Fundraising for Small Groups Newsletter

Well, as the old saying goes, "Necessity is the mother of invention".

With the growing need and demand for more fundraising dollars, creative fundraisers are exploring virgin territories in search of new funds. And they have found willing partners with the stores we use every day.

Many stores - local, national, chains, and online - will rebate a percentage of your purchase to the nonprofit of your choice. While many of these stores only will work with schools, some stores only care that you are a 501c3.

Here's How It Works

There are five different ways that a store can work it's rebate program:

1. Receipts- You enroll your group with a store offering this type of program. Your group then collects receipts from your members after they shop at the store. This type of program can run for a fixed amount of time or all year long. Your group turns in the receipts, usually at a pre-determined time, and receives a percentage of the total from the receipts as a rebate to your group. This is a popular program with small local stores that can't afford the pricey sophisticated software and equipment to run a Frequent Shopper Card program.

2. Frequent Shopper Card- You enroll your group with a store offering this type of program. You alert your members with this store's Frequent Shopper Card to designate your group to receive credit for their purchases. Then, every time your members shop at the store and present their Frequent Shopper Card a percentage of their purchase is credited to your group. Payment to your group usually occurs at predetermined intervals- monthly, quarterly, bi-annually. This is a popular program with large stores and regional chains.

3. Credit Card- Same as the Frequent Shopper Card, only with a credit card. You enroll your group with a store or credit card offering this type of program. You encourage your members to apply and receive the credit card and to designate your group to receive credit for their purchases. Then, every time your members use their credit card a percentage of their purchase is credited to your group. Payment to your group usually occurs at predetermined intervals- monthly, quarterly, bi-annually. Offers vary- sometimes a higher percentage is paid for shopping at the card issuing store and a lower percentage for shopping everywhere else. Sometimes the percentage is only paid for shopping at the card issuing store and no where else. This type of program is very popular with national chains and some regional chains.

4. Scrip- Scrip is a term that means "substitute money". In this case, when you purchase scrip you are purchasing store gift certificates. Your group purchases the gift certificates in bulk at a discount. It then sells them to its members at full price and keeps the difference. The member then uses the gift certificate like cash at the store. This is a popular program that can be run two different ways: either in house or via a scrip company.

5. Shopping Portals- You enroll your group with a store offering this type of program. You encourage your members to use the link you provide when they want to shop online. When they use your link to access your shopping portal a percentage of their purchase is credited to your group. Payment to your group usually occurs at predetermined intervals- monthly, quarterly, bi-annually.

Who Offers Rebate Programs??

The list is large: