TRIP fundraiser is easy and effective
Monday, March 26, 2007 -- Jennifer Higgs
From groceries to gas, Sylvia Dekoning uses gift certificates to raise money through Rhema Christian School’s Tuition Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP).

The program has two purposes; to raise funds for Rhema Christian School and to allow families to earn tuition credits. Through a shop and support order form, participants can purchase gift certificate in different denominations for 129 locations.

Each gift certificate supplier donates a percentage of the sale to TRIP. This profit is divided in half between the school budget and the student’s tuition costs.

With two children attending Rhema, Dekoning says she uses the TRIP cards for a variety of purchases. "I think it’s a win-win situation, where the school benefits from it and we benefit from it," she says.

Dekoning will often plan to have the certificates ahead of time if she knows where she will be shopping. "It’s things I’m buying everyday anyway, so why not get the benefits?"

Rhonda Nielsen is the parent-leader of the program. She purchases the gift certificates each week. Nielsen estimates they sell $25,000 a month in the retail gift certificates, and says Tim Horton’s is a popular sale.

There are over 100 separate supporters at the school who currently use the program. Participants can use a form from the school office to order their cards, go to the office and buy some that are in stock or shop for them online.

Nielsen has been the co-ordinator for three years, and says people are now onboard with the program.

"It’s a great program, and it’s really a no-brainer," she says. "A lot of people have just sung the praises of being able to support the program."

She says it helps that more people are now using gift cards when shopping, especially around the Christmas holidays.

Participants can tell their friends and family about the program and through the online ordering system anyone can type in the code for the student they are sponsoring. "So good grief, the possibilities are endless," says Nielsen.

"I certainly tell a lot of people about the program, because I think it’s great," says Dekoning. "You feel almost guilty going shopping at places that you know there are coupons for but you don’t have them."