Fundraising with a Smile (Card)

By George Jamieson  

This past year I missed a chance to contribute more than two hundred dollars to a local non-profit organization, at no extra cost to myself.   Same thing the year before. And the year before that.  

The reason...? The non-profit is supported by Smile Card Fundraising Program at Thrifty Foods, and I didn't use a card. If I had, Thrifty would have donated 5% of the total to my non-profit.  

I knew about the Smile Card program, but I had that old familiar excuse for not taking part. I meant to, but didn't get around to it until a few weeks ago.  

The Smile Card Fundraising Program has contributed money to non-profits for more than seven years, in areas where Thrifty operates food stores. In our community, recipients include the James Bay Community School Society, Beckley Farm Lodge, the James Bay Community Project and Capital City Volunteers, which operates city-wide from offices in James Bay. The Parents Advisory Council at South Park Elementary School and the Beacon Hill Little League also receive support. "We've been involved with the Beacon Hill Little League for 35 years," says Vivian Chenard, Thrifty's manager of community relations. "First as a sponsor, now through the Smile Card Fundraising Program."   

The groups apply once a year, spelling out their projects. According to Vivian Chenard, most groups apply for several years in a row.  "When an organization joins the program," she said, "a momentum builds up. They know more about the program as time goes on, their supporters know how it works, and there are always new projects that deserve help."  

Once the group and Thrifty have agreed on an amount, it's up to the supporters of each group to generate the funds.  

Becoming one of those supporters is as easy as this: First, get a card from the non-profit group. It looks like a regular Smile Card, and you activate it the same way. Load it with money at a checkout or the customer service desk. Use cash, debit, or a credit card to put on whatever amount you like.   

Then use the Smile Card to pay for your purchases. Thrifty will send the group 5% of what you spent, up to the agreed total.     

In most cases, the total amounts are small, from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. They are intended to assist with projects, not replace other funding sources. 

These small amounts can make a difference. This year the Smile Card Fundraising Program helped Beckley Farm Lodge buy a machine to wash and sterilize wheelchairs and walkers. "These machines are not cheap," said Lorraine Gee, the director of day programs, outreach, and volunteers for the lodge. "It will cost about twenty thousand dollars once it's installed. Funding from the Smile Card paid part of that."    For next year the lodge wants to improve its gardens. It hopes to replace worn benches, put up a new gazebo, and install a swing, specially- designed to accommodate wheelchairs. It has already applied for support.

At the James Bay Community Project, the Smile Card program has paid for physical improvements. According to Kaye Kennish, the executive director, "we applied for funding to replace parts of our air-conditioning and heating systems, to buy a freezer for our Youth Clinic, and replace a counter in our community kitchen. We've also used Smile Card money to re-paint some areas and replace furniture in our family resource centre." 

Darcy Topinka is program co-ordinator of the James Bay Community School Society. His organization applies for Smile Card funding for tangible supplies, mostly to support youth programs. "We get funding from other sources to design and operate programs," he said."We try to leverage money from the Smile Card for equipment and accessories. We've bought a couple of ping-pong tables and other sports gear, to expand our youth activities. This year we received money for our summer reading program. In July and August, kids from the community spent anywhere from one to nine weeks reading and talking about books. With money from the Smile Card, we bought books to give them. Every child went home with one at the end of the program."

If you're using a Smile Card, these contributions don't cost you a penny. In the grocery business, profit margins are a lot lower than 5%.   This means Thrifty is contributing all the profit it would usually make from you, plus some of its own money... and you get to choose the destination. I don't think you can find a deal like that anywhere else, not even from the guy on TV who sells lint removers and slap-chop gadgets.    

There is administration, but it is handled by Thrifty Foods and your non-profit. Thrifty keeps track of the money and makes the contributions. If you lose a Fundraising Smile Card, you can call a toll-free number to have it cancelled. Then you can get another card from the non-profit, and Thrifty will transfer your cash balance to the new card. It's not perfect, but it's better than what usually happens if you drop a 20-dollar bill in the parking lot. 

Some people find this program so easy, they use two or more Smile Cards, and contribute to a number of different organizations. They might raise money for one or two non-profits for part of the year, then switch to a school sports program during a fundraising drive.    

We often give cheques or cash to a number of different groups, especially as we approach the holiday season. With Smile Cards we can do the same with our grocery money. All you have to do is ask your non-profit group if it is supported by the fundraising program. And "get around to it" sooner than I did.