Listen to Lena

Perfecting the Art of Conversuasion

FundScrip: A Better Way to Fundraise

By

Note: The following giveaway is open to Canadians only.

Right now, you’re on one side of the fence. Either you’re part of a committee that makes decisions when it comes to fundraising for your school, team or church event… or you’re the person who buys the chocolates (because really, what else is there?) to help attain the committee’s goal.

Today, I’m here to tell you there’s a better way to raise funds.

Introducing FundScrip. FundScrip is a Canadian fundraising program in which your supporters pay for their shopping (groceries, gas, home and garden, entertainment, restaurants, and much more) with gift cards. Each purchase automatically includes a donation to your cause! FundScrip has helped Canadians raise over $18,000,000 for a wide variety of worthy causes.
There are many different ways you could go about using FundScrip to achieve your fundraising goals, but in a nutshell, all you need to do is encourage supporters of your campaign to pay for their everyday expenses and gifts with gift cards bought from FundScrip. Then…

1. Each purchase automatically includes a donation to the campaign
2. The supporter isn’t out of pocket, and
3. They shop where they would normally shop.

There are over 220 retailers to choose from, including popular national brands from categories such as pharmacy, home improvement, department stores, restaurants, clothing stores, travel and more. All of FundScrip’s gift cards come from the retailers themselves, so you can be certain they’ll be accepted when you use them with NO expiry and NO hassle. 

My picks? Walmart, Best Buy, Esso, Loblaws, Starbucks and The Home Depot, to name a few!
The return on the purchase of gift cards through FundScrip is anywhere from 2 to 12%, so let’s go through a scenario to show you how it works. For our example, I’ll pretend I’m part of a school fundraising committee.

1. First, I’ll decide to bypass waxy chocolates this year and give parents what they really want – the opportunity to support the school without expanding their waistline.

2. Next, I’ll distribute paper order forms and collect payment from the parents. I can ask parents to order monthly, quarterly, annually or whatever is easiest from an administrative standpoint, or, I can also have parents place the order themselves and have their gift card shipped directly to their home. (Shipping is only $0.85 + tax for orders under $500.) Parents can choose denominations from $5 to $100.

3. If I decide to be in charge of collection, I’ll place one big order online and pay FundScrip in aggregate. Each order will packaged in its own envelope and clearly labelled for distribution. Easy-peasy!

Now, to make this really simple, let’s say 500 families sign up and purchase a $100 Indigo gift card. The return on an Indigo gift cards is 5%, so just like that, I’ve made $2,500 for my campaign!

Imagine if I did that every month – at the end of the school year, I will have made $10,000 – $60,000 for my school’s fundraiser. How easy is it to go through $100 at Esso or Shell? Or $100 at Loblaws or Walmart? Everyone can use gift cards – the main challenge here is changing the purchasing habits of the supporters. Instead of using cash, debit or credit, they simply need to hand over their store gift card.

So, have I convinced you there’s a better way to fundraise? Click here to receive a free information kit, and here to read recent success stories. Courtesy of FundScrip, you can also win a $100 gift card to a participating FundScrip retailer of your choice! To enter, simply pledge to tell a school, team or church official about FundScrip and let us know which retailer you’d like to select for your prize. (There are 226 to choose from!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post is sponsored by FundScrip. The opinions on this blog, as always, are my own.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  6. Jenn

    Yes, I pledge to tell a church official about FundScrip! It is a brilliant idea. If I won, I’d choose a Real Canadian Superstore GC.

  9. Alison Braidwood

    My choir has used a company offering something similar to this in the past (but I think they’ve closed down), so I will definitely mention Fundscrip to our executive. We are a registered charity and often fundraise. I’d totally go for a Homesense card if I win.

  14. Debbie White Beattie

    This is an amazing way to help charities. I’d choose Amazon but Walmart would be my next choice.

  15. Erika Letson

    Yes, I do pledge to tell our school about this! I think it’s a great idea and I would choose Giant Tiger.

  26. Jonnie

    What an amazing program! I will be letting my son’s schools know about it. I would choose the Walmart card because it’s my favorite store.

  29. Dana Miller

    I pledge to tell a school about FundScrip. I would select a gift card from Le Chateau for my prize.

