Literacy for a Lifetime

Literacy for a Lifetime

Tips for a Successful LFL

What is the Literacy for a Lifetime matching grant?

An Usborne LFL grant is an opportunity for a school to use non-budgeted funds to purchase Usborne Books and Products while increasing their yield by 50% (ie. The school receives $500 from a donor and is able to use that money to receive $750 [$500 original amount+$250, 50% match]— in books!!)

What are some possible funding sources you can use for LFL (minimum $250)?

-Donations from community members**

-Corporate donations** (check to see if their company matches individual’s donations)

-Book fair money earned from outside sources

-Box tops money

-Crowd-sourcing (read up on Book drives for more ideas http://daringdreamersusborne.blogspot.com/2016/03/book-drives.html)

**Tax deductible if the donation is given directly to the organization and it is a non-profit 

Items Needed to fulfill the LFL

-If the organization is tax-exempt, a copy/PDF of their tax-exempt form

-List of books desired from the school (I will normally have them create a wishlist under their school name on my website and then fulfill the order through OrderPro based off of that list)

-Purchase Order Agreement (if they are paying via PO instead of check or CC) OR check/CC information depending on their payment selection

Fulfilling the Order on OrderPro

Step 1: Create a New Order using Organization info

-If the organization is near you, you can opt to have it sent to you.  This allows you to check the order and provide book plates to recognize the donor(s)

-If they are tax-exempt, check the tax exempt box and upload the tax-exempt certificate

Step 2: Name Your Order and Type

-Choose Literacy for a Lifetime (Prepaid by consultant) if you are paying via your CC and the organization is writing you a personal check

-Choose Literacy for a Lifetime (Billed to Organization) if you are submitting a purchase order or if the school writes a check to “Literacy for a Lifetime” or “Usborne Books & More”

—If you choose this option, be sure to click on the ‘View Organization Payment Info Screen’ tab and choose ‘Org will pay with a PO’ OR ‘Org will pay using a CC’.  On the payment screen at Step 5, you will be able to submit the Org’s CC card if that is the option they choose.  If they are paying via a PO, you will upload it under Step 2.  If they pay via check, write Halle an email advising you will be mailing in the check.  ***IFF you go this route—withOUT a PO—the order will not process or count toward sales until the check is received by HO***

-Fill out who the main funder is for the LFL (the corporation, individual, etc. who donated the funds)

-Upload PO (if using that option)

Step 3:

-Enter books up to the original donation amount under ‘Full Retail’

-Enter the 50% match under ‘Free Books’

Step 4: Review

Step 5: Enter payment information IF paying via CC (from consultant OR the organization). Otherwise, there should be no requirement for payment.

Submit the order.  Congrats! You are finished!  You should receive an email in the next couple of days from HO if there are any errors or questions, or if it is beginning processing.

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Additional Questions?

-Read through the information found in back office toolbox.  There is a list of FAQs, letters, and brochure there!

⇒Giving Thanks!

Contact local papers, TV stations, school/library newsletters to publicize the donation and give the business or individual donor credit and appreciation.  You can also send thank you cards to the donors and encourage your organization to do so as well.  If possible, it is also sometimes appropriate to put a book plate in the book acknowledging the donor. Ex: “This book generously donated by____________”