Usborne Books at Home - Consultant Training Index

Literacy for a Lifetime

This program, now offered from the Home Office, was initiated by and presented by Supervisors on the Usborne Achievers Team;
(left to right) Patsy Stensland, Julie Kreun and Natalie Van Houten

L to R: Patsy Stensland, Julie Kreun, Natalie Van Houten

See www.LiteracyForALifetime.com, created by the UBAH Home Office

Brochure to present program (print double sided) click here for Word, click here for PDF
Easy Ordering Form click here
Grant Info Form click here NEW Home Office form!
Flyer to present the program click here
Randall’s letter of support - click here You can obtain an original of this from the Home Office if needed.
Basic LFL bookplate in Word - click here

Click here for note regarding the RIF program

The potential of this program is so vast, it's amazing!

The idea is that EDC will match funds
from business, individuals and grants
that are used to purchase Usborne Books
for a school or organization for the benefit of literacy.

Literacy for a Lifetime...making a difference one child at a time.

Literacy for a Lifetime incorporates a 50% matching grant for corporate and individual donations to an organization. Example, if a corporation or private foundation has a grant of $10,000 to a local school and it is used to purchase Usborne Books, our Company will match it with an additional grant of $5,000 in Usborne Books. If they have a $600 donation to a children's home with which they purchase Usborne Books, we can match it with an additional $300 in books.

There is no cap on how large the amount is we will match.
There is no shipping charged.
There is no tax charged. The order is tax deductible. See below in ordering instructions.
You will earn 17% commission on these orders.

You can place your Literacy for a Lifetime (LL) orders in OrderPro Online. It is basically a like a bookfair order with 17% commission and 50% free books. When you use LL order type there is not a $5 bookfair fee and you will be able to enter 50% free books once you have $200 in retail books selected. When you transmit your LL order, just mail or fax the LFL Grant Info Form to the home office.

Literacy for a Lifetime....making a difference one child at a time.

Here are answers to frequently asked questions:

How do I make the tax rate 0% in OrderPro on these orders?

On the Hostess/Organization screen of your order, click "Tax different from consultant" and put a ZERO in that box. That is what takes off the tax. If you have a tax exempt number from the organization, school or donor, please enter that on that same screen. If you don't have a tax exempt number, you can enter "LFL." Entering a tax number does NOT automatically zero out the tax - you need the zero in the tax box, too.

What forms of payment can be accepted by the Home Office for LFL orders?

There are 2 options in OrderPro for LL orders:

purchase orders, or Purchase Agreement if they want to be invoiced and aren't using a PO
payment by check or credit card

For purchase orders the order is entered and processed much like S&L orders. You enter the order, enter the purchase order number, if you have one. Transmit the order. The home office bills the school, library, etc. Commission is sent to you the middle of the following month from the home office.

Payment could be made by consultant's credit card, for example if the organization or grant has paid you directly. If the organization, school, foundation, etc. chooses to make their check payable to Literacy for a Lifetime, then enter your order in OrderPro and PRINT the order (don't transmit it) - then mail the order, the LFL Grant Info Form and check to the home office to the Attn: Literacy for a Lifetime.

Do I need to become an Educational Consultant (EC) if I want to use this program with schools or libraries in any way?

YES! To do any work with or within schools and/or libraries, you need to become an EC. You can order the EC kit in the Business Supply Store or in OrderPro. Then, read the EC handbook, fill out the Code of Ethics and fax or mail it to the Home Office.

Should I list a school if I am working with them?

That would be a very good idea. All listing policies will apply with these orders. If a school receiving a LFL donation is listed by another consultant, the other consultant will receive the credit and commission on the order. If you're working with a business that wants to donate money to a school listed by another consultant, you might be able to gently sway them to one of your listed schools or a different organization. If they really want to use that school, then let the home office know right away so the listing consultant can become involved. There may be situations in the future when YOUR listed school is the recipient of a LFL donation that you weren't aware was coming.

Do we need something in writing that documents business/individual that made the donation?

