What’s Scrip?

Scrip is a simple, proven vehicle that many schools use for year-round fundraising.  Scrip streamlines the whole fundraising process and puts everyone – the school, the kids, their parents, and the community – in the winner’s circle!  Scrip is an ideal fundraiser since it requires little effort, provides a high financial return, and contributes to the congregation’s ministry plan supporting the school mission.

 How Does it Work?

Participating business partners contribute a portion of their profits to schools.  For example, you write a check to Heartland Christian Academy for $100.00.  In return you receive a $100.00 worth of scrip from a merchant(s), for example a $100.00 scrip card from a local grocery chain.  You go to your grocery store and the card spends the same as $100.00 in cash.  Yet the school paid only $95.00 for that scrip card, and was able to keep the $5.00 difference to fund various school related projects and expenses.  The more scrip that is purchased the more the school profits at no cost to you!

 Which Merchants Offer Scrip?

The list of participating merchants is very long and frequently changes.  Restaurants, retail stores, airlines, hotel chains, and grocery stores all offer scrip.  Click here to print a complete list of merchants that offer scrip.  It also lets you know how much each merchant contributes to the school.  It ranges from 2% to 25%!  Often there are special promotions by merchants and they will increase their giving percentage for a limited amount of time. 

 Where and When Can You Purchase Scrip?

Scrip is sold every Sunday in the narthex of Immanuel Lutheran Church after the 8 a.m. Service and before the 10:45 a.m. Service.  It’s also sold during the week in the church office, or just call (719) 6365011 or send an email to the church office, church_office@ilc-cos.org, and tell us when you’d like to pick up your scrip order.  We’ll be sure it’s ready.   You can pay with cash or a check made out to HCA.

 How are Scrip Profits Used?

Buying scrip at Heartland Christian Academy helps fund staff professional development and various early childhood improvement projects.  Most families spend a minimum of $100 on groceries a week.  If 200 families purchased $100 of scrip a week, in one year’s time that generates $52,000 for Heartland Christian Academy School.  The benefit’s add up quickly for the ministry at HCA as church and school families purchase more scrip!    

 Are School Families Required to Buy Scrip?

Each family with children enrolled at Heartland Christian Academy is required to purchase enough scrip to generate $100 of profit for the early childhood program.  How much any family is required to purchase is dependent on the types and quanities of scrip they buy.   However a family may opt out of particpating in scrip and pay $100 at the beginning of the year.  If a family participates in scrip, but doesn’t manage to meet the $100 level, the difference not met will be prorated and charged to their account.  

Helpful Scrip Ideas

Birthdays!  Get your loved ones scrip from their favorite restaurant or retail store!

 Heading to the Grocery Store?  Don’t forget your scrip!  Most families buy at least $100.00 of groceries a week.  Buying $100.00 a week of your favorite grocery store scrip amounts to $5,200.00 of scrip in a year, benefiting the school $260.00 at no cost to you!

 Don’t have time to run to the mall for a last minute gift?  Buy scrip!

Need a graduation gift?  Buy scrip!

 Forgot about Mother’s Day?  Buy her scrip!

 Need office or school supplies?  First pick up your Office Depot scrip from the school.  Before making your purchase at a local store, go to the front desk and designate Heartland Christian Academy School under their 5% Back to Schools Program.  Then purchase your supplies and pay with scrip.  Heartland Christian Academy will receive 5% credit on qualifying student school supplies.  In turn, the school can redeem their credits for FREE supplies.  The school receives a double benefit from a single scrip purchase!

 Need to put a little extra something in a Christmas card to thank a special person?  Buy scrip!

 Need a gift for the coach, the hair stylist, the Sunday School teacher, or the guitar instructor?  Buy scrip!

 Frequent fast food restaurants?  Always have scrip on hand!

 Travel for business?  If you frequent Marriott, Hyatt, or Best Western hotels, inform the school a week or two before your trip (636-5011, church_office@ilc-cos.org) how much scrip you need to purchase and when you plan to pick it up.  The school will ensure they have enough on hand to fulfill your needs.  When you arrive at your hotel you secure your room with a credit card as usual, but when you check out you pay with scrip!  You submit your hotel receipt with your travel expense report, and your company reimburses you your travel expenses, including the hotel!  While the school profits 8% from Marriott and Best Western and 9% from Hyatt scrip, it didn’t cost you or your company one additional cent! 

 Ask family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to buy scrip!

 Flying to visit grandparents?  Notify the school ahead of time to ensure we have enough on hand to meet your needs.  Pick up your scrip PRIOR to finalizing your reservations with American Airlines!  You’ll need to read the customer service specialist the numbers off the back of the scrip cards in order to pay with scrip.