Macaroni Kid Acts of Kindness Day is coming up this Saturday, September 15th, and your act of kindness could be as simple as scanning your receipt from a participating business to help raise money for your favorite cause!
We first heard about Planet Fundraiser from Sky Zone Hoover, one of Planet Fundraiser's many "community partners," which are helping local schools and organizations raise money effortlessly.
So what is Planet Fundraiser? And how does it work?
Planet Fundraiser is a Birmingham-based company that has developed a free app to help organizations raise money and businesses give back more easily. And "you can make a difference to your favorite cause without having to write a check," explains Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Drew Honeycutt. Just by shopping online, or at locally participating businesses, and taking a photo of your receipt, you can help raise money for your favorite cause.
Honeycutt said the idea for Planet Fundraiser was born of the recognition that businesses are constantly bombarded with donation requests. The Planet Fundraiser founders, also dads, were trying to raise money for their children's sports teams and found it extremely difficult. "We realized there must be a better way," said Honeycutt. So they put their heads together and came up with this crowd-sourcing, effortless method of giving that benefits businesses, organizations and the community.
Three easy steps to getting started with Planet Fundraiser
- Download the FREE mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play
- Choose one or more campaigns to support - a school, local non-profit or even a major non-profit
- Shop at a participating store, locally or online, then take a picture of your reciept in the app - a percentage of your purchase will be donated to the cause of your choosing!
Here's what it looks like in the app:
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How does Planet Fundraiser help local businesses give back?
Lisa Guarino, Marketing Director of Sky Zone Hoover, says she loves how easy it is to support the community through Planet Fundraiser. "Every month, Planet Fundraiser tells us how much to write the check for and then they distribute the donations to all the different causes our customers have chosen to support."
Businesses also benefit from increased customer loyalty and discovery by new customers through the app, says Honeycutt.
 Discover nearby businesses that support the community through the Planet Fundraiser app. |
Who does Planet Fundraiser help?
You can choose multiple campaigns to support if you wish. Each transaction will go to the campaign of your choice at the time you upload a photo of your receipt. Among the many local schools and sports teams listed, here are just a few local organizations we found listed as beneficiaries on the Planet Fundraiser app (alphabetical order). Check to see if your school or favorite cause is listed! If it isn't, tell them about Planet Fundraiser!
- Birmingham Children's Theatre
- Birmingham Zoo
- Cahaba River Society
- Greater Birmingham Humane Society
More About Planet Fundraiser
Although it was started in Birmingham, Planet Fundraiser is now helping over a thousand schools and organizations in thirty-three states across the country. There is no cost to the user or the fundraising organizations. Businesses support Planet Fundraiser by paying fees as a percentage of each transaction. One hundred percent of the stated donation goes to the chosen beneficiary.
Planet Fundraiser was co-founded by Kasey Birdsong (Chief Executive Officer) and Drew Honeycutt (Chief Operating Officer), both local business owners that decided to join forces and start over with Planet Fundraiser. Peter Nikola rounds out the team as Chief Technology Officer.
Sky Zone Hoover supports the community through Planet Fundraiser
We at Sky Zone Hoover are so proud to support local schools and nonprofits through the free Planet Fundraiser app. Every time you shop and take a picture of your receipt, we'll give back TEN PERCENT to your favorite cause!
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Sky Zone Hoover is a proud Macaroni Kid South Birmingham Major Site Sponsor!
Please tell them we sent you, and thank you for supporting this FREE community resource!
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