Shopping Treasure Trove, A: Where To Find Funding And Discounts For School

Submitted by Kristyn from Plank Road Publishing, Brookfield, WI

Idea posted June 10, 2005

With school funding tight, particularly in music and the arts, it is important to save every penny that you can. Many stores offer teacher discounts and/or funding for school programs. Please check first with your local "small town" stores as many offer great teacher discounts. If you're not sure, ask! Sometimes beauty salons, flower shops, card shops, etc., will offer a teacher discount just as a "Thank You!" for being a teacher.

If you have to shop through a national chain, the following national chains offer teacher discounts. Please check with the chain store in your area as they may or may not participate in the discount program. Also, check and see if the discounts are offered in store, online, or both.

Most independent and large chain bookstores offer teacher discounts ranging from 15-20% off. Some require you to fill out and carry a teacher discount card while others manually subtract your discount per purchase. In order to receive tax exemption, please remember your school/church's tax-exemption number and paperwork.

Most computer manufacturers offer educational discounts on hard and software. Software companies (too many to list here) also offer educational discounts for teachers/school systems.

Check your local store for discounts as they may vary from location to location.

• Click here to go to the DollarStore.com.
• Click here to go to DollarTree.com.
• Click here to go to FamilyDollar.com.

Best Buy's te@ch program rewards schools that make learning fun by integrating interactive technology into the curriculum. The te@ch program awards a $2,500 Best Buy Gift Card to selected schools.

Best Buy Children's Foundation grants scholarships to students who have good grades and outstanding community service. We are proud to award over $2 million in scholarships to more than 1,300 students annually. Three graduating high school seniors in each U.S. Congressional District and the District of Columbia have been selected to receive a scholarship for $1,000 or $2,000. Scholarship recipients were chosen based on community service and academic achievement and are entering an accredited U.S. university, college or technical school in the fall. To find out more, go to https://www.bestbuy.com and click on "Community Relations."

Contact your local store to find out how you can be included in store donations.

Tax exempt purchases at Circuit City must be made over the phone at 1-888-304-8378. Click here to go to CircuitCity.com

Most independent and large chain fabric/craft stores offer teacher discounts ranging from 10-20% off. Some require you to register online while others manually subtract your discount per purchase. In order to receive tax exemption, please remember your school/church's tax-exemption number and paperwork.

Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. supports teachers and appreciates their contribution to education and the communities they serve. To reward this hard work and dedication, Jo-Ann Stores is pleased to offer the 2004-2005 Teacher Discount Card to make purchasing classroom supplies more affordable.

By registering online, you will receive 10% off your total purchase all year long and will be added to our Preferred Customer mail list for additional special savings. Click here to learn more about Jo-Ann Stores' Teacher Discount.

Through the Take Charge of Education program, Target donates an amount equal to 1% of Target credit card purchases made at Target and Target.com, and 1/2% of Target Visa purchases made elsewhere, to the eligible K-12 school of your choice.

• Click here to find out more about the Take Charge program at Target.com
  Click here to designate your school for the program.
  Target Arts Grants
  
  • A grant from Target makes it affordable for the entire family to participate in different arts and cultural experiences. Programs that bring the arts to schools or children to the arts are of particular interest to the Target corporation.
  • Examples of Arts Grants are: school touring programs, field trips to the theater or symphony, or artist residencies and workshops in schools.
  • Grants range from $1,000 to $3,000. Applications are available at Target stores and online at Target.com.
  Target Reading Grants
  
  • Award funds to schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations with programs promoting a love of reading or encouraging families to read together. We particularly focus on programs that inspire the youngest readers (birth through third grade).
  • Examples of Reading Grants are: Saturday Superstars Book Club, Readers for Life, After School Read Aloud and Families Read Together.
  • Grants range from $1,000 to $3,000. Applications are available at Target stores and online at Target.com.
  Click here to find out more about Target's Arts and Reading Grants.
  Target Classroom Wish List
  

  Target.com makes it easy for teachers to create wish lists for parents to buy for your classroom. Click here to set up your Target Wish List.

  Wal-Mart Educational Scholarship Program
  

  Wal-Mart offers scholarships to the public, Wal-Mart or SAM'S CLUB Associates, Wal-Mart Associates or child of associates, and Sons/Daughters of a full-time Wal-Mart Associate. For specific rules and to apply online, go to WalMartFoundation.org.

  Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year Program
  

  Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB shoppers can recognize local teachers through the company's Teacher of the Year program.

  Winning teachers will receive $1,000 educational grants from the Wal-Mart/SAM'S CLUB Foundation to benefit their local school and an honorary Wal-Mart greeter's vest. Winning teachers also have the opportunity to apply for state and national Teacher of the Year honors. Increased in 2005, state winners will receive an additional $10,000 educational grant. The state winners will automatically be entered in the national competition. The national winner will receive an additional $25,000 educational grant for a total of $36,000 to his or her school.

  Anyone can recommend an outstanding teacher by visiting a local Wal-Mart store, Supercenter, Neighborhood Market or SAM'S CLUB and filling out a nomination form. For more information, go to WalMartFoundation.org.

  Wal-Mart Community Grant Program
  

  The Community Grant Program is the largest program funded by the Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB Foundation and includes both matching and direct grants. The Matching Grant program allows local nonprofit organizations to hold fund-raisers outside their local Wal-Mart or SAM'S CLUB. Wal-Mart and SAM'S can elect to match a portion of the funds raised up to $1,000. Events held off the premises of a Wal-Mart store or SAM'S CLUB are also eligible for funding when a Wal-Mart or SAM'S CLUB associate is actively involved in the event.

  Organizations that may qualify to receive funding through the Matching Grant Program are 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations or organizations that are exempt from needing 501(c)(3) status, such as public schools, faith-based institutions such as churches (must be conducting a project that benefits the community at large), and government agencies.

  To learn more about receiving a grant from your local Wal-Mart or SAM'S CLUB, please see the Community Involvement Coordinator at the location closest to you. Click here for more details at WalMartFoundation.org.

  MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORES
  

  Most independent and large chain music stores offer teacher discounts ranging from 10-20% off. Inquire at your local music store for details. In order to receive tax exemption, please remember your school/church's tax-exemption number and paperwork.

  Peripole-Bergerault, Inc.
  

  Peripole-Bergerault, Inc. offers teacher discounts on many but not all products. For example, the rainbow hand drums are not discounted. The soprano and alto Peripole Angel Halo Recorders are not discounted, but the Angel tenor and bass recorders are discounted. It is not necessary to fill out any forms to receive the discount. Please feel free to call 1-800-443-3592 if you should have further questions. Click here to go to Peripole-Bergerault.

  Sam Ash Online Music Store
  

  Although is not advertised anywhere, Sam Ash does offer a teacher discount. You can only receive the discount through a phone order. Call 1-800-472-6274 ext. 225 and ask for Matt Stone. Click here to go to SamAsh.com.

  OFFICE SUPPLY STORES
  

  Most local and large chain office supply stores offer teacher discounts varying from 10-20%. Some require you to fill out and carry a teacher discount card while others manually subtract your discount per purchase. In order to receive tax exemption, please have your school/church's tax-exemption number and paperwork.

  Office Depot
  

  5% Back to Schools Program is available at Office Depot store locations, by calling 1-800-GO-DEPOT (800-463-3768), and online at OfficeDepot.com.

  OfficeMax
  OfficeMax OneCommunity Fund
  

  OfficeMax supports eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in the area of education, health and human services, diversity and minority support, and the environment. Qualifying Criteria OfficeMax will consider requests from the following:

  • Accredited non-profit educational institutions that deliver educational services to children in grades K-12 , and organizations that support these institutions, such as PTAs
  • Environmental education programs
  • Health or human services organizations or programs
  • Programs that support diversity in the above areas
  To read more, go to OfficeMax.com.
  Staples
  

  The Staples Foundation for Learning considers educational funding to be an investment in the future of our communities. The goal is to help local groups with programs and services that will positively impact their communities every day.

  The mission of Staples Foundation for Learning is to provide funding to programs that support or provide job skills and/or education for all people, with a special emphasis on disadvantaged youth.

  To apply online, go to StaplesFoundation.org.
  SCIENCE STORES
  

  The Discovery Channel Store offers a 15% discount to teachers. No proof or I.D. is needed. However, in order to receive tax exemption, please remember your school/church's tax-exemption number and paperwork. Click here to go to the Discovery Store.