Change for Our Community Application Guidelines
Change for our Community gives shoppers the opportunity to donate their spare change to local organizations every time they shop. Each month, a different organization is featured as the recipient, and 100% of all donations collected go to that specific organization. In fiscal year 2023, we—as a co-op community—raised over $73,000. Since the program began in January 2014, we have raised over $665,000.
The Change for our Community program values organizations that share our commitment to the health, well being, sustainability and education of our community. By creating a partnership with our customers we work together to bring financial support to these organizations.
How Change Works
The Change Program has four methods of giving: Round Up to Create Change, Bags for Change, and Spare Change Jar. 100% of the donations collected are directed to the chosen organization of the month.
Round Up to Create Change was started in 2014 as a way for customers to round up their purchase to an even dollar amount.
Bags for Change was started in 2013 as a way for customers to redirect the 5¢ given for bag reuse.
The Spare Change Jar Program was started in 1999 as a simple way for customers to donate spare change or add a contribution to their purchase while making their transactions (Lawrence location only).
Who Can Partner for Change
Applicants must be local, non-profit organizations serving our community.
An organization may be a Change partner once every three years.
Organizations who are chosen to be Change partners are not eligible for additional donations or sponsorship in the calendar year in which they are chosen.
Change does not subsidize partisan organizations or organizations that advance a particular religious belief or political cause. The Merc Co+op will not support organizations that permit the exclusion of a group based on their race/ ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or lifestyle.
We ask that schools, both private and public, direct their donation requests through our Donations Program rather than the Change Program.
There are 10 available months for Change recipients. The Merc Co+op reserves two months of each calendar year for proceeds to benefit specific organizations: the Community Mercantile Education Foundation’s garden projects in April and The Giving Tree Adopt-a-Family Program in December.
Decisions are made by a committee of co-op employees at both store locations. All organizations applying for Change will be notified about the status of their request by the month of December.
How to Apply for Change
Applications are submitted through our website. The application is only available in the month of October.
Change applications are available October 1 of each year.
The deadline for submitting applications is October 31 of each year.
Applications accepted in October are considered for all months in the following year.
Please provide certification of the organization’s non-profit status and any additional information that would help inform the co-op about the organization’s work and intended use of funds by emailing the co-op support specialist on completion of your application.
What We Ask of Change Recipients, ONCE SELECTED
The following things are required of Change recipients:
The organization’s logo (ai, pdf, jpg, png, eps).
100 words or less about the organization.
Web address and social media handle(s), if applicable.
1–3 high-resolution photos representing the organization’s work.
The following things are considered best practice for Change recipients:
100–200 postcards, brochures or fliers with information about the organization for in-store use.
Two or more 2–3 hour shifts tabling in store(s) during your Change month.
Since this is a partnership of giving, we ask that you help us promote the Change program to the community during your month. We encourage you to use print, radio and social media to encourage your customers and clients to participate in Change.
Questions?
For more information, contact us via email.