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Who is SchoolBates?
SchoolBates was founded for one reason; we want to make a significant difference in our children's education. Our school organizations struggle each year to offer and fund the programs that are meaningful to our students, teachers and staff. Key volunteers and staff come to the rescue year after year working overtime to put on fundraisers that raise meaningful but small amounts of money, children are sent door to door to sell products while parents have to follow to keep them safe, and countless hours are consumed each year in schools organizing and delivering sold goods.

We have created a better way. We believe we will be your top and maybe the only fundraiser.

What does SchoolBates do for my school?
SchoolBates can provide support for education in your local school by giving up to a 20% rebate of your every day purchases to the school and/or school organization of your choice. See your favorite stores for their percentages at All Stores.

You simply come to our SchoolBates site and from our site go to your favorite stores. As you shop for everything from every day items, clothing, office/school supplies, special gifts, travel, and more, our partner merchants provide cash back to SchoolBates that we use to pass on rebates to qualifying schools and school organizations.

In addition to these rewards, our partner merchants provide us with incredible deals, special promotions such as free shipping and a constant flow of special offers and coupons.

Special offers that save you money and the ability to help local schools leads to a better question: Why wouldn't you use SchoolBates?
Number of Active Supporters (Parents, Grandparents, Faculty, Administration, Alumni & Friends of Your School) Average Annual Purchases Per Supporter Through SchoolBates Total SchoolBates Your School Earns per Year
25 $3,600 $4,500
50 $3,600 $9,000
75 $3,600 $13,500
100 $3,600 $18,000
200 $3,600 $36,000
500 $3,600 $90,000
Based upon a partner merchant average of 5%
How does it work?
It is as simple as clicking on a merchant's name and shopping online.
  1. One: Come to SchoolBates. You visit www.SchoolBates.com and select a merchant. Look for ways to save even more through our special coupons and discounts available only through SchoolBates. After selecting a merchant listed in SchoolBates you will be transferred to that merchant's web site in a new window and no longer be on SchoolBates.
  2. Two: Shop. Next you make your purchases from the merchant who will fill your order for products or services.
  3. Three: Funding. Later the merchant will send funds to SchoolBates who will forward the rebate to your school or school organization. It is that simple.
We have taken care to make SchoolBates a family friendly site for both your shopping and fundraising. Please visit our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy for further information about SchoolBates policies.

