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Lawrence Give Back is a unique and exclusive program for Lawrence Kansas area businesses. The concept is simple: merchants pay you and the charity of your choice for keeping your business local! Keeping business local directly helps the local economy and Give Back extends that idea by giving tangible and measurable benefits for doing so.
When you present your card to a participating merchant thank you for your business and give you:
1) A percent of the sale (usually 1%) is returned back to you via points
2) A percent of the sale is given to the charity you specify.
The program costs you nothing (merchants pay all fees) and Lawrence Give Back tracks all your points and charitable contributions on your behalf.
The most difficult part of the program: remembering to use your card!!! Pocket directories are available.
It’s not just restaurants, its a variety of diverse and unique businesses here in Lawrence.
I joined the Give Back program in October of 2009 as an easy and effective way of extending my charitable giving within Lawrence. Often I’d get asked about offering a discount to a non-profit client or to donate goods and services. With Give Back I can simply remind clients to use the card and therefore maximize their charitable contribution (as well as give themselves a bit of a reward for doing so)
Remember in the late 70s the “Look for the Union Label” commercials promoting the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union? In Lawrence, the label to Look for the is the Give Back Program.
If you need a card, please don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll drop one in the mail to you.
Because Give Back is about charitable giving, here are some top ways you can earn money for your organization by using the Give Back card:
- Get your Board on Board:
- People are on your charity’s board because they are already willing to give their time and money to support your cause. If they don’t have a GiveBack card supporting your organization and use it, they are literally leaving money on the table. Remind them every board meeting to use their cards.
- Remind supporters to use their card when sending out emails and newsletters:
- People who receive your emails and newsletters are interested in your organization and want to help. Help them help your charity. Include a reminder to use their Give Back card, and if they don’t have one, be sure to pick one up. Organizations that have a large constituency of students need ro remind incoming and returning students about the benefits of Give Back.
- Consider Give back merchants for your next meeting or event:
- The staff is asking for lunch, or that VIP is in town and you want to impress them. Give Back has some of the best restaurants in Lawrence, so there is no reason not to use organizational funds to eat at these places. Money is put right back in your pocket. In fact, when possible, actively tell people that your dining choice was based on the fact part of the meal is returned right back to the organization.
- Have a members only event or discount program::
- Give reduced admission to an event, an freebie, or an exclusive event for holders of Give Back cards. Remind them that if they don’t have one, they can pick up (and this is key) register the card to your organization.
- Hold a contest to see how much money can be raised in a month or quarter:Give Back can easily give you a report of how much money was earned by your organization. Set a achievable goal and promote it to your members. Maybe it’s 1,000 for a particular month or by a certain event. Give a reward at the end. Maybe it’s a special party or a special speaker or guest. Contest like this are common. The Exec Director might agree to do something crazy like shave their head. Have fun with it!
- Partner with a merchant for a special one time promotion:
- While we can’t guarantee it, often times Give Back merchants are willing to increase their involvement on a special occasion. Your organization then promotes the fact that on a certain day, during a certain time, everyone that uses their GiveBack card registered to your organization will get a little something extra. Maybe it’s a discount, a freebie, or an extra donation by the merchant. The merchants often don’t mind because you are actively promoting them. By giving your members a “call to action”, they are more likely to use that card not only that night, but be again reminded of the importance.
Checkers
Artisan Floor Company
Au Marché
The Bay Leaf
The Blue Dot Salon
Blue Heron Home Furnishings
Brits
Channels of Healing, LLC
Danielsan Electric, LLC
DASH Salon & Day Spa
DoctorDave Computer Repair (Macs and PCs)
Eccentricity
The Fix Salon
Game Nut Entertainment
The Halcyon House Bed and Breakfast
Hobbs
House Parts
Jewelry by Julie
Just Massage
Lawrence Automotive Diagnostics
Lawrence Gymnastics Academy
Lawrence Nutrition Center
Lawrence Therapy Services
Pawsh Wash
Pendleton’s Country Market
Prairie Pond Studio & Bead Company
The Raven Book Store
Rodeo Grill
Signs of Life Books & Art
Sports Dome
Stitch On Needlework Shop
Stoneback Appliance
Sunflower Natural Pet Supplies
Teller’s Restaurant and Bar
White Chocolate
White Lotus Photography
Do you have other ideas or ways you use the Give Back card. Leave them in the comments below
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