Coupon Book and Discount Card Fundraisers: Everything You Need to Know

Whether you’re raising money for your nonprofit, church, or child’s school, sports team, or band, selling coupon books and discount cards is a proven fundraising idea that incentivizes people to donate to your cause. 

Most people are more inclined to donate when offered something in return, which is why so many organizations run coupon book fundraisers and discount card fundraisers.

But before you jump in, it’s important to consider whether this fundraiser is the right fit for your group. Keep reading to learn more about coupon book and discount card fundraisers, and discover an alternative that can help you raise even more money. 

Coupon book fundraisers explained

Coupon book fundraisers rely on the power of incentives. If you offer someone a desirable product in return for their donation, they’ll likely be more willing to give to your cause. 

Not to mention, coupon books are more enticing than selling products like cookie dough or candy because they can help buyers save money. What’s not to love? 

These books typically contain coupons that allow people to buy a wide variety of items, including:

• Clothing
• Food
• Gas
• Entertainment

Coupon books can be purchased from companies and sold at a profit by volunteers. After you break even, you can keep everything you make. Alternatively, there are other models where the coupon book companies receive a percentage of each sale. 

If you want more control over your coupon book fundraiser, you can put together your own books by reaching out to local businesses willing to give discounts to your buyers. While you won’t have to give part of your earnings to a coupon book company with this tactic, it will take more hours of planning (and lots of paper). 

Discount card fundraisers explained

Discount cards, which are singular cards that offer discounts for various businesses, are similar to coupon books. They can be used repeatedly until they expire, typically after a year. 

Your supporters might find a discount card easier to carry around than a book of coupons. Buyers can keep a single card in their wallet that works at multiple stores.

In addition to selling cards with preselected brands, you also have the option to customize the discount cards you sell. That way you can include brands that you know your buyers already like.

What to consider with coupon book and discount card fundraisers

Selling coupon books and discount cards are very common fundraisers—but that doesn’t mean they’re the best ones. 

Both types of fundraisers require significant time and effort to sell these items. Depending on how many volunteers you have, it can be difficult to sell enough coupon books or discount cards to turn a profit.

While you can try incentivizing volunteers, you risk complicating things or reducing your profit margins. 

At one middle school in Knoxville, Tennessee, parents complained about feeling pressured to sell coupon books so their children wouldn’t miss out on the incentive of extra playtime. Parents who didn’t have the time or energy to sell ended up donating their own money, defeating the fundraiser's purpose. "We sent [my kids] each with $20, so they can have their outside time today," said parent Justin Howe. “I don't like that. Middle school [is] the last place kids need more pressure to fit in."

Additionally, some companies require you to buy their products upfront, so you risk having too many coupon books or discount cards and losing money. 

Several other disadvantages specific to coupon book fundraisers include:

• The coupons often have expiration dates, limiting the amount of use buyers can get out of them.
  
  
• Coupon book manufacturers may take a large percentage of your sales, shrinking your earnings.
  
  
• Coupons are single-use only, so once a buyer uses it, it’s gone.

Discount cards also have some cons. For instance, many stores won’t allow you to use a discount card on sale items, limiting their usefulness.

Tips to run a successful coupon book or discount card fundraiser

If you've decided you want to run a discount card or coupon book fundraiser for your group, take note of these tips before you get started.

Make it easy for local businesses to join your fundraiser

Draw up a simple agreement and help them develop appropriate discount options if needed. Don't forget to highlight the benefits of participating in the fundraiser, like increased brand exposure and in-store foot traffic. 

Don't skimp on design and printing

Presentation is important! While design and printing costs affect your profit margins, it's essential to prioritize maintaining strong relationships with the participating businesses and presenting your fundraiser as trustworthy and reputable to potential buyers.

Know the value of what you're selling

Sales will be more successful if you can effectively communicate why your coupon book or discount card is a great value. Help buyers see that they’re getting far more than what they’re paying for. To support this, consider preparing a well-crafted sales pitch to keep the conversation engaging and seamless.

A more sustainable alternative

If you're unsure whether a coupon book or discount card fundraiser is worth the effort, you might want to opt for an easier, more profitable fundraising option that's readily available: RaiseRight.

It’s simple: you and your supporters can shop online or buy gift cards from hundreds of brands for everyday expenses like gas and groceries, dining, travel, home goods, and more. Your organization earns a percentage from each purchase—6% on average and up to 20%! Your buyers will still feel like they're getting a good deal while supporting your organization. 

RaiseRight accounts for many of the disadvantages of coupon book and discount card fundraising, including: 

• You don’t need to rely on volunteers to sell anything; participants can buy gift cards themselves (and buy as many as they want). 
  
  
• There’s no need to offer incentives that can unintentionally impact your community members.
  
  
• You don’t have to worry about making sales quotas or losing big chunks of your earnings. You get the full value of every gift card (which never expires) and there’s no cap on earning potential.