Magazine Fundraiser
Disclaimer of Non-endorsement
Reference herein to any specific magazine by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by Civil Air Patrol. The views and opinions of authors expressed therein do not necessarily state or reflect those of Civil Air Patrol and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
What is the CAP Magazine Fundraiser?
The Magazine Fundraiser is a fund development resource available to all CAP units through an agreement between CAP and Fundamentals Company, the marketing arm of National Community Services, Inc. NCS has been providing magazine fundraiser opportunities to schools and civic organizations since 1971. Participating units will earn 40% of the purchase price on magazine sales and no minimum orders are required.
How does it work?
This fundraiser is geared to units with cadets, but all units are eligible to participate. No unit is required to participate in this fundraiser.
Participating units will be assigned a sales representative by NCS who will provide them with more information and support materials including, but not limited to: a training guide for cadets, order forms, brochures, a letter to the parents/guardians of the cadets and a handbook with steps on how the unit commander can run a successful magazine drive. Your unit will earn 40% of the purchase price on magazine sales and no minimum orders are required. Best of all, you are not responsible for receiving, storing or delivering any magazines.
Units participating in the fundraiser will also receive an online code from their sales representative. They can provide that code to potential customers to make purchases directly online at www.ReadingAtHome.com/cap/. The unit will receive the full 40% for all online orders using the online code. If your unit does not plan on participating in the fundraiser, you can still order magazines and benefit the Civil Air Patrol Foundation. Please use code 130458.
Participating units will collect money for the magazine subscriptions and deposit the funds into their own unit account or through the Wing Banking Solution. If you send the money to the Wing for deposit, please include a copy of all the magazine order forms. After the money is deposited, the unit will withdraw 60% of the total and send to NCS along with the order forms. The unit will retain their portion – 40% of the magazine sales.
How do I sign up?
To sign up your unit or for more information, please call Donna at NCS: 1-800-225-7934 Ext 215.
Logistics
Don’t forget to obtain prior written approval from your Wing Commander before any fundraiser.
1. Can senior squadrons, wings, groups, or regions participate?
Yes, all CAP units are eligible to participate.
2. Is participation mandatory?
No, participation is completely voluntary.
3. What types of magazines are offered for sale?
You can download a complete list here (Excel).
4. Will we be required to sell a minimum number of magazines?
No, there is no minimum number of magazines your unit has to sell. Neither is there a minimum sales amount that your unit has to meet.
5. Is there a time limit to sell the magazines, or can they sell them throughout the year? Who sets the time the company or the unit?
When your unit decides to participate, you will be assigned a sales representative from NCS who will assist you in coordinating and organizing your magazine fundraiser. Units can choose to participate at any time throughout the year, but the actual fundraiser will have a start and end date; it is not open-ended. You can discuss it further with your sales representative.
6. Does the money go through CAP NHQ or are payments made directly to NCS?
All money and orders will be processed through NCS. Please do not send any money or orders to CAP NHQ.
7. How will the units receive their payment and notify NCS of the placement of orders?
The units will take money for the magazines subscriptions sold. The unit will then submit the money for deposit into their account (either through the Wing or through their own account). After the checks are deposited, the units (or Wings) take out 60% of the deposited amount and send to NCS to cover the cost of the magazine subscription. The units immediately retain their portion (40% of the sales)of the money they collect.
8. How will the customers receive the magazines?
Magazines will be shipped directly from the magazine publisher. You will not be responsible for delivering, storing or returning any magazines.
9. Can I order magazines online?
Yes, you can order magazines online at www.ReadingAtHome.com/cap/. When your unit signs up to do the fundraiser, you will be assigned an “online code” by your NCS sale representative. Your unit will receive 40% of the sale when customers purchase magazines online using your unit’s specific code. If your unit does not plan on participating in the fundraiser, you can still order magazines and benefit the Civil Air Patrol Foundation. Please use code 130458.
10. Can online magazine orders be credited to a specific unit?
Yes, units will be assigned an “online code” by their sales representative. Your unit will receive 40% of the sale when customers purchase magazines online using your unit’s specific code.
11. What kind of payback can we expect to receive from this fundraiser?
The amount of money your unit will raise depends on how successful your members are in selling the magazines. For some units, it may not be worthwhile, while other units may find that the benefits outweigh the manpower and planning costs.
12. Can the Wings get a percentage of the profit?
Currently, the Wings are not eligible to receive a percentage of the profit of magazines sold by the units. However, the Wings are welcome to participate in the fundraiser themselves.
Regulations, Privacy and other concerns
1. Will the information provided by NCS warn cadets to not solicit magazines by going door to door?
Yes, the company training packet provided to the unit commander (or designee) clearly states “No Door to Door Selling! Do Not Sell to Strangers!”
2. Will the forms have information about the legal right to cancel the orders within a period of time?
Yes, the forms have information regarding cancellation, when to expect the subscription to start, publisher contact information, etc. etc. It even includes information on how individuals can find the start date of their subscription.
3. Are there magazines that some might find morally objectionable?
All of the magazines are generally available at the newsstands and stores in your community. You can review the list here to see if there any magazines that you or the parents of your cadets would object to selling.
4. Who decided to create an agreement with this company?
The company approached CAP NHQ with a proposal for a magazine fundraiser for units. The marketing agreement was screened and approved by CAP NHQ General Counsel, the director of PM and signed by the Executive Director. CAP NHQ provides a minimal amount of marketing in return for a fundraising program for the units.
5. Will my personal information be sold to a third party after I place an order?
In a statement from NCS (emphasis added): NCS protects the privacy of our customers. NCS collects the telephone number and/or email address in case they need to contact the customer regarding their order. The online site is secure for credit card transactions. NCS does send name and addresses only to the magazine publishers. However, the magazine publisher WILL use the customers' name and address for direct mail purposes.
6. Does this meet the requirements as outlined in CAPR 173-4?
Yes. All marketing agreements with any company go through a strict approval process that includes review by the General Counsel, the PM Director and the Executive Director.
7. Did CAP provide personal contact information to NCS or Fundamentals?
No, Civil Air Patrol did not and will not provide member contact information to NCS or any of its affiliates.
If you still have questions or concerns regarding the CAP Magazine Fundraiser, please contact Marie Vogt at mvogt@capnhq.gov.
