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Compare charity credit cards: How to spend for a good cause
That plastic in your wallet can help contribute to a good cause.
Your credit card is useful for more than purchases: You can also use it to support your favorite charities. You can get a credit card that donates a percentage of your spending, donate through an airline or hotel loyalty program or even join a bank that makes a positive impact on the world.
Here are some ways to support great causes using a credit card.
What are the best charity credit cards?
One of the easiest ways to deploy your spending for good is to get a charity credit card. This category includes affinity credit cards, which sponsor specific organizations and display charity logos front and center.
Usually, a provider donates a percentage of your spending to the charity of your choice. In some cases, you’ll simply receive more credit card rewards for charitable donations.
At first glance, the Chase Freedom Flex℠ Credit Card may not seem like a charity credit card. But it can actually earn a lot of points on your purchases and increase the value you decide to donate. With the Pay Yourself Back feature, you can donate your points to eligible charities and get a 25% higher point value than if you redeem your points for cash back.
Suppose you spend $5,000 in eligible 5% cashback categories. You would earn $250 back in points. Donate your points to eligible charities and you get a value of $312.50 for your points. Even if you decide not to donate your entire earnings, you could still donate more than you could earn with any charity credit card and you would have some points left for yourself.
No annual fee. You get to earn rewards and do good without paying an annual fee.
Cash back. Earn 5% back on rotating categories on up to $1,500 each quarter, and 1% back after reaching the cap. Earn 5% back on travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program and on Lyft rides until March 2022. Earn 3% back at restaurants, on take out and delivery, and 5% back on drugstore purchases. Everything else you buy earns 1% back.
High redemption value on charities. Donate your points to eligible charities to get a 25% higher point value than if you redeem your points for cash.
Signup bonus. Earn $200 back after you spend $500 in your first 3 months when you open your account. You can also earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (not including Target or Walmart purchases) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. Donating your $200 bonus to charities will be worth $250.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable)
Balance transfer APR
14.99% to 23.74% variable
Welcome offer
$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months, plus 5% cash back at grocery stores (not including Target® or Walmart®) on up to $12,000 in the first year
5% cash back on up to $1,500 combined in quarterly categories you activate, 5% on Chase travel purchased through Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases
1% cash back donated to your selected charities Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card
The Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card is a great charitable card on the market. That's thanks in large part to its flexibility: You'll earn 1% cash back that you can donate to up to three charities of your choice. Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card has more than 1.5 million schools and charities in its database.
The card comes with no annual fee, and your donations are automatic and tax-deductible. Furthermore, Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card covers the cost of donation processing fees, so you can rest easy knowing that 100% of your contributions go to your charities.
No annual fee.
Intro purchase and balance transfer APR. 1.99% intro APR for 6 monthly billing cycles (16.24% to 26.74%) variable thereafter.
Cashback rewards. Get 1% cash back on all purchases.
Automatic donations. When you earn cash back, it's automatically donated to your selected nonprofits.
100% of your cash back goes to your selected nonprofits. Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card pays the processing fees.
World Mastercard perks. Get extended warranties, price protection and more.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
1.99% intro for the first 6 monthly billing cycles (then 16.24% to 26.74% variable)
Balance transfer APR
1.99% intro for the first 6 monthly billing cycles (then 16.24% to 22.24% variable)
Welcome offer
N/A
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
1% cash back to your choice of nonprofits, K-12 schools, colleges and religious organizations
Donations to Susan G. Komen Susan G. Komen® Cash Rewards Visa®
When you open the Pink Ribbon card, keep it open for at least 90 days and use it within that period, Bank of America makes a $3 donation to Susan G. Komen. The bank also donates 0.08% of your retail purchases to the organization. Each time you renew your card and meet Bank of America's conditions, Susan G. Komen receives $3.
The card itself is a solid pick. It has no annual fee, an intro APR for purchases and balance transfers, good cash back on everyday purchases and a decent signup bonus.
No annual fee.
Intro purchase and balance transfer APR. 0% intro APR for the first 15 billing cycles (13.99% to 23.99% variable thereafter).
Automatic donations. Bank of America donates $3 to Susan G. Komen when you meet the requirements, and 0.08% of your retail purchases are donated to the organization.
Signup bonus. Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days.
Cashback rewards. Earn 3% on a category of your choice and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% after that and on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 15 billing cycles (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer
$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
3% cash back on a chosen category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in quarterly combined purchases, then 1% after that and on everything else
Donations to the World Wildlife Fund World Wildlife Fund Credit Card
When you open the World Wildlife Fund Credit Card, keep it open for at least 90 days and use your card within that period, Bank of America makes a donation of $3 or more to the World Wildlife Fund. The bank also donates 0.08% of your retail purchases to the organization. When you renew your card, the World Wildlife Fund receives $3.
