Raising funds for a church, synagogue, mosque, temple or any organization is not an easy task.
"The reality is that everyone is pulled in so many different directions with regards to giving money and there is a saturation point. However, operating costs, especially in old buildings tend to go anywhere but down. This is the conundrum that our church, among many others, is facing. However, with every obstacle there is a solution and in our case the solution is FundScrip. The beauty of the FundScrip program is that it enables our members to give back to the church simply by spending money they already spend. There is no catch!"
>> Cameron Fortin, Cedar Park United Church
A Brief History of Church & Service Organization Fundraising
Long before fundraising became a frequently used word in our vocabulary, religious groups and service organizations were raising money for their missions, ministries, upkeep and projects that were near and dear to their hearts. These groups were the pioneers of the modern day fundraising organizations that are so prevalent today.
Why Do Churches & Service Groups Fundraise?
Religious organizations run almost solely on donations and must count on their supporters to give without fail. Their members want to support them; but the reality is that it has become harder to compete with all the other legitimate causes out there. And with so much competition for everyone’s charitable dollars, it’s getting more difficult for many groups to achieve their fundraising goals.
So what if we could show you a way that your supporters can earn money for your organization when they buy groceries, gas and other household items, while still shopping at their favorite stores?
The FundScrip Fundraising Solution
Your supporters spend thousands of dollars every year on basic household items like food, gas, clothing, pharmacy, restaurants, electronics, home renovations, department stores, an so on.
By asking your supporters to purchase gift cards through your organization before they shop, and then spending them just like cash, your organizaiton earns cash contributions from all of their purchases.
With FundScrip, your supporters everyday spending is transformed into fundraising dollars for your organization.
Just think – each time your supporters buy groceries; put gas in their car; go to the movies; make improvements to their home; give a gift; or just plain go shopping, much needed funds are contributed to your group's fundraising goals.
Is FundScrip Hard to Run?
We've made it easy for you to place your FundScrip orders. You can use our online order site, use our paper-based ordering system or buy cards in ‘bulk’ in advance to sell directly to your supporters:
- The turn-around time from ordering to delivery of your orders is very quick - usually just a couple of days.
- Your orders arrive sorted in sealed envelopes with the members’ names on the outside for quick, easy distribution.
- You will have access to the FundScrip Administrators Dashboard so you can monitor and manage your program (Supporters, Orders, Account Statement & Earnings Summary)
- No back orders
- No minimum orders
- Real people to answer your customer service calls
- Knowledgeable Fundraising coaches to help you set & reach your goals
Earnings can add up quickly
Your supporters shop at the grocery store every week; they buy gas and go to the pharmacy, and need other household items. They do home improvements, buy things from big box stores, department stores, go to restaurants, and coffee shops. They also need to buy gift cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions.
If each of your supporters buys just $200 worth of gift cards (think groceries & gas) each time you give them an order form, then your organization could earn the following (based on an average 3% rebate)
Here's a table to illustrate exactly what we mean:
The Pie Analogy
We always hear about the "Pie" when we talk to non-profits about money and fundraising: "The pie is only so big," they say. For example, if one of your supporters currently gives to three organizations; and then a fourth one comes along, then their ability to donate (i.e., their pie), isn't suddenly bigger - it is still the same. So they have a dilemma: give less to the original three (where your organizaion may find itself) and slice their pie into smaller pieces in order to give to the new group, or don't give anything to one of the groups.
Many religious groups and service organizations have fallen victim to the pie scenario because there are so many worthy causes vying for their supporters' attention that the slice of pie coming their way may have shrunk, or worse disappeared, over time.
FundScrip, on the other hand, allows your organizaiton to access a completely new source of revenue by earning found money on the groceries and gas your supporters purchase every day. The pie doesn't come in to it because contributions comes from a completely new model. And as an added bonus, Fundscrip will not affect traditional giving to your organization - rather it complements it.
Why FundScrip Will Work For Your Organization
- Organizations like yours see their supporters regularly – weekly in many cases. And because your supporters will not have to give out of pocket, and you are only asking them to buy cards for purchases they are going to make anyway from the stores from which they were gong to buy them anyway, they can and will order over and over again.
- You speak with your supporters one-on-one, which is a very effective way to promote your FundScrip program. People are more likely to listen to a real person and less likely to refuse them – especially someone they know.
- You can set up a FundScrip table/booth in a well-trafficked area after a service or meeting. This will give you an opportunity to speak to your potential supporters; it will give credibility to the program; and it will create a buzz where everyone will want to know what’s going on and how they can participate.
- You already have volunteers and people who want to help - they are the backbone of your organization. You have people that will demonstrate on a regular basis that they want to help - either by running Fundscrip or by buying gift cards. Contributing financially or as a volunteer strengthens their commitment and helps you to achieve your fundraising goals.
