O
OutinChgoburbs
Guest
That’s not entirely true. There are several Catholic schools that support tuition assistance for their schools with gift cards, such as Great Lakes Scrip. The gift cards and certificates are purchased at a discount by the scrip provider through agreement with the corporation in question. I’ve seen as little as 4% and I’ve seen Fanny May give as much as 35%. That kickback, after carrying costs with the non-profit franchisee (the school or organization) is then free to apply the remaining 2%-30% to such individual accounts as tuition, books, and offerings (roof fund, etc.).
Last year, by using gift cards for purchases I knew I was going to make, including handing out gift cards for presents for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, etc., I made enough kickback to cover a month’s tuition for both girls.
Usually, the gift card reseller, such as GL Scrip, knows when the gift cards are not going to be useful, and it WILL tell member organizations, and announce it on its web sites.
Also, some people/ families consider it rude and crass to give straight cash as a gift. There are those people who are also trying to help others, and don’t want to give cash because the recipient might have particular needs, but not so particular the giver can’t give the recipient a gift card over cash, to make sure it is spent in the manner intended. This is esp. true of gifts related to work expenses, such as uniforms, tools, gas to get to work, or food items, where grocery store gift cards are used. I know a lot of people who walk with gift certificates in the Loop who give certain gift certificates and cards to the homeless, but would never think of giving them cash. I also know of families who have members with problems such as alcoholism. A gift card allows them to give that family member food to the individual’s taste and on that person’s time frame, without worrying about the individual buying booze or cigarettes.