The Kroger Southwest Fundraiser Gift Card Program

The Kroger Southwest Fundraiser

Gift Card Program

The EASY Way to Earn Money

For Your Church or School

What to do:

1. Place a gift card order with Gift Services

2. Sell the cards for full value.

3. Encourage supporters to reload their card.

Simple Steps to Reload…

1. Go to the Courtesy Booth or any cashier with your request to

reload your card.

2. Pay for the reloaded card with cash, check, debit or major

credit card. (You may be asked to provide identification.)

3. When your organization reaches a total of $5,000.00 in

reloads, we will send a check to your organization at the end of

the pay cycle.

Gift Services

713-507-6220

1-800-745-4438

OFFICE HOURS

8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Central Time

e-mail- [email protected]

Kroger Fundraising Program

Frequently Asked Questions

The Kroger fundraising program is available to non-profit churches or schools or affiliated programs. These organizations purchase gift cards from the Gift Services Department and sell them to be reloaded by the customer.

The minimum value that can be placed on a card for activation is $1.00. When an organization’s supporters reload their cards, the organizations earn money.

2. How much of a profit can your organization make with the Kroger Gift Cards?

When cards are reloaded at the store, organizations earn a 5% rebate from Kroger. This needs to be emphasized with the participants, since most people throw away the cards after the value is depleted. Non-profit organizations need to encourage their supporters to continually reload (or add value to) their cards each time they shop at Kroger. Gift cards may be reloaded in any amount up to $500. Gift Services will have a check cut for 5% of ALL reloads totaling $5000.00 or more, which will be at least $250.00. Therefore, your organization’s main goal is to accumulate as many reloads as possible. We will send statements to the organization once a cycle (every four weeks) to let them know where their account stands for the time period. If the organization is not due a check, the amount in their account will “roll over” to the next cycle.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

It is important to keep activity on gift cards in order for organizations to earn their rebate. A gift card with a zero balance for over 90 days will be voided out of the system.

3. How convenient is it to reload the card?

We have made it very convenient for the organizations to reload their card. They may be reloaded up to $200.00 at ANY REGISTER. All requests for over $200.00 will have to be processed at the Customer Service desk prior to doing their grocery shopping. The maximum about allowed on a gift card at one time is $500.00 and a card cannot have a balance of more than $1000.00

4. Do the supporters need to go to the Customer Service Booth to reload, before they start their grocery shopping? Only, if the request is for over $200.00

IMPORTANT NOTE:

If the supporter wishes to use the gift card to pay for his or her groceries, the gift card must be

reloaded and paid for PRIOR to being used as payment for the groceries. In other words, the supporter must tell the cashier that he wishes to reload with the grocery order it must be done as a SEPARATE TRANSACTION first.

4. What if a supporter loses or throws away their card?

Just like with the gift cards for sale at your store, we cannot be responsible for the card value if someone loses or throws away the card. If someone throws away their card they will need to

purchase another card from their organization. However, if the member has the gift card number we can transfer any funds that are still on the card onto a new card that comes from your organization.

Gift cards for fund-raising CANNOT be purchased at stores.

If an organization needs additional cards, they simply call Gift Services. Like the initial order, the organization will need to activate cards for at least $1.00. We will send the cards to the store of their choice to be paid for and picked up.

7. How does an organization sign up?

We can email, fax or mail you an application

8. Can my organization participate, if we are already part of the Neighbor to Neighbor program?

No. We can only allow you to participate in one or the other. If an organization would like to participate in the Fundraiser Gift Card Program, then their account with the Neighbor to Neighbor program would have to be cancelled prior to applying with us.

Advantages of the Gift Cards for Kroger Fundraisers

Organizations no longer have to purchase Gift certificates each week or each month. Now they just purchase one card per supporter.

Supporters can reload their card and pay for the reloads with cash, check, debit or credit card. (Identification may be required when paying with a check or credit card.)

(Please note: Only Fundraiser reloads will be exempt to the new check policy.)

Gift cards are more durable and easier to carry. Supporters can carry the gift card in their wallet like a credit card, and there is no need to worry about accidentally washing and destroying them like paper certificates!!

The supporter only has to purchase ONE card. They don’t have to be in constant contact with the organization to help support them. Now they are supporting them on their own time!!

Supporters no longer have to endorse the back of the gift certificate and no identification is required to use a gift card. However, identification may be required when paying with a credit card or check. Supporters can always find the balance of their gift card by looking at the bottom of their last receipt, by calling 1-866-822-6252. Have your supporters keep track on-line by visiting www.gcbalance.com. You will need to scratch off the pin code on the back of the card.

The gift card is accepted in all Kroger Stores and its affiliates throughout the U.S.

It can be sent to family and friends out of state and still benefit the local organization as long as the card is reloaded.

Supporters can reload their card anytime, at any Kroger store, for any amount up to $500.

Once a card is depleted, be sure your supporters continue to reload it. Depleted cards (with $0 balance) are deleted from the system after 90 days. At that point, the card cannot be reloaded for the organization. A new card will need to be purchased from the organization. “A GOOD WAY TO AVOID THIS IS BY ALWAYS KEEPING AT LEAST A DOLLAR AVAILABLE ON YOUR CARD.

