TRIP stands for tuition reduction incentive program.  Many Christian schools are already using this efficient way to help reduce the cost of tuition and earn money for their school.  The school purchases scrip which means "substitute money" (much like gift certificates) from participating food and retail stores at a discount.  The scrip is bought at face value by members participating in the program.  Most of the discount is passed on to the families registered in the program in the form of tuition reduction.  Some money is used to pay for expenses to run the program and also put into the general fund. 

Here is an example of how TRIP works.  Family A plans to spend $100 at a certain retailer.  They purchase $100 of scrip from the school for $100.  The school purchases the scrip from a scrip center or local retailer for $95, since the retailer has agreed to give the non-profit organization a 5% discount.  Part of this difference of $5 received by the school is then used to reduce Family A's tuition and part goes into the general fund.  On a 5% discount, approximately $4 will be credited to the family's tuition and $1 goes into the general fun.  This may seem minimal but calculate the potential when scrip is used by many families for a majority of their purchases. 

The reason why using scrip is so effective is simple.  Families produce revenue by making purchases they would make anyway.  Not an extra penny is spent.  Grocieries, clothing, gifts, etc. can all be purchased with scrip.  Retailers like TRIP because families who purchase scrip actively support them, money is paid up front, and it is good advertising.  The only "work" involved (except for a few volunteers) is to convert money that will be spent anyway into scrip.

TRIP is not just for families with children in the Christian school.  The program is set up so that each participant receives a number for their tuition account.  By doing this, grandparents, other relatives and friends can also use scrip and donate their credit to a specified family account or to the general fund.  Families that are anticipating sending their chidren to Christian school can get a number and save up tuition credit for the future.

So how does someone participate in TRIP?  There is a $5 one-time registration fee per family to help cover operating costs, but other than that your participation in this program doesn't cost you anything.  A registered participant would fill out an order form, marking how much scrip he wanted from each store.  He would add up his order and put a check for the total order in the order form envelope.  The percentage earned on his family's account will be held and credited to his tuition account periodically.

So let's get involved with this innovative fundraising method.  Scrip, in the form of gift certificates from local and nathional merchants is used just like cash in their stores.  When you buy these certificates in advance of your shopping, our organization earns a percentage of your purchase.  Just this, money you intend to spend anyway is generating financial support for our school without costing you a penny more.

This scrip program promises to be a simple and effective fundraising program.  We look forward to your participation!