Passive Fundraising Ideas for School Parent Groups
Although a few major national companies have shut down their fundraising programs, many options still remain for enterprising PTOs and PTAs.
With the end of Target’s 20-year Take Charge of Education program and the Campbell Soup Company phasing out its Labels for Education program, many parent groups are looking for other passive fundraisers to replace that lost income.
The good news is that plenty of shopping and collection fundraisers are still active. We asked members of our PTO & PTA Leaders Facebook group to tell us about similar fundraisers their groups are using. (Join our closed group to be in on discussions like this from the start!) We organized their suggestions and others into the following sections:
• National Affiliate and Loyalty Fundraising Programs
• National Collection Fundraisers
• Regional Collection Fundraisers
• Grocery Store Loyalty Fundraising Programs
Do you know of other programs? Let us know in the comments at the bottom so we can add them to this list and share them with other readers. Before signing up for any fundraiser, be sure to read the fine print and decide whether it’s a good fit for your school community.
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National Affiliate and Loyalty Fundraising Programs
AmazonSmile
Through AmazonSmile, shoppers can select a charity to receive 0.5 percent of the purchase price of eligible purchases. Our article on AmazonSmile explains how the program works.
Benefit
This mobile shopping app allows parents to earn 2 to 20 percent for a designated organization while shopping online, dining out, buying plane tickets, and more.
Emily Press Labels
Organizations receive 20 percent of sales of customized labels made through a custom fundraising campaign link.
FlipGive
The FlipGive app can be used to earn a percentage of sales for your group at participating stores, both in person and online.
GoodShop
Users of the GoodShop app can get coupons to major retailers and designate a group to receive a portion of each purchase they make, from 1 to 30 percent.
iGive.com
Through the iGive.com website or app, shoppers can make purchases from more than 2,100 stores and designate an organization to receive a percentage of the amount they spend. Percentages vary from store to store.
Lovable Labels
Groups receive 20 percent of purchases made through a custom fundraising campaign link.
Mabel’s Labels
Mabel’s Labels’ fundraising program gives 20 percent of sales of customized labels and other products back to participating organizations.
Office Depot/Office Max Give Back to Schools
The office supply store chain gives 5 percent of sales to schools as store credit when customers provide a school ID number. The Give Back to Schools site has a tool to look up school ID numbers and to print ID cards to hand out to families.
Plum Print
Parents submit student artwork to Plum Print to have the art printed in book form. In Plum Print's school fundraising program, the school earns 10 percent of all sales. Parents receive a discount on their books, too.
SchoolStore
Supporters of your group can shop at online stores through the SchoolStore website and earn a percentage of their purchase for your school. People can also purchase a gift card through the site to be given to a classroom teacher for educational supplies.
Shutterfly Storefront
Participating schools receive a custom URL linking to Shutterfly, where customers can create and purchase photo books, cards, and more. The school receives 8 percent of the sales made through the link.
Staples Classroom Rewards
The Staples program gives reward checks to teachers rather than schools. Parents can earn 5 percent back for teachers when they log in to the Staples Classroom Rewards site, add the receipt, and pick the teachers they would like to support.
National Collection Fundraisers
Box Tops 4 Education
In July 2019, Box Tops for Education announced plans to transition to a digital-only program. Existing box tops from participating products will be accepted until their expiration date, earning 10 cents per label.
Funds2Orgs
Organizations hold drives to collect gently worn shoes. Funds2Orgs picks up the shoes and pays according to the total weight of the items collected.
My Coke Rewards for Schools
Registered schools can collect My Coke Rewards labels and ask people to donate My Coke Rewards points online. Points are converted to cash each quarter.
Savers FUNDrive
In this donation drive fundraiser, schools collect used items including clothing, shoes, bedding, toys, and books. Schools can take the items to a designated donation center or make other arrangements. Payment is based upon the total weight of donated items.
Regional Collection Fundraisers
These programs are run by companies operating more locally. Check individual program websites for eligibility.
Aunt Millie’s Bakeries School Spirit Program
Community Coffee Cash for Schools
Country Hearth/Village Hearth Loaves for Learning
Longmont Dairy Milk Caps for Mooola
Prairie Farms Our Caps Your Cause
Grocery Store Loyalty Fundraising Programs
Many grocery store chains offer loyalty cards. Shoppers can pick a school to receive reward points or a percentage of their total purchases. Programs vary by chain, and grocery chains may have different programs in different areas.
Fry’s Food Stores Community Rewards
Harris Teeter Together In Education
Jay C Food Stores Community Rewards
King Soopers Community Rewards
Pay Less Super Markets Community Rewards
Quality Food Centers Community Rewards
Ralphs Community Contribution Program
Originally posted in 2016 and updated regularly
