Box Tops for Education explained

The Box Tops for Education (BTFE) program is an American school fundraising program sponsored by General Mills.[1] [2] Schools can earn 10 cents for every qualifying product purchased by parents and turned in to the school. The program began in California in 1996 as a way for schools to earn money through collecting coupons, known as boxtops, from participating products.[3] By 2001, the program had distributed over $50 million to participating schools.[2] As of 2016 it was considered the largest education cause marketing campaign,[4] and given away almost $1 billion to schools as of 2024.[5]

In 2019, the program switched from physical box tops to a mobile application. Since this change, rates of redemption have fallen.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Molnar . Alex . School Commercialism . 2013 . Taylor & Francis . 9781136730160 . 24 February 2023.
  2. News: Cereal box tops can earn cash for your school. The Victoria Advocate. Martin. Sloan. September 16, 2001. 5D.
  3. News: Audrey . Nicole . 20 Years On, Box Tops Are Still Raising Thousands of Dollars for Schools . 24 February 2023 . NBC . 13 September 2016.
  4. Book: Strach . Patricia . Hiding Politics in Plain Sight . 2016 . Oxford University Press . 9780190606855 . 24 February 2023.
  5. Web site: BTFE . 2024-08-18 . www.boxtops4education.com.
  6. News: Kelley . Lora . 7 April 2021 . The Dark Side of Box Tops for Education . 24 February 2023 . The Atlantic.