Couponing isn’t just about discounts, it can also be a way to give back to charitable organizations. Some coupon services have started offering coupon codes that provide a percentage of the purchase price to a particular charity.
This type of donation allows customers to select which charities they want their money to go to at checkout. This can help them learn more about different causes, prompting discussions about cause prioritization and effectiveness.
Donating with Coupons
When customers purchase a discount coupon, they can opt to donate any amount of the price they paid to charity. This offers a powerful incentive for coupon users to share the wealth. Families struggling to make ends meet often rely on food stamps and government subsidies, but those who have learned the skills of extreme couponing can scoop up basic household necessities for pennies on the dollar.
Inspired by extreme couponers she saw on TV, Tufts University junior Christina Steinberg began to collect food, toiletries and school supplies for local families. She kept careful track of newspaper inserts and promotions with a spreadsheet and even founded a 501c3 to help her cause.
Group coupon sites are a popular way for consumers to raise money for a cause without even knowing it. For example, Goodshop donates a portion of the advertising referral payment it receives when customers use a coupon at one of its merchant partners to their selected cause.
Save Money While Giving
Couponing benefits more than just shoppers. It can also make a difference in charitable giving. Many coupon services have started partnering with charitable organizations to support local communities. These partnerships benefit both the nonprofit and the coupon service.
For example, Groupon runs a deal-a-day site that donates to charities for each coupon purchased. The company gives anywhere from 20 to 40 percent of the value of each coupon purchased to a selected charity.
Nonprofit leaders say that couponing for a cause helps charities by raising visibility and bringing in new donors. But they also warn consumers to read the fine print.
Steinberg juggles her time-intensive couponing with her studies at Tufts and says that her efforts have made a real impact on the lives of single mothers in need at the local shelter. Her advice to anyone looking to join the ranks of the couponing pros: Keep your eye on the prize, and remember why you are doing it.
Philanthropic Couponing
Using coupons to promote charitable giving can be a powerful fundraising tool for your nonprofit organization. You can use third party coupon sites or create your own social good coupon campaign.
For example, Groupon offers deals on local goods and services that allow users to give a portion of their purchase to a chosen charity. You can learn more about this type of fundraiser on their blog.
Consider what products and items are needed by your target audience to make sure you’re using your coupons strategically. For instance, a local homeless shelter may be interested in receiving hygiene items like soap and shampoo.
If you aren’t already doing so, check out your local stores’ sales and coupons for opportunities to buy expensive products for pennies on the dollar. For example, some stores offer Buy One Get One Free promotions and combining them with a coupon can reduce the total cost to as little as $0.01. You can also find a list of current needs by checking online resources like the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and Guidestar.
Supporting Charities bloggiamgia on a Budget
Coupons and e-commerce platforms that support charitable causes can help boost brand loyalty and customer satisfaction. They can also encourage people to donate beyond cash donations by giving them the option to make an additional gift at checkout.
When choosing a couponing service to partner with, nonprofits should vet the company carefully. Nonprofit leaders suggest using resources like Charity Watch, Consumer Reports and BBB Wise Giving Alliance to find out more about the company’s background and how it supports charities.
Jan Sondys, a senior IT manager at Walbridge, Ohio-based General Motors Corp, spends two to three hours per day clipping coupons and buying items in bulk on her lunch break. She’s able to stockpile enough hygiene items, school supplies and cleaning products to meet the needs of two local shelters each year. She even organizes a group of coworkers to pitch in to buy needed items for the shelter. It’s part of a larger giving strategy she follows that involves including charitable contributions in her monthly budget.