Have your supporters read the back of the gift card when purchased. It now has a pin code for you to keep track of your balance on-line.

Gift Cards

Your gift card can be used for anything in Kroger stores with the exception of Courtesy Booth Services which includes: Money Orders, Lottery Tickets, Stamps, Hunting/Fishing and Western Union.

The fuel stations are NOW equipped to accept gift cards at this time.

If you plan on making a purchase, you must always reload your card first then make your purchase. This has to be done in two separate transactions. Always keep at least a $1.00 on your card. A card with a zero balance for a period of 90 days will be taken out of the system. A new card will have to be purchased from the organization.

If a gift card cannot be reloaded, a new card will have to be purchased from the organization. Occasionally a card may be “demagnetized” thus making it unable to be reloaded. This is rare but it does happen if a card has been used a lot. If this happens, the contact person needs to call Gift Services with the card number. The value will be taken off that card and a new card issued under the organization’s name

.

A Kroger gift card purchased in a store CANNOT be linked

to your organization

.

Please feel free to call Gift Services with any problems or if you are unsure about any situation with gift cards.

Once a card is depleted, be sure to reload it. Depleted cards ($0 balance) are deleted from the system after 90 days. At that point, the card cannot be re-loaded for the organization. A new card will need to be purchased from the organization.

Read the back of the gift card for additional information. Buyer’s Log

Put the supporter’s name next to the card number your give that person. KEEP this log for your records. When your get your statement, use the buyer’s log to compare the reloads. This is your record of who is reloading their card.

Statements

Every cycle (four weeks), we will send out a statement of your account. This statement tells you which cards have been reloaded and the balance in your account. Compare the statement to your buyer’s log. If your supporter has not reloaded their card, it is up to you to get in touch with them.

It is important we have a correct address to mail your statement. Payouts

You will be sent a check for 5% of the reloaded amounts totaling $5,000.00 or more. If you have less than that amount it will roll over to the next cycle for payment.

Note: In order for you to make a profit, your supporters have to reload their card.

It is important we have a correct address to mail your check. Any requests for changes must be made in writing.

KROGER NON-PROFIT FUND RAISING APPLICATION

REQUIREMENTS: 501(c) (3) Organizations are qualified nonprofit state-accredited organizations, churches, and schools K-12 who have submitted an application and reside within our Division, which encompasses Louisiana and Texas.

1)

Please list the name of the contact person

Contact: ________________________ Phone Number: ______________________

Please state in writing that you understand that Kroger Fund Raising Program extends

only to your members or to the Gift Card purchaser. (Solicitation to or on behalf of other

companies or for-profit organizations/business for resale of Kroger Gift Cards outside

your non-profit organization is not permissible and will be considered a direct violation

of the program resulting in immediate disqualification.

Schools must provide a signed note from the Principal stating that your group is

established to support school or student activity. Churches must provide a signed note

from the Pastor stating that your group is established under the auspices of the church for

nonprofit support activity.

IMPORTANT!! YOUR MUST INCLUDE A COPY OF YOUR ORGANIZATION’S LETTER OF

DETERMINATION FROM THE IRS WHICH STATES IN WRITING THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION IS TAX-EXTEMPT UNDER SECTION 501 (C) (3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

These requirements are mandatory. (If any are omitted, we cannot submit your organization for approval, which will delay your request.)

All applications must be mailed in to

The Kroger Co

Attention Gift Services. 19245 David Memorial Drive Shenandoah, Texas 77385

UNDERSTANDING YOUR STATEMENT

The date on the left of the card number is a transaction date. The date on the right of the card number is the order date. C is for Reloads.

I is for cards ordered. D is for deleted transaction

An example of the statement is below FUNDRAISER PROGRAM

YOU’RE ORGANIZATIONS NAME

STATEMENT DETAILS 05/02/2005 TO 05/30/2005

Batch Customer Name Date Card Number Invoice Date Amount

20050511 0001111 Your Organization 02/03/2005 00-0110-1111-0 0002648 04/30/2005 C 200.00 20050308 0001111 Your Organization 03/05/2005 00-0110-1111-0 0002541 01/10/2005 C 150.00 20050312 0001111 Your Organization 03/02/2005 00-0111-5222-6 0001930 03/04/2005 C 300.00 20050303 0001111 Your Organization 03/11/2005 00-0110-1111-0 0001915 03/10/2005 I 500.00 20050228 0001111 Your Organization 03/21/2005 00-0115-2225-3 0001910 01/15/2005 C 100.00 20050221 0001111 Your Organization 02/28/2005 00-0115-2225-3 0001899 01/13/2005 C 50.00 20050130 0001111 Your Organization 03/22/2005 00-2345-6789-1 0001845 12/30/2004 I 200.00 20050117 0001111 Your Organization 03/30/2005 00-0110-1117-2 0001753 12/29/2004 C 75.00 20050101 0001111 Your Organization 01/25/2005 00-0321-5487-9 0001689 12/23/2004 C 100.00 Reload Total for Cycle___$1675.00

Beginning Balance (Accumulative) Customer Total $1675.00