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Good Luck Diane,
We started a SCRIP program 2 years ago. It was met with mixed reviews. We offered it once a month the past 2 years. After parents figured out what exatly it was we did very well around holidays. After reviewing the program this year, we will cut it back to 4 times this year.
Upon set up, we had the school bookeeper to volunteer to collect and manage the program. The flyer is sent home, and the PTO collects the funds (cash, check, etc) and the bookeeper is responsible for getting the cards. The cards are then placed in an envelope and placed in the teachers box to be passed onto the individual students.
Your right it is a great way to raise funds. The only thing that we ran into was that some businesses were not eager to get involved. Some were very open to the idea. The one excuse that local businesses gave was that people tend to hold onto "gift cards" longer, even though they had their money up front. Some businesses have expanded their interest, others have dropped out all together. It has been a learning experience. We are trying to tailor this program around our school and it's needs. You may have to try it just to see how well that you do. You can always go back any make changes to the program, just like we have.
Debbie PTO President
Great Lakes is a good scrip company, very honorable.
We use QuickBooks accounting software, I can't imagine running a scrip program without software.
We also purchase scrip locally. I contacted a local Catholic school (we are public) and asked who they get scrip from locally, saved me tons of time.
We started taking orders then filling them, finally we ponied up some cash and started stocking grocery, gas and Starbucks scrip, and we started selling at the beginning and end of the school day one day a week. That is when the sales take off. We also call it scrip-gift cards. without adding the giftcards to the title, no one was "getting it" no matter how many times we expalined it.
In November and December we order once week, it is CRAZY at the holidays. The rest of the year we order about once a month.
Our school's staff is paid at the end of the month, so we put an order form in their box 2-3 days before payday. They use it for budgeting.
We take inventory at least once a month. We have one person order and do the bookkeeping and another that sells, and makes deposits. Just a way for checks and balances. Our school won't allow us to keep it at the school, so we do have to take it home. Security is always a worry. Not an ideal situation.... but it is working. Families now call us over the summer and swing by my house to pick up their Kroger scrip.
We choose not to send scrip home back pack mail because so many of our kids don't go home to a parent.
We don't take credit cards, cut into the profit way too much.
The first year we didn't make much, it takes folks awhile to get into the scrip habit. the second year our sales were up 50% and the third year went up another 50% and stablized.
If you can find another school in your area selling scrip it is nice to go in and order from local vendors together, you can get deeper discounts.
Good Luck
We are also thinking about starting a Scrip program at our school. Our treasurer is concerned about how we set up an account for scrip. Does anyone have any advise for us? Do we just set up a separate account just for the Scrip program? Any advise would be appreciated.
I'm the newly elected VP of Ways & Means for our PTA (my friends think I'm insane!). I would like to start a scrip program in the fall. What advice do you veteran Scrip chairs you have for me? How often do you place orders, do you have pickup, or are they sent home, what else do I need to know? We will be using Great Lakes Scrip, since they have some local vendors for us, which is cool. I was thinking about placing orders 2x a month (15th & 30th) with money/orders due 3 school days ahead of time so the checks can be cleared.
We are also going to be doing a cookbook, implementing restaurant nights, and a bottle recycling program. I'm trying the "non-traditional" fundraising route!! I'm tired of catalog sales. Hopefully these will be enough for us to get us thru the school year, and then we can do a read-a-thon the following fall.
Thanks for any help and advice you have for me!
Diane
Stranahan Elementary PTA
Toledo, OH