How do I join?
Use the registration panel on our Home Page. It's free and you can start making a difference in education.
Who can participate?
Anyone can participate. That is the great part. Parents, staff, faculty, grandparents, people in the community, anyone! When participants pick your school organization at registration their shopping will support that organization.
What if I cannot find my school or organization in the list of schools and organizations?
Select Add a School or Add an Organization on the Registration page or My Account page and supply the needed information. Remember to ask your organization's fundraising leader to register as the Point Contact in order to insure your organization receives funding and to help spread the word.
Can I support more than one school and organization?
Yes. You may change your current school/organization in the My Account page. Each of your qualifying purchases will benefit the school/organization selected at the time the merchant shopping browser is launched by SchoolBates.
What is a Member?
A Member is you. When you join SchoolBates by providing your email address, a password and selecting a school and/or school organization you have become a Member. After joining you can shop, save and raise money for your organization.
What is an Organization Leader?
An Organization Leader is a person affiliated with your school organization as a leader in that organization. By identifying themselves as an Organization Leader at Registration or by changing their status through their My Account area, they can access the tools to help spread the word about SchoolBates. They also receive information about any changes to the Point Contact and where SchoolBates checks will send.
What is a Point Contact?
The Point Contact is the person in your school organization who helps spread the word about how SchoolBates can help raise needed funds. Often they are the Organization Leader, the person responsible for fundraising or the development staff person. Sometimes they are just the parent with a passion to make a difference. They are required to register as an Organization Leader and provide information in order to insure the school organization receives funding. Please visit our Tools For Organization Leaders page for helpful hints and resources to spread the news. Using the resources will help your school reach a new level of fundraising.
How do I make sure I'm saving as much as possible?
We make it easy. Of course you have to Sign up if you haven't already joined. Then just come to SchoolBates. Look for specials and coupons to take advantage of pricing our merchants offer through SchoolBates. You can look for Stores or Products by using our categories or view All Stores. Click on the store, and voila, you'll be helping schools dear to your heart.
What do the merchants do to support my organization?
Our merchant partners participate because they care about our community. They provide our members the same or better pricing and promotions as they do to other shoppers on their websites. Each merchant determines what products and services they will include in the Program and may pay different amounts or percentages on different offers. They also provide you a secure shopping experience according to their terms on their site. Please see the Merchant Details for specific information.
How private is my shopping?
We are committed to your privacy. No details of your shopping are released to any school organization. We do not sell your information to any third party. Our commitment to your privacy is demonstrated by our Privacy Policy compliance with the TRUSTe standards.
Why do I need to click through SchoolBates?
Purchases you make through SchoolBates partner merchants are only credited if you start at SchoolBates and click to the merchant from there. As much as we'd like to give to your school and/or school organization of choice even if you do not start at SchoolBates, our partner merchants do not allow us to do so if you do not click through SchoolBates prior to entering the merchant site. If you click through SchoolBates and make a purchase, then surf elsewhere on the Web and return to that store and make a second purchase, your second purchase will not be recorded as a qualified purchase for your school. (You must click through SchoolBates every time you shop at one of our partner merchant sites.) If you use multiple windows on your browser, the window in which you shop at the merchant must have been originated at the SchoolBates.
Can I take advantage of special offers and coupons and still earn SchoolBates rewards for my school of choice?
Yes, absolutely. We work with our partner merchants to provide you with specials and coupons that provide you fantastic savings on your purchases. We try very hard to provide you with an extensive list of specials and coupons, as well as, special promotions during special times of the year. Please refer to the specials pages for these offers. If you choose to use coupons and specials that are not listed on the SchoolBates site, we cannot guarantee that your school of choice will be eligible to receive a SchoolBates reward on your purchases. The merchant determines what promotions to honor.

Please keep in mind that coupons and special offers listed on the SchoolBates site are subject to change and restrictions may apply. We strive to present the most accurate offers but cannot make guarantees due to the time-sensitive nature of many of these promotions.

Do all purchases qualify for cash back rewards?
Virtually every item you purchase through SchoolBates qualifies. We cannot, however, provide your school of choice with SchoolBates rewards for taxes, shipping, or any portion of a purchase that is paid for with coupons, gift certificates or a store credit. Any purchase of products and services in which the transaction is substantially completed by telephone does not qualify.
Do gift certificates qualify for SchoolBates rewards?
Unfortunately no, SchoolBates does not receive rebates on any portion of a purchase that is made with gift cards or certificates. Nor can we reward for the purchase of gift certificates or gift cards.
Can I use online currencies while shopping through SchoolBates?
No, you may not use online currencies.
Can I use MSN Passport at SchoolBates?
No, you may not use MSN Passport while shopping through SchoolBates.
What if I want to return or cancel an order?
Returns are subject to the return policy of the merchant from whom you purchased. If you return or cancel an item then the merchant either does not send the funds from the original purchase or requires SchoolBates to return the funds to the merchant. We then have to reverse any SchoolBates rewards awaiting distribution to your school of choice from that sale.

Returns (also deemed as exchanges) will also reverse any SchoolBates rewards awaiting distribution to your school of choice earned from that sale. In the process of an exchange, the merchant cancels the old order and replaces it with a new one. When doing this, the SchoolBates funds get reversed and a new fund is not established because the merchant has created the new order (meaning the order was not completed through SchoolBates - but placed through the merchant directly). Because of this, the merchant will not pay us the funds, which means we have no cash with which to fund the SchoolBates rebate to your school of choice.

