Lots of businesses these days are asked repeatedly for donations to a particular non-profit organization in the form of cash, gifts for a silent auction, gift certicates, etc. In addition, many schools are involved in selling “scrip.” In general, I like the scrip concept. Essentially, a non-profit organization rounds up a group of businesses to participate. These businesses agree to donate a certain percentage of their sales that are made by taking in scrip. Individuals that want to support the non-profit organization purchase scrip. Then, they take the scrip to the business of their choice and pay for products with the scrip instead of cash. The business then donates a percentage of the sale back to the non-profit.
Scrip programs are a win-win for everyone involved. The consumer gets to donate to the charity of their choice by spending money that they probably would’ve spent anyway (so there’s no real out of pocket expense.) The businesses win because they get customers they wouldn’t normally get because the customer shopping with them is doing so because they want the business’s products, but because they want to support the non-profit. The non-profit wins because they get a percentage of sales without actually having to sell and inventory a product.
Being on all three sides: a business who is often asked for donations, a consumer who wants to support my favorite charities and someone who also works with charities to come up with new ways to raise money, I think I might have come up with a scrip hybrid.
Recently we launched a new division of our company called Goddess to Go ( www.goddesstogo.com ). Of course I want to drive sales to the site, but I also happen to think we sell fabulous products and really fill a need. The site is designed for our current customers who will be entertaining on a smaller scale, for customers out of our geographical zone and for new customers looking for great party kits for friends, as hostess or moving gifts or just swank cocktail accessories for themselves!
So, other than making a shameless promotion for Goddess to Go, what am I talking about? I am making a pitch to all non-profit organizations who want to raise money. How does this offer work? If you are a non-profit organization, log on to Goddess to Go and check out the products. If you think the products for sale would be a good match for your organization’s target market, shoot me an email: Marley@thepartygoddess.com and tell me so. Give me the pertinant information about your organization and why you think you would be a good match for our scrip-hybrid program. If I think we’re a match, I’ll assign your organization a “coupon code.” Then it’s up to you.
Promote www.goddesstogo.com anywhere you can, along with your organization’s unique coupon code. When orders are placed using the coupon code, we will pay your organization 10% of the total sales made using your code (excluding shipping and handling.) The good news? There is no start and end to this offer (for now anyway.) So, whether your members order today or 6 months from now, your organization will still get paid. Plus, because Goddess to Go is stricly an online store, it doesn’t matter where in the world your non-profit is (or where its patrons are.)
To find out more about our scrip-hybrid program, or to be considered, please email me at: Marley@thepartygoddess.com . Happy fundraising!
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