance.