What is TRIP and how does it work?
TRIP enables families to reduce tuition by purchasing gift cards and gift certificates--at no additional cost--for goods and services they use every day. Participants buy gift cards at face value in increments ranging from $5 to $100 or more. A percentage of the gift card purchase is credited to the family’s TRIP account. The percentages vary by vendor and range from 2% to 20%. Twice each year, in May and November, the accumulated TRIP credits are applied as payment to family tuition accounts.

Gift cards and gift certificates for a wide variety of national and local retailers are offered. Gift cards are used like cash for goods and services that families purchase on a regular basis -- groceries, gas, clothing, restaurants, travel and much more!

Who can participate?
Everyone! Parents, grandparents, friends and churches can enroll in TRIP. Credits can be used for your own tuition account, donated to another family, church education fund, GRCS tuition assistance fund, or divided among several accounts. “Future families” who do not yet have children in Grand Rapids Christian Schools can also participate -- their TRIP credits will be held until needed at a future time. To enroll, complete a registration form and return it to the TRIP office. You will be assigned a TRIP account number which should be used each time you place an order.

How do I purchase TRIP?

  • INSTANT TRIP: Shop our selection of gift cards from over 100 of our most popular vendors at Instant TRIP, open weekly during the school year (closed for school breaks; open selected weeks during the summer). Instant TRIP orders are available for immediate pick-up and payable by cash or check. See Instant TRIP Hours for hours and locations.
     
  • WEEKLY ORDER: Access many more vendors, additional denominations, and larger quantities by placing a weekly order. Simply leave your order and payment at the TRIP office by Wednesday and it will be available for pick-up the following week.
     
  • ONLINE ORDERING: Order online, at your convenience, by signing up for ShopWithScrip (online shopping) and PrestoPay (online payment). Gift card orders received and paid for online by midnight on Wednesday are available for pick-up at the TRIP office the following week. Your ShopWithScrip account also allows you to reload selected gift cards or download instant ScripNow! e-certificates for a growing number of retailers.
     
  • VIP CERTIFICATES: VIP gift certificates are available for purchase at Instant TRIP and are accepted like cash at a wide variety of local businesses for a 5% TRIP credit.
     
  • TRIP VOUCHERS: These require no advance purchase. Just present a pre-printed Voucher Form (available at the TRIP office) to a participating business with your payment at the time of purchase. Voucher vendors offer various TRIP credit percentages. The participating business sends your credit amount to the TRIP office and it is then applied to your TRIP account.

EXAMPLE: Purchase Meijer gift cards (4%)
 

    $500 per month (groceries, gas, etc.)
     x 4% credit        
    = $20 TRIP credit per month
     x 12 months per year
    = $240 annual tuition credit

And that’s just a start!