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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.
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.
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.
| 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 |
| Rewards | 1% cash back to your choice of nonprofits, K-12 schools, colleges and religious organizations |
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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
| 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 |
| 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 |
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.
| 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 | |
| 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%. |
To find the right charity credit card, here’s what to consider:
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:
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.
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.
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.
You don’t have to get a charity credit card to make a donation. Some credit card providers allow you to donate through special programs.
Starting at 2,500 points, you can redeem ThankYou points to make charitable donations.
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.
Several airline rewards programs make it easy for you to donate your spare points to charities.
American Airlines lets you donate miles for various charitable categories.
Donating hotel points can help charities provide accommodations for staff, members and beneficiaries. Some hotel programs convert your points into cash donations.
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.
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.
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.
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