To avoid losing the cash back rewards please make sure all returns are final and that it is not an exchange. Have the merchant refund your credit card, and then re-place the order through SchoolBates to ensure you can make a positive difference for your school of choice.

What if SchoolBates doesn't offer the store I want?
We are working daily to ensure our members enjoy a variety of goods and services from quality merchants. If we do not have your favorite store, or if you would like to recommend a store to us, simply email our Customer Care Department. We will do everything possible to add your merchant.
How can I access my account?
You can view your account by clicking on the My Account link in the top navigation bar of almost any page on the SchoolBates site.
How can I update my account information?
Click on the My Account link in the top navigation bar of almost any page on the SchoolBates site. Then click on the "Click here to edit your profile". This page will allow you to view your current profile and make any changes to your name, address, e-mail address, and your school and/or school organization of choice.
Can I use SchoolBates if I live outside the U.S. and Canada?
Yes, as long as the merchant you are purchasing from will ship outside of the U.S. and Canada. However, SchoolBates can make rebates to schools located in the US and Canada only.
Do I have to register at the merchant site when making a purchase?
Yes, when making a purchase, you may have to register with the merchant because you have left the SchoolBates site and entered our partner merchant's site that is wholly separate from ours. We do not share information about you with our merchants, so in order to charge you and deliver your order they need to collect your information as well and make you aware of their terms and conditions.
What if I have a problem with my order?
Contact the merchant's orders or customer service department first. Remember SchoolBates does not have the details of your order with the merchants or when or how they fill those orders. Also most, but not all, merchants send a tracking number when they notify you the order has been shipped. The following are the most common shipping agents used by merchants:

    Airborne Express

    Use the "Shipment Tracker" to track your package with your Air bill number. Tracking via e-mail is also available. (See the tab marked "By Email"). For domestic tracking service by phone, call 1-800-AIRBORNE.

    DHL

    Use the Worldwide Package Tracking feature by entering the Waybill number of the shipment you wish to track. E-mail tracking is also available. (See DHL site for details). For service by phone, call 1-800-CALL-DHL.

    Federal Express

    Enter up to 25 Tracking and/or Door Tag numbers to track your FedEx packages. E-mail tracking is also available. (See FedEx site for details). For service by phone, call 1-800-GO-FEDEX.

    USPS (United States Postal Service)

    Enter the item number from your shipping receipt and press the "Go" button.

    UPS

    You can track up to 25 packages at once, just by entering the tracking numbers and pressing the "Track" button. Tracking by e-mail and reference number are also available. (See the section marked "More Ways to Track"). For domestic service by phone, call 1-800-PICK-UPS.

When will my school organization receive rebates from SchoolBates?
In most cases, SchoolBates receives the rebate we forward to your school organization in about 45 days from your purchase. The timeline of these payments will affect when we can forward a rebate to your school organization. We are concerned that we do what we can to see rebates get to the actual organizations. Consequently, we require a Point Contact to register for a school or school organization within 180 days of the close of our payout dates in order for the school or school organization to receive rebates created during that past period. We cut checks of $25.00 or more four times a year: around August 1st, November 1st, February 1st, or May 1st. See our Terms of Use for more information.
What browsers are supported by SchoolBates?
SchoolBates currently works best when using IE 5.5 and greater, Firefox, Safari 2.0, AOL 9.0, Netscape 7 and greater, Safari 1.0 and greater with a Windows 2000, Windows XP, Mac OSX or Linux system. [NOTE: Verify with Glenn for accuracy and he should replace if inaccurate]
What are "cookies" and how do I enable them?
Cookies are simply text files that allow a site to recognize you when you return. This means you don't have to log-in each time that you visit our site. Cookies used by SchoolBates and our network of merchants are completely safe and they are enabled by default with most browsers.

Please see our Privacy Policy for further information on the steps we take to insure your privacy.