Yes- Use the LFL Grant Info Form to and sent in with the order or soon after the order is sent in if you're transmitting the order via OrderPro. You could ask for a "letter of reference" from the recipient of the books.

If it is one of your listed schools/libraries then the retail sales amount will count toward your listings when the documentation is received at the Home Office.

Does the order have to be at least $200?

The policy is that the 50% is matched from the first dollar but it would be very appreciated if you bundle smaller donations and send in orders of $200+ at a time because of free books, shipping and tax. The minimum amount you can submit via OPOL is $200. At this time, when the Home Office receives LFL orders under $200, they will charge shipping on the retail and free books. Shoot high - strive for thousands of dollars and the $200 minimum won't be a problem. :-)

What is the correct way to handle processing?

It is acceptable for the school/library to use part of the donation money to pay for processing. The amount used for processing won't be matched with 50% more free books. If they want to use the full amount donated on books, they can be billed for the processing. Note: processing can take up to five weeks

What happens if out of stock or out of print titles are ordered?

The consultant could suggest alternate titles to the organization. If a book becomes out of stock after it is submitted, home office will contact the consultant who will need to contact the organization to select an alternate title.

How are these donations deductible as a charitable donation?

Any donation from a corporation is deductible as a charitable donation. An individual must contribute to a 501, however, schools would all qualify for a deduction as a charitable donation. The major grants will probably come from corporations or foundations and there is no problem for the grant to be classified as a charitable donation.
If an individual wants to contribute to the local school, their check can be made to the school designating the funds for LFL and the school can then pay you, UBAM or Literacy for a Lifetime/EDC.

How can I keep my librarians purchasing at full retail price after they hear about this program?

Just let librarian know that if the money paying for the books comes from outside sources that the matching grant (LFL) applies. If it comes out of their regular monies, then the matching funds don't apply (regular S&L order). Many librarians and teachers have grants and donations throughout the year and would be thrilled to hear about this option.

Is there a specific list of titles we order from?

All in stock titles are available, including discounted close-out titles.

Who is the point of contact at the home office for this program?

The home office's S&L department can answer almost every question. Todd White oversees the program. Hopefully, you have most questions answered here and can simply enter your order in OrderPro and transmit it.

What information might I send in an email to my listed schools?

USBORNE BOOKS
EDC/Educational Development Corporation
Literacy for a Lifetime
50% MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM

http://www.literacyforalifetime.com/

Literacy for a Lifetime is a partnership that aligns Educational

Development Corporation/Usborne Books with local businesses,

individuals and grants to support local schools and organizations.
Literacy for a Lifetime offers a 50% matching grant in books for every dollar

contributed. For example, a $500 donation is matched with an

additional $250 and the organization of choice receives $750 in

educational materials for their use. This program can be used as

often as donations become available, has no cap on amounts that can

be donated, and is tax deductible. The receiving organization can have

full control over the selection of books. A bookplate will be

included in each book to recognize each business and their donation.
I would like to talk with you more about how your school can benefit
from this program. I will be available on ______ mornings during the
month of _____. Let's get your preferred time slot on my calendar right away.

When can I get started on LFL?

NOW!

Things to remember...

Contact local papers, TV stations, school/library newsletters to publicize the donation and give the business or donor credit and appreciation. You can also send a thank you card to the donors.

There are additional materials for LFL on the UBAH FTP site. The sky's the limit!

Special thanks to the following ladies for their creativity, time and energy in getting this program up and running:

Natalie Van Houten, Patsy Stensland and Julie Kreun

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) is a wonderful grant program that gets books into the hands of children. Many years ago, Home Office entered into an agreement that provides a 60% discount to recipients of RIF grant monies. The RIF program is a retail account and is handled by the retail division at home office. We cannot use the LFL program for RIF funds.

If you come across an organization who has RIF monies to spend, let them know that we would love for them to choose Usborne Books and that we have partnered with RIF to provide deep discounting on our books. Give them the home office phone number, 800-611-1655 and have them ask for the retail division (RIF account) when they call. We want to help get Usborne Books in the hands of all children.