Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the catch?
There is no catch. SmartRaise makes everyone happy because it allows three groups
in need to solve each others’ problems:
- Groups who are in need of a free fundraising solution that doesn’t force them to
ask for donations or sell unwanted items to their supporters
- Supporters who want to help their groups but are tired of putting up with traditional
fundraisers
- Retailers who are looking to build loyal customers and are willing to contribute
to causes in exchange for business
Can I use SmartRaise alongside other fundraisers?
Yes—in fact, we encourage it. If you have traditional fundraisers that work for
your group, you can use them to help get the word out about SmartRaise. For example,
if you are selling candy or other items, you could also have your group members
hand out SmartRaise flyers to everyone they approach. If you are hosting an event
like a charity auction, you can use the event to announce your SmartRaise campaign
and hand out information about the program.
How can I find out how much my group has raised?
The person who registered the group can log into SmartRaise.com at any time and
view their group’s current balance.
How does our group collect the money we have raised?
Any time your group has an available balance of $50 or more, you can request a check
from SmartRaise. The check will be mailed to your group within 7 days.
Are there any fees or hidden charges?
No. SmartRaise never deducts any fees from the money a group has raised. The amount
you see in your balance is the exact amount you will receive when you request a
check.
How does SmartRaise.com make money?
SmartRaise has an arrangement with our partner stores where we earn money for helping
them generate new customers and sales. Note that these are the same events that
earn groups money, as well. Because of this system, we only make money when our
member groups make money—so it’s in our interest to see every group succeed!
How long do we have to wait before our money is available?
The money earned from each purchase becomes available to your group approximately
60 days after the date of purchase. This delay is mandated by our partner stores
to protect them from losses due to merchandise returns.
Can I track how much has been raised by individual group members?
Yes, you can track performance by supporter (or group member). When a supporter
signs up, he or she is asked to specify a “display name.” They can put whatever
they want (“Student 3”, “Bobby M.”, “Jane’s Dad”, etc.). As a group, you can log
into your SmartRaise account and use the “View Top Supporters” feature to see how
much money has been raised by each supporter (they will be listed by their display
names). You can therefore track individual group members by having each member tell
their supporters to use display names that contain the group member’s name or ID
number.
How do you know how much each group has earned?
When a supporter follows a link from SmartRaise.com to a partner store, that store
knows that the user is coming from SmartRaise.com and later reports back to us how
much they have raised for their group. We keep track of which users support which
groups, ensuring that all purchases are allocated correctly. Please note that supporters
must be logged in to SmartRaise and follow a link from SmartRaise.com in order to
raise money for their group.
Is my information safe?
Absolutely. We don’t make money by selling information or sending SPAM e-mails.
We only e-mail our members if they allow it in their preferences, and even then
we only reach out with news and updates on how to use SmartRaise more effectively.
Where can I get information to give my supporters?
Once your group is enrolled, you can log onto SmartRaise.com and use our free promotional
tools to automatically generate customized posters, flyers, and letters to provide
to your supporters. We also provide you with a free, easy-to-manage website where
you can send your supporters. That site will explain how they can help your group
raise money through SmartRaise.
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