I am trying to find information on groups using the eScrip program. Our marching band is using it successfully but would like to link with others who are working it as well.

SCRIPS is a program where you buy gift cards (at the face value) and then companies agree to sell them at a certain discount. We use www.glscrip.com

One way to get participation up is to make sure your parents really understand what the program is. That may seem like I am stating the obvious, however, some parents won't speak up and say they don't understand in fear of feeling like they have asked a stupid question.

A simple flyer may get the information out. Everytime you mention SCRIPS to another parent, make sure you give a mini explanation. Use SCRIPS in your everyday conversation. It is truly an under utilized fund raising tool!

Not to sound ignorant, but what exactly are SCRIPS, and could you go into a little bit of detail about the whole SCRIP program?

Thanks,
Kyle

Hey Audra, are your videos in distribution? I'd like to get copies!

Hi JJ,
This is a copy of a post I made in Sept., but I thought you might enjoy reading it. Good Luck!
Audra

We made a few of our PTO officers, office staff and a clerk at Schnucks movie stars!!! We video taped one of our moms going into the office and asking the important questions about SCRIPS.
1. What are they?
2. Do they cost me anything?
3. How do I use them?
4. This sounds too good to be true, what's the catch?
5. How can I order them?

We focused soley on the grocery stores first. We then taped them USING the Store Bucks (SCRIPS) at Schnucks. It was cute and got the point across to our parents that it really is easy and its FREE money for our school. We focused on how it is "getting in a routine" of purchasing the SCRIPS.

At the end of the video, we included a very quick, one minute informational segment. Another wonderful parent dressed in a cap and gown and stood in front of a chalk board and highlighted a simple equation:

If we have 100 families purchase $100 a month in SCRIPS that would equal:

100 familes x $100.00 a month = $10,000
$10,000 x 9 months = $90,000
$90,000 x 4% = $3600.00 OF FREE MONEY FOR OUR SCHOOL!!!

Since the video, (we showed it at our Back to School Bash) our SCRIPS profits have sky rocketed! Our families are now ordering, grandparents, neighbors..etc. It is awesome!

We are a private school, so we have parents picking up more than public schools, but another idea is to have a SCRIPS DRIVE THRU. We had parents volunteer to sell the SCRIPS in our parking lot after school for approximately 30 mins. Many of our parents appreciated not having to get out of the car, go in and make a purchase. (especially for many moms who have little ones that may be sleeping or sick)


Don't give up! It took us three years to get this program going at the speed it is now. Parents are soooooo busy these days. It took a little encouraging for them to honestly look at how easy this is but how profitable it can be.

We send home flyers in late October to push the Merchant Cards (Bath & Body Works, restaurants, etc)We remind everyone how they can be used for Christmas gifts. We push another campaign in April to highlight the cards for graduation gifts and as incentives or chore rewards during the summer.

Hope this helps! Dont give up! This is a wonderful program!

Audra =)

Since this post in September, we have added another video to our collection. We had two PTO officers acting like they were fighting over a parking spot at Christmas. (A few of the kids caught us taping the segment and thought it was a riot) She and I tried to pull into a spot at the same time, honked at one another, got out and spoke about being in a hurry, we both had last minute Christmas shopping..etc. Then the next segment was another officer, sitting with a longgggggggg Christmas list and her Merchant Bucks form. She went through her list, marked off the Gift Cards, wrote one check and was finished shopping. She mentioned how much she loved not having to fight with lines and parking. Then we cut to the last scene where she received an envelope with all the gift cards and once again she was thrilled to be finishd with her shopping and how buying the Merchant Bucks she was able to help give "free money" to the school.

Videos are a fun way to remind families about the merchant Bucks and SCRIPS program. The funnier the video, the more the parents will remember it!

Good Luck!

30% is a great turnout. Our turnout usually averages around 10%, except for the holiday orders. For everyone that spent $50 in scrip, we put their name into a hat and pulled for $25 in free scrip. We keep scrip on hand, etc. It's such a great, e-a-s-y fundraiser. Not sure why turnout can't be better. Good luck