Scrip - eScrip, GLscrip and etc.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I am interested in organizing a scrip type fundraiser at my DC's school. I'm doing this mostly out of guilt because we won't do the boxtops and I really don't like some of the other fundraisers either. But, I want to do my part.

Can someone run down the "real deal" with these scrip companies? What's their motive? Which one is the best? How much money do they normally make for a school? How difficult are they do register your school with? What else can you tell me about them?

It looks like glscrip wants you to buy these gift cards. I don't think that would work for us...and I wouldn't want to participate if that's what it is. eScrp, I think, is just a program where you register your credit cards and grocery cards, no? That seems more like our style.

I appreciate any input...thanks.

[Maluhia]

My DD's school and a local church we like both do eScrip and are very happy with them.
Easy peasy and Grandma 1000 miles away can do it too with little to no hastle.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Do you mind telling me how it goes? Do you and your family just register your grocery store cards and credit cards once? And then the school gets a kick back? Or do you have to alter how/where you shop? Also, if you know, could you share (even by PM) about how much the school/church makes off of it?

Also, how did they go about getting people signed up? Did they just send a form with instructions?

Thanks! I am just very timid about fundraising and don't want to take the lead on something that's going to be a PIA for the community.

[mattemma04]

Our Montessori does a scrip program.We get a paper every TH that lists some of the more common companies locally and what % goes to the school.I get a papa pizza card for $10 each week and it gives 9% of that purchase to the school.

I think our scrip is http://www.glscrip.com

We can look at the retailer list and write in other cards we want.We do it because we have to gain volunteer points for the school(or we pay a fee),so we order some scrip that we would get anyway.Gas cards and such things.

We hand in our paper/check on Mondays and the scrip volunteer processes everything.On Friday the cards we ordered come home with the kids.We either use the cards,or I gift them to others.

The school has told me that we can get a target credit card and register the school to get money everytime we shop their.I don't know what percentage Target gives.

I get food cards for my dh as he is a OTR driver.Sometimes I get movie or donut shop cards.It is really easy.I just wish we would get more volunteer points for each purchase.The schools may not get a huge amount,but every little bit will help and families are more likely to do scrip rather than giving cash.

Now when it comes to the innisbrook type fundraisers I do give cash to the school rather than pay $10 for a $2 item that results in $1 for the school.

[IdentityCrisisMama]

I looked into GLscrip and that's not going to work for us. eScrip, Target Credit Cards and Giant A+ seem to be the best options I've seen.

I do have a huge question about eScrip on-line purchases though. I would really appreciate if anyone can answer it. I contacted eScrip and they didn't respond yet.

Do you have to make on-line purchases THROUGH eScrip in order for your school to get credit or can you just register your credit card and they count it every time you use, Amazon, for instance?

[IdentityCrisisMama]

Oh, and it looks like Amazon has something but it's really weird looking how it works...anyone use that?

[claras_mom]

Here's my thinking:

I probably wouldn't ever register a credit card, because while I make online purchases, I'm a little nervous about having all purchases tracked. OTOH, I went to the escrip website earlier today, following a link our PTA treasurer provided, because it seemed really easy.

And it would have been really easy to register my grocery rewards card(s)...except that I don't have the numbers anymore. I keyed them to our phone number a looong time ago and have changed wallets since then.

I forget the numbers on how much is raised through the program. It is one of many ongoing fundraisers dd1's school does (very small public alternative school). I agree with you that it seems pretty straightforward.