  30. margaux retrophiliac

    This is an incredible idea, I would love a gift card to Real Canadian Superstore!

  40. Krista M

    Wow, 226 retailers? So hard to just choose 1! Yes I pledge & would love Walmart as they have everything from groceries to health/beauty, clothing & more!

  42. Sue f

    I’d select Best Buy, this is a better way to raise funds I really like this idea Yes I’d pledge

  43. Glogirl

    This is a great program! I will share it as opportunity arises. I would choose a Walmart gift card.

  50. Lilly Kavanagh

    I would choose The Children’s Place since my baby boy is growing like a weed and could use new clothes in a few months.

  53. Travelbuds

    I would pick Walmart and I know a lot of parents of my kids friends would pick the same. We will be starting our fund raising for my daughters school trip to Quebec soon so I’m going to keep this in mind.

  55. Angela Massis

    I will pledge to tell my kids school about FundScrip. So many great retailers to choose from…..I would pick Cineplex

  60. Alayne Langford

    I pledge to tell our local church about FundScrip for their clothing and food drives! Walmart is my choice!!

  64. Maritess

    I would recommend it to our Ringette fundraising. I would be interested in getting grocery gift cards – Safeway, Loblaws.

  74. Heather Howard

    Our small town fire department could use some new equipment so I have requested a kit to check things out.
    Thanks for the opportunity to #win ! I would choose Walmart as we need some winter clothes.
    Good Luck everyone!

  77. Lori L.

    Love this concept, I am going to bring it up as a fundraising option at my daughter’s school Parent Council meeting next week. If I win I would choose an Indigo gift card, thanks!

  78. Ada Lai

    This will be so helpful for my upcoming half marathon fundraising! Thanks for sharing this! I would go for Petro Canada!

  86. Carole D

    Yes, I pledge to tell a school about official about FundScrip! I would choose the Keg. I sure could use an evening out with good food. Thank you!

  87. Sandra McG

    I will let my granddaughter’s dance leader know about this. last year they sold cookie dough but I personally like this idea much better. I would choose the Real Canadian Superstore if I won.

  93. Stephanie

    I would choose Shoppers Drug Mart because I need to stock up on some face cream or Bath and Body because I’m always shopping there!

  94. Holly MacRitchie

    I would definitely let my child’s school know! I would choose The Children’s Place

  99. Kristy

    I intend to tell my principal about this. I would choose an Esso gift card because I know I would use the card. :)

  101. Brenda Penton

    Yes, I do pledge! My best friend runs an organization that this would be great for. I’d love to have Amazon.ca as a prize.

  103. ginette4

    I hereby make my pledge..there are so many great retailers..so hard to pick one..I think I would chose Canadian Tire

  109. Maria McLachlan

    Yes, this would be a good way to fund raise for soccer or school. Better then the magazine subscriptions don’t want

  111. Dianne G.

    I will be telling my daughter about Fundscrip. She does a lot of fundraising for the kids school, dance groups, lacrosse team and other activities the 4 kids are in.

  117. SHIRLEY

    Staples, Loblaws, Walmart my daughters school does fundraising so I could let them know about the program

  124. Darci Paice

    I am glad to learn about this and will be happy to share the information! What a great way to fundraise and to keep aware that some of the giftcards have a higher payout – for myself I would love to have a Cineplex card to treat my sons out to movie night!

  133. Julie

    This is so hard! I have many favourites! I’ll go with Jack Astors because my husband and I really look forward to Date Nights!

  134. Sab Edwards

    I love indigo so thats the card thats for me…I requested information and will see whats involved before I pass it on to the school.

  135. Stephanie LaPlante

    I sure do! I would choose Shoppers Drug Mart. I buy makeup to stay beautiful, vitamins to stay healthy and munchies for my ridiculous appetite.

  137. Lee-Ann S

    We tried it once before and it didn’t seem to work for our school but I’ve mentioned it again. If I won I would take the Boston Pizza gift card.

  149. Betty S

    I do you pledge to tell others about FundScrip
    I would pick an Old Navy Gift card. The whole family could use this one.

  154. Louise Smith

    FundScrip is great I have used it before for fun raise for soccer trip we made all we need to help pay for the trip