Fundraising Ideas - Box Tops for Education

Question: Are homeschool families or co-ops eligible to participate in the Box Tops for Education program? 

The Official Rules state:

The Box Tops for Education program is also open to Internal Revenue Service recognized 501(c)(3) home school associations in the United States, organized and operated primarily for educational purposes and containing a class of 15 or more students in one or more grades from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Homeschool families are not eligible to clip/earn BTFE funds unless they participate in a qualified 501(c)(3) home school association as described above. If your cooperative is a 501(c)(3), you absolutely should pursue membership in the BTFE program.

The BTFE program can only accept a request to participate in Box Tops for Education from a School Administrator. The School Administrator should call customer service at 1-888-799-2444 and ask for information on joining the program.

If your co-op enrolls in the program, you are asked to identify a Coordinator who will submit the Box Tops two times a year (usually March 1 and November 1). Often co-ops will ask parents to take on a volunteer role during the year as part of the cooperative effort. This is an excellent job for a volunteer.

Our co-op has written up a handy reminder for your families when it gets near the time to submit Box Tops. It includes some tips on maximizing the money your co-op can make.

BOX TOPS SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: 

• This spring (fall), the Box Top submission deadline is March (November) 1, 2017. All Box Tops must be turned in to the BTFE Coordinator on February (October) 15.
• Check the expiration dates on your Box Tops. If they expire BEFORE March (November) 1, 2017 DO NOT turn them in. Expired Box Tops do not count. The program does check!
• Cut Box Tops down to size and peel the Box Top paper from any cardboard or heavy plastic packaging. This cuts down on weight which reduces our shipping cost. The Co-op general fund will cover the cost of shipping.
• After you have done this, CAREFULLY COUNT your Box Tops and separate them into groups of 50. Place 50 Box Tops in a plastic snack size or regular size sandwich bag. Label (permanent marker) each bag with your name and the number of Box Tops in the bag.
• If you have BONUS Box Tops, do NOT count them towards the total 50 in a bag. BONUS Box Tops must be placed together in a separate bag.
• If you have an odd number of Box Tops that don't reach 50, hold on to them until our next collection date. 
• Keep your Box Top bags until you are ready to turn them ALL in on the co-op's submission deadline.

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Our co-op applies BTFE money toward books or co-op/class supplies each year. We do not return cash to the family as it is a program made available and managed by the co-op, so the funds raised are targeted to co-op operations.

Blessings,
Jenn