Note: “Tickets for Teachers” donations in the Triangle are allocated to Durham teachers as our pilot district. Thank you for your donation. To discuss opportunities to expand to Wake, Orange, CHCCS, and Johnston, please email matt@TicketsforTeachers.us 

Quick steps:

1.  Send tickets you can’t use to donations@RootEdinDPS.org

2.  We quickly pair them with teachers (even last minute)

3.  Request your tax donation receipt (email us)

Since March 2026:

– 1,600+ DPS Staff Signed Up

– Over 1,500 tickets shared

– Valued at over $36,000

Thank you Bull City and Partners!!!

We all like reminders! Request a free fridge magnet so it’s easy to remember how to donate tickets. These are great for posting at your workplace as well to grow the program! Request as many as you like.

Durham Community: Can’t make it to a show or game? Skip the hassle of reselling your event tickets and let us put them to work for a great cause! We quickly connect your donated tickets—whether you have weeks of notice or a last-minute cancellation—directly with Durham Public Schools teachers and staff who would be thrilled to attend. Donating your tickets is more than just a nice gesture; it’s an investment in our schools. When educators feel appreciated and supported by their community, they thrive in the classroom, inspire our students, and build long-lasting careers right here in DPS.

You donate the tickets, and we handle the rest! Our educators love a well-deserved night out at every type of event across Durham and the Triangle. Whether it’s a Broadway show at DPAC, a Durham Bulls game at the DBAP, cheering on the Carolina Hurricanes or NC Courage, or catching a performance at the Carolina Theatre or Duke Arts—if you have the tickets, we have a teacher ready to go!

Here’s how it works:

• Transfer Your Tickets: Use your ticketing app or website to transfer your tickets to donations@RootEdinDPS.org or 919-969-3426.  You may use Matt Sears or RootEd DPS for the name if needed.

• We Make the Match: We’ll pair your tickets with a DPS educator who loves that specific type of event, transferring the tickets to them that very same day.

• Get Your Tax Receipt: Email us separately to request. We’ll then email you a receipt for your records within 2 business days. Your ticket donation is tax-deductible (at fair market value) through RootEd in DPS and our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, Upstream Works. (Ticketmaster and others do not give us your contact information when sending/receiving tickets, hence our need to hear from you.)

If you don’t see your question below, email Matt Sears at matt@RootEdinDPS.org

1.  Who exactly is eligible to receive these tickets? Is it just classroom teachers?

We believe it takes a village to run a school, which is why all Durham Public Schools (DPS) employees are eligible! This includes licensed classroom teachers, as well as teaching assistants, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, coaches, and administrative support staff. Every single staff member plays a vital role in our students’ success, and everyone deserves an evening out.

2.  How do you decide who gets the tickets? Is it first-come, first-served?

To ensure fair access, we do not use a first-come, first-served model. Instead, we use a randomized selection process based on the event preferences staff have shared with us. We also prioritize educators and staff members who have not yet received tickets this school year. This ensures that the opportunity is spread widely across the district, rather than benefiting the same individuals repeatedly. Finally, we work to ensure each region identified on the welcome.dpsnc.net website receives an equitable share of ticket offers.

3.  I want to donate a single ticket. Is that okay?

YES! We deeply appreciate every donation! However, because we want to provide a comfortable and shared experience, we try our best to distribute tickets in pairs or family packs. If you donate a single ticket, we will do our best to pair it with another single donation for the same event so a staff member can bring a partner, child, or colleague.

4. How do you handle last-minute ticket donations?

We gladly accept last-minute tickets! We maintain an opt-in “Standby List” for staff members who are interested in same-day texts for events. We recognize that not everyone has the schedule flexibility to attend an event on short notice, so we carefully monitor this list to ensure staff from all schools and roles have an equal opportunity to opt into these quick-turnaround alerts.

5. A free ticket is great, but events can be expensive. Do you help with parking or food?

We recognize that attending an event comes with hidden costs, which can sometimes be a barrier. While we currently only redistribute the tickets themselves, we actively work to provide recipients with maps of free or low-cost parking options near Triangle venues. We are also actively seeking community sponsorships to eventually provide parking and concessions stipends alongside the tickets.

6. How do you distribute these tickets to ensure our teachers get to personally enjoy a well-deserved night out, and keep the experience within our school community?

Our educators love participating in community events! If an educator receives tickets but is ultimately unable to attend, we use a ‘Pass It On’ policy to redistribute those tickets to others on our staff. Because these generous donations are intended exclusively for our teachers’ enjoyment, reselling tickets is strictly prohibited. Participants agree to this policy when signing up for the program.

7. I’d like to do something special for a teacher, like inviting them to a company suite or special event. Can we make that happen?

Yes! We can work with you directly to ensure that experience matches your goals and any requirements you have. Email us at donations@RootEdinDPS to get started!