The card has no annual fee, an intro APR for purchases and balance transfers, good cash back on everyday purchases and a solid signup bonus.
No annual fee.
Intro purchase and balance transfer APR. 0% intro APR for the first 15 statement closing dates (13.99% to 23.99% variable thereafter).
Automatic donations. Bank of America donates at least $3 to the World Wildlife Fund when you meet the requirements, and 0.08% of your retail purchases are donated to the organization.
Signup bonus. Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days.
Cashback rewards. Earn 3% on gas and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% after that and on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 15 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 15 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer
$200 after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
3% cash back on a chosen category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 combined each quarter, then 1% after that and on everything else
Donations to the Nature Conservancy Defenders of Wildlife Cash Rewards Visa Signature® credit card
When you open your Defenders of Wildlife Cash Rewards Visa Signature® credit card card, Bank of America donates at least $1 to Defenders of Wildlife. The bank also donates at least $0.05 per $100 you make in retail transactions.
The card comes with no annual fee, an intro APR for purchases and balance transfers, good cash back on everyday purchases and a solid signup bonus.
No annual fee.
Intro purchase and balance transfer APR. 0% intro APR for the first 15 statement closing dates (13.99% to 23.99% variable thereafter).
Automatic donations. When you open your card, Bank of America donates at least $1 to Defenders of Wildlife. It also donates $0.05 for every $100 you spend on retail purchases.
Signup bonus. Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days.
Cashback rewards. Earn 3% on gas and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter. Earn 1% on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 15 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Balance transfer APR
0% intro for the first 15 statement closing dates (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Welcome offer
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement / furnishings and 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on the first $2,500 in combined choice category / grocery store / wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%.
How to choose a charity credit card
To find the right charity credit card, here’s what to consider:
Rewards rate. The more you earn, the more you can donate. But if you think 1% or less is not enough to help the cause, get a more rewarding credit card and donate your rewards manually.
Other perks. Why not get some perks while you do good? Some credit card perks you could find useful are 0% intro APR period on balance transfers and purchases, signup bonus and no annual fee.
Should you get an affinity credit card?
Bank of America charity credit cards — sometimes called affinity credit cards — sound great. You can donate to your favorite charities through everyday spending. But are these cards all they’re cracked up to be?
Strictly based on the math, the answer is no. Consider the BankAmericard World Wildlife Fund card, for example:
When you open your card, Bank of America donates $3 to WWF.
The bank also forwards 0.08% of your purchases to the organization. If you spend $5,000 on the card in a year, the WWF gets only $4. (When you think about it, 0.08% is a very low rate — less than a tenth of a percent.)
In total, that’s $7 a year in donations.
A card like the Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card is a much better choice. At a 1% rewards rate, your $5,000 in spending nets a $50 donation to your selected charities.
So is a charity credit card worth it?
Though 1% is a decent rate, you could still earn more through standard reward credit cards. With the Citi® Double Cash Card, for example, you’ll earn 2% cash back (1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay off your card). That means on $5,000 of spending, you’d earn $100. Then you could cash out the money and donate it. Sure, your gift isn’t be automatic, but your charity gets a bigger check.
The buzz factor
Pound for pound, charitable cards don’t accumulate the most donations. However, they can be useful for generating buzz.
For example, your friends might see you use your card, get curious about the sponsored charity and become members of the organization. That could ultimately be worth more than a mere donation.
Some cards lend themselves well to this kind of exposure. It’s helpful if the card sponsors a well-known organization, like the Susan G. Komen Foundation or the World Wildlife Foundation. It also helps if the card is eye-catching, as it’s more likely to start conversations.
The World Wildlife Fund Credit Card stands out, and it can help you recruit new WWF members.
Sometimes, a charity credit card is about more than just donations. It can offer a reason to talk about your charity, an easy way to recruit new members or simply a warm feeling each time you buy something.
Charitable rewards programs
You don’t necessarily need a card that advertises charity to make a donation. Many credit card providers allow you to donate through special programs, or even their rewards programs. Chase’s is the latest to allow this feature, adding it to their “Pay Yourself Back” program.
Chase’s Pay Yourself Back program let’s you donate to eligible charities and use the program to “pay yourself back” using your available Ultimate Rewards. This feature is available until September 30, 2021.
Through American Express’s Members Give, you can donate to more than 1 million charities. Donate by charging your card directly, redeeming Membership Rewards points or buying Members Give Charity Certificates.
