FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A BUYING CO-OP

ClassWish is a nonprofit organization that provides a way for the public to donate money to fund resources for American K-12 schools and teachers. By virtue of its buying power, ClassWish is able to obtain discounts of 15 to 50 percent on goods for schools and teachers. However, ClassWish recognizes that there is a greater opportunity to enhance discounts and consolidate buying power by establishing a buying co-op between American teachers, schools, and nonprofits. The Capstone team investigated the rationale of group purchasing through a literature review, analyzed the discounts that schools and nonprofits receive, assessed the relationship of Group Purchasing Organizations and vendors through an environmental scan, and conducted interviews with key stakeholders in the market. The Capstone team presented recommendations for an operational plan and funding request, which included a market analysis investigating the feasibility of establishing the buying co-op.