What is Safelist?
Safelist builds trusted community marketplaces online. It’s free and easy to sign up. You can buy, sell or donate at safelist.com. All users on Safelist are verified for the protection of each consumer. Although all users are anonymous to one another, every single transaction is tied to a real person. This built in accountability opens the world of consumer-to-consumer trading for families who may legitimately be concerned about trading on classifieds sites that don’t provide similar safeguards for their users.
Safelist is the ideal marketplace for school fundraisers. Families within existing communities can buy from and sell to their neighbors on a secure platform. Sellers can choose to donate all or a portion of the proceeds to the school or schools of their choice. Transactions are tied to real people, and a receipt for tax deduction will be sent automatically after every sale.
How is Safelist different than other online classifieds systems?
Safelist is a Gated Internet Community. Here, all users are required to verify their identity. Our community members have the peace of mind knowing that they are transacting with real people. Verified AnonymityTM enables users to appear anonymous to others. The Safelist platform builds accountability without compromising the privacy of our users.
Does Safelist take any money from my sale?
No. 100% of the proceeds go to your school. The school’s payment provider (i.e. PayPal) may charge a small fee. Safelist is working to expand its reach and foster participation in existing communities, replacing hand-posted fliers on community boards with our trusted online marketplace. We see school fundraisers as an opportunity to promote our safer platform to folks and benefit local education as well.
How will I make a donation to the school of my choice?
When you post the item, you will be able to select a school or schools as the beneficiaries of your sale. Once your donated item is sold, the buyer will pay directly to your chosen school’s PayPal account and you will be credited with the donation. You will automatically get a receipt for the amount of the donation.
Where does my money go?
100% of the proceeds from the sale go to your selected school(s). Unless the PTO or PTA has chosen to set up a fundraising campaign for a specific program or project, they have complete discretion over the funds.
Can I donate a portion of the proceeds from a big-ticket item?
Yes. When you select a school from your list of favorites, you will also have the option to enter a portion of the sale’s proceeds.
I have kids in more than one school that participate in the program. Can I split my donations?
Yes. Select the schools you would like to donate to from your list of favorites, and then set the portion that each will receive. For tax purposes you will receive two receipts.
Can I get a tax deduction for my donation?
Once the donated item is sold, donors will be eligible to receive a tax deduction based on the item’s fair market value.
What will happen to my personal information?
Personal information is only used to verify users’ identity and help ensure accountability. Verified users can create multiple pseudonyms for user-facing profiles and transactions. All personal details are securely protected, and our users’ activities on Safelist are anonymous up until the time when the transaction is completed. Safelist does not require its users to share their sensitive personal information, like social security number, credit card number or driver’s license number.
What happens if I’m dissatisfied with the item I receive?
We sincerely believe in the power of community. Part of the advantage of trading with your neighbors is built in social accountability. However, disagreements happen. If the item is not as advertised, your first step is to attempt to work it out with the seller. If an agreement cannot be reached, call Safelist at (858) 271 7233. Additionally, all purchases up to $250 are 100% covered by Safelist’s Buyer Protection Guarantee. We will refund the purchase price to the buyer and take possession of the item if you report your dissatisfaction within the first 5 days of your purchase.
Do Safelist fundraisers comply with CAPTA and national PTA fundraising guidelines?
Yes. Safelist registrations are free, secure and optional. Individuals who do not wish to register with Safelist have the option to donate directly to the school from its landing page.
Can students post items for sale themselves?
Registrants must be at least 18 years of age to open a Safelist account. Parents may give their underage children access to their account to post and are fully responsible for their children’s activity. However, we strongly recommend that only registered Safelist users transact on our platform.
Does Safelist have a personals section?
No, Safelist does not have a personals section and neither do we allow the sale of items and services banned by PTA regulations. Families will not be exposed to adult content on Safelist.
What kinds of items can I post for sale / donation?
Any item or service that you may sell in an online classified ad can also be sold on Safelist. However, as dictated by PTA fundraising guidelines, we do not allow alcohol, firearms, or tobacco products to be posted for sale on a school-landing page.
Schools may want to encourage students to get involved by posting 10 items that they no longer use, like toys, video games and sports equipment. Our platform is not limited to used goods. Donors may also post all or a portion of the proceeds of big ticket items including cars, vacation rentals and services.
How much money can a school raise with Safelist?
There is no limit on how much a school can raise with Safelist. It’s an ongoing fundraiser and even during school breaks, money can continue to be earned from donated items. PTAs and PTOs may use the Safelist platform for creative fundraising campaigns year-round.
Can businesses get involved?
Yes! There are several great ways for businesses to get involved that offer tangible value for the businesses and the schools. Businesses may offer their inventory and services at a discount to buyers and give a portion of the sale to the school(s) of their choice. After the sale, the business will get a receipt, for tax purposes, in the amount of the donation. Fundraiser organizers may elect to arrange additional promotion for business postings if they choose. For example, they could include in a newsletter or on the website as an advertisement: “Acme Car Repair is offering half off on an oil change and donating 40% of the proceeds to our local school!”