Capital One’s No Hassle Giving lets you donate rewards or cash to the charities of your choice.
Discover makes it easy to donate cash back bonuses to its partner organizations that include the American Cancer Society, American Red Cross and World Wildlife Foundation.
Through Citi’s ThankYou program, you can redeem points for donations to such organizations as the American Red Cross and Smile Train.
Starting at 2,500 points, you can redeem ThankYou points to make charitable donations.
Charitable loyalty programs: donate points and miles
Several travel loyalty programs let you donate your earnings to good causes. Travel is a huge expense for many charitable organizations, so your gifted miles can go a long way.
Alaska Airlines. Through the Charity Miles Program, you can donate your miles to such organizations as Dream Foundation, Hero Miles and Make-A-Wish.
Aeroplan. Aeroplan’s member donation program allows you to donate miles to more than 200 charities. Make a one-time donation or recurring donations of 2% of your mile earnings. And on top of whatever you donate, Aeroplan donates another 10%.
American Airlines: American Airlines lets you donate cash to its Miles to Stand Up and Miles for the Cure programs (you’ll receive miles as a reward). Or donate your miles to the airline’s Miles of Hope, Miles for All Who Serve and Miles for Kids in Need programs.
American Airlines lets you donate miles for various charitable categories.
Delta. Through Delta’s SkyWish program, you can donate miles to charities like Children’s Miracle Network and Habitat for Humanity.
Frontier Airlines. As an EarlyReturns member, you can make donations to organizations like the American Cancer Society and Make-A-Wish. To donate, call the EarlyReturns line at 1-866-263-2759.
Hawaiian Airlines. Donate your HawaiianMiles to around a dozen organizations. At the end of the year, Hawaiian Airlines matches the miles donated to each charity — up to 500,000 miles each.
JetBlue. Donate points to more than 2.5 million causes through the TrueBlue program.
Southwest. Donate Rapid Rewards points to nine charities.
United Airlines. Donate your MileagePlus miles to around 50 charities, including Feeding America, March of Dimes and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Hotels
Donating hotel points can help charities provide accommodations for staff, members and beneficiaries. Some hotel programs convert your points into cash donations.
IHG Rewards Club. You can donate points to the IHG Foundation, which teaches hospitality skills to community members, provides disaster relief, invests in local communities and helps protect the environment.
Marriott Rewards. Donate points to the American Red Cross, Hotels for Heroes, or International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
Hilton Honors. When you donate Hilton Honors Points, Hilton Honors forwards a cash donation to an organization of your choice. Donate points through PointWorthy.
Wyndham Rewards. Donate points to Hotels for Heroes or Polaris.
Choice Privileges. Donate points to eight organizations, including the Boys and Girls Club and Armed Forces Relief Trust.
Marriott Bonvoy. Donate points to Clean the World, American Red Cross, UNICEF and more.
Is my charitable donation tax-deductible?
When you make a cash donation through your credit card, your charitable gift is tax-deductible. On the other hand, donations of credit card rewards — such as points and miles — aren’t tax-deductible.
In some cases, cashback donations may be tax-deductible — for example, if you redeem your cash back and then make a cash donation.
Banks with a ‘triple bottom line’
Affinity credit cards and charitable credit card programs get the lion’s share of attention. But there’s another way you can support causes you care about: Do business with a bank that adheres to the so-called triple bottom line.
This type of bank, like every other financial institution, looks to turn a profit. But it’s also committed to social responsibility — such as supporting fair labor — and promotes initiatives in environmental sustainability.
Beneficial State Bank is an example of a bank with a triple bottom line.
When you apply for a credit card from a bank like Beneficial, you indirectly support its social and environmental causes. This could be a good option if you like the bank’s mission, and especially if you’re not thrilled to get a card from a big bank.
Other credit cards that help you donate
Even if you don’t have a “donation” credit card, you can likely still use your card to donate. That’s because many cards have a feature that makes donating easier or more lucrative.
Frequently asked questions about charity credit cards
No. You can get an affinity credit card without becoming a member of the sponsored charity.
Beyond the amount that’s automatically contributed through your card, you aren’t required to make donations.
Yes. A charity credit card is just like any other card, subject to interest rates and usage fees. You can use it anywhere your card type — Visa, Mastercard, etc. — is accepted.
Megan Horner is the credit cards publisher at Finder. She's passionate about helping you find the best credit cards to meet your financial needs — whether that's earning great rewards or improving your credit score. Megan's expertise has been spotlighted on Lifehacker, CreditCards.com, American Banker and featured on news broadcasts across the country.
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