Earning Free Supplies for Your Schools

Did you know that many companies want to give your school money and supplies? It's true. Businesses get huge tax breaks for making donations and often times it encourages people to buy their brands. Below are a few programs available to schools that will help you raise money or supplies for your campus. You can do them all. You can do none. It's really up to you and how involved your communities are in the schools.

BoxTops4Education - Probably the most famous program around. Each boxtop that is turned into the school is worth $0.10. Twice a year, your school will get a check. There are also times when products and/or stores will run promotions that double the value to $0.20 each.

Participating brands include:

• General Mills
• Ziploc
• Totino
• Betty Crocker
• Hefty
• Pillsbury
• Green Giant
• Land O'Lakes
• and more...

Labels for Education - Each UPC is worth a set number of points depending on the item. The points can be redeemed in a catalog for school supplies such as gym equipment and art supplies.

Participating brands include:

• Campbells
• Pepperidge Farm
• Spaghettos
• V8
• and more...

My Coke Rewards - Every bottle or package of Coca-Cola products has a code listed. For bottles, it is in the cap. For cases, it's on the cardboard. These points can be donated to schools and converted to quarterly cash payments. Schools can then use the funds to buy supplies.

Participating brands include:

• Coca-Cola
• Sprite
• Dasani
• Minute Maid
• Powerade
• and more...

Amazon - Amazon allows eligible non-profits, including schools, sign up for AmazonSmile. Once enrolled, any purchases made through smile.amazon.com will give your school a 0.5% cash donation of the total purchase price. The shopper just needs to designate your school as their charity and then shop as normal. Amazon sends electronic payments on a quarterly basis for any funds you have raised.

Target - If you have a Target credit or debit card, you can sign up to have Target make a donation to a school of your choice, 1% of what you spend in the store. Sadly, they announced this month that the program will be ending in May 2016, but there's still time to sign up your cards and earn some funds in the meanwhile. Schools will receive a final check after the program ends.

Additional programs may be available at a regional level. I've heard of grocery stores offering incentives and restaurants having designated "school nights" for fundraising. Good luck!