4 Major Drawbacks of Coupon Card and Discount Card Fundraisers

Coupon book fundraisers are popular with schools, sports teams, music programs, churches, and other nonprofits because they offer buyers perceived value and practicality, unlike product sales that may feel unnecessary.

But before you jump into this money-saving fundraising idea, it’s essential to understand its limitations and drawbacks. Keep reading to learn more about coupon book and discount card fundraisers, and discover an alternative that can help you raise even more money. 

What is a coupon book fundraiser?

Coupon book fundraisers involve a booklet of coupons that encourage buyers to purchase goods or services at a discount. Think: 

• Buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deals on restaurant meals 
• Discounted retail purchases
• Discounted services (like oil changes, haircuts, or fitness classes) 
• Savings on family-friendly entertainment options

Your organization can purchase coupon books from fundraising companies and sell them for a profit. After breaking even, you'll keep everything you make. Alternatively, there are other models where the coupon book companies take a percentage of each sale. 

If you want more control over your coupon book fundraiser, you can create your own books by contacting local businesses willing to give discounts to your buyers. While you likely won't have to allocate your earnings to a coupon book company, this tactic will take much more planning (and paper). 

You might also hear about discount card fundraisers, which are singular cards that offer discounts for various businesses, similar to coupon books. You can use discount cards repeatedly until they expire, usually after a year. 

4 major drawbacks of coupon book fundraisers

Despite their popularity, coupon book and discount card fundraisers have several disadvantages. 

1. Coupon books have limited appeal

Buyers may not find value in your fundraiser if the coupon brands don’t match their lifestyle, location, or preferences. You can't please everyone—even if you offer discounts. 

Reddit user r/salve__regina says, "We lived in a rural area, and most of the places the coupons were for were over an hour away. So we could hardly use any of it."

Additionally, families who prefer to shop online likely won't benefit from discount card or coupon book fundraisers. It's also unlikely that buyers will use all (or even most) of the coupons. 

2. Coupons are single-use with expiration dates

Coupons and discount cards often expire within a year, restricting their use and putting pressure on the buyer or parents to use them (or risk a sunk cost). 

And with most coupon books, each discount can only be redeemed once—a one-time benefit with no opportunity for ongoing savings or extended value. There may be other limitations, too, like not being able to combine the coupon with other promotions. 

Reddit user r/birdieeat notes, "[Coupon books] mostly got shoved in a drawer, long forgotten, then randomly discovered again to use up before they expire."

3. Coupon books have upfront costs

Organizations often have to purchase coupon books in bulk before they can start selling them. That means your group could be on the hook for hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars outright.

Upfront costs also eat into your fundraising goals and leave students, athletes, or supporters responsible for covering the burden of unsold product.

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."

Or, take it from Reddit user r/bbbjeep123, who recalls: "[High school football players] had to sell coupon books, and the boys that sold less than quota would have to run laps." Yikes. 

4. Physical coupon books are outdated and inconvenient

Coupon books have historically worked well, but today, they feel dated and cumbersome.

Furthermore, distributing coupon books requires logistics: collecting orders, handling money, and coordinating delivery. As shopping increasingly shifts to web and mobile platforms, coupon book fundraisers will struggle to keep pace with today's busy lifestyles. 

A better alternative to coupon book fundraisers

While coupon book and discount card fundraisers may have once felt practical, their limitations make them less effective for families and organizations now.

Instead, consider RaiseRight, a save-while-you-spend fundraiser that offers a modern, seamless alternative to the coupon book fundraiser. Here's the rundown: 

• You and your supporters can buy gift cards, shop online, dine at local restaurants, or book travel and earn a percentage back with each purchase—sometimes up to 20% or more! 
  
  
• RaiseRight partners with hundreds of brands you know and love, which means you can earn money on everything you're already shopping for, like gas, groceries, entertainment, travel, home goods, and more.
  
  
• 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: 

• Broad appeal—With four ways to earn and hundreds of brands to choose from, anyone can fundraise with RaiseRight, no matter how they prefer to shop or spend their money.
  
  
• No expiration dates and unlimited earnings—Gift cards never expire, and there's no cap on how much you or your organization can earn with RaiseRight. 
  
  
• No upfront costs—RaiseRight is FREE to join, and we don't take any cuts from your organization. 
  
  
• RaiseRight is modern, convenient, and practical—Our mobile app makes it easy to buy and use eGift cards on the go. eGift cards are available instantly, so you can fundraise while standing in the checkout lane or waiting for the dinner bill. 

Ultimately, coupon book fundraisers restrict supporters to a handful of participating businesses. But RaiseRight gives participants the freedom to shop the brands they love and trust, and simply keep doing what they're already doing.