Distinctive Schools is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and accelerating charter schools that serve kids from traditionally underserved backgrounds. Based in Chicago, they elevate access, achievement, and belonging for every student so they may thrive throughout their education, career and life.

Distinctive Schools uses Giftbit for community support, employee engagement and recruitment, and to thank student ambassadors and other contributors.

Molly Quinn, Managing Director of Marketing & Communications, Distinctive Schools

Giftbit has allowed me to really, truly show gratitude, and to provide resources for people when they’re having a hard time.

It’s been a great tool for us, and we really appreciate it.

— Molly Quinn, Managing Director of Marketing & Communications | Distinctive Schools

The problem: Keeping engagement levels high

Like so many during the pandemic, they needed to find new ways to connect remotely with folks, including their dedicated teachers who were suddenly working from home. They also had the added challenge of getting resources to parents suddenly struggling to pay their bills.

“We had families with significant needs who had lost jobs,” Molly Quinn, Managing Director of Marketing & Communications, remembers. She needed a simple way to get support to people, fast.

The solution: A simple way to send digital gift cards and prepaid cards

Molly found a quick, user-friendly solution in Giftbit. She could use it to send funds to parents in the form of Visa® prepaid gift cards. At the same time it allowed her to send a variety of other types of rewards, incentives, and ‘thank yous’ to staff, teachers, and students which was critical during such a stressful time.

“It helped us create some semblance of normalcy and a bit of surprise and delight,” says Molly.

For example, in those early days, Distinctive Schools might send their teams a Starbucks gift card before a remote meeting, encouraging everyone to have their coffee delivered.

These types of quick incentives are still popular, but Molly and her team have since found many other uses for the platform, too.

The results: Effortless gratitude

Four years later, Giftbit has become an critical part of Distinctive Schools' operations. The organization now factors rewards and incentives directly into their budget and SOPs.

Today, they use digital gift cards and prepaid cards in a variety of ways. One-off coffee rewards before meetings are still in-demand, but they also use Giftbit for staff incentives and raffles, to thank student ambassadors for sharing their stories at open houses, for birthday and appreciation gifts, and for referrals and recruitment. When a staff member recently experienced a tragic fire, they even collected donations which they could then send in the form of a Visa prepaid card.

“We definitely use Giftbit in a multitude of ways,” says Molly. “It just makes giving easier, so it’s a great way to thank people and show them that we care.”

Molly also takes full advantage of the extensive Giftbit rewards catalog. Sometimes she’ll send a curated list of brands for themed rewards, but lately she’s been letting recipients choose from the entire catalog, too.

“My favorite thing is giving people a reward that you know they want,” she says. “By offering them the choice, it’s not so prescriptive. We’re able to honor and appreciate them, while also allowing them to have some voice and choice in what they receive.”

But those Starbucks gift cards aren’t going anywhere, either.

“Teachers love coffee, so that’s easy!” says Molly. “Even just a cup of coffee has been a nice gesture.”