Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the catch?
There is no catch! Our retail partners want to develop customer loyalty; support worthwhile causes; and sell gift cards. We have created a program that does all three; and so they give us a volume discount to buy large quantities of their cards. Supporters pay full price, and up to 10% of the difference is donated to the non-profit groups of their choice.
Why would our supporters want to do this?
Most importantly, they want to support your group. Secondly, it doesn’t cost them anything extra to do so; thirdly, it's a great way to control spending because it requires some budgeting; and finally, it is really fun & easy!
How secure is online ordering?
We are as secure as online banking – we use the same encryption technology as all the major banks do for their online transactions. We take security very seriously - our reputation depends on it. (See our Security page for more information.)
Are there any up-front charges to non-profit groups who use FundScrip?
No, but there are three things that will reduce a group's earnings:
- Shipping - typically $10 to $20 per shipment debited against the group's earnings
- Credit Card Payment - Orders paid for by credit card earn 1.99% less than the posted rebate.
- Interac® online payments will reduce earnings by $0.85.
Are there any costs to our supporters?
There are no costs to sign up and place orders however, NSF charges and non-standard requests for modifications to orders will incur fees. Some examples include order cancellation (partial or complete) and card exchanges.
How much work does this involve?
Every fundraiser requires some effort. Most of your efforts will be required to launch and promote the program at the beginning. After that and depending on how the program is set-up, a typical group administrator spends between 1 and 3 hours per week managing the program.
How do groups get paid?
FundScrip sends its groups a monthly check for the balance of their earnings as long as it is equal to or greater than $50.00. Otherwise, the balance rolls-over to the following month.
Do the gift cards expire?
Thanks to laws forbidding the expiry of gift cards in Quebec, Ontario, BC, Alberta and Manitoba, most of our retail partner gift cards do not expire. However, you should always check on the back of the card to be sure.
