Writer: Ashley Fricker
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Socially responsible credit cards not only provide consumers with the convenience that comes with plastic — swipe and go or make online purchases — but they also offer a simple way to support worthy causes in the process.
Many of us are eager to do our part to safeguard nature, wildlife, and each other, but figuring out how to achieve these goals can be tricky. Even a seemingly obvious choice, like cutting down carbon emissions by driving an electric car, can vary in effectiveness.
Most of us aren’t experts on the causes we care about, even when they matter deeply to us. That’s where charities and nonprofit organizations really help. These groups do meaningful work every day, guided by people who have the knowledge and perspective to make a lasting difference.
And you can make a difference for them, simply by using the right credit card for purchases you make already. All you need is a rewards card that lets you donate cash back or points or a credit union card that gives back to your community.
Direct-Donation Cards | Rewards Cards | Credit Union Cards
Automatically Give Back with Direct-Donation Cards
A direct-donation or affinity credit card is the set-it-and-forget-it method of donating with a credit card, as they automatically donate a portion of your purchases to your designated organization, with no work needed on your part. Affinity credit cards are co-branded with a specific nonprofit organization, donating a portion of every card purchase directly to that organization. Some affinity cards also provide additional funds for card signups and renewals.
1. Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card
One of the only cards like it in the world, the Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card is an easy way to automatically donate to your favorite charity with every purchase. Unlike typical affinity cards, the Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card allows you to choose the organizations you’d like to receive your donations.
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase, which is automatically donated to the charity of your choice
- 100% of your donations go to your charity with no extra fees
- Pay no annual fee
You can change your charity of choice at any time, with the ability to choose to fund up to three different nonprofits at the same time. All of your donations are tax deductible and, even better, Charity Charge World Mastercard® Credit Card does the paperwork for you.
2. Bank of America World Wildlife Fund Visa
The Bank of America World Wildlife Fund Visa allows you to donate a portion of every purchase to the World Wildlife Fund, an organization working to conserve threatened and endangered species, as well as reduce the human impact on the environment.
- Earn 3% cash back on gas and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined purchases
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Pay no annual fee
The World Wildlife Federation receives 0.08% of all net purchases made with your World Wildlife Fund Credit Card, at least $3 per new card account, and at least $3 for each annual card renewal.
3. Bank of America Susan G. Komen® Cash Rewards Visa®
The Susan G. Komen® Cash Rewards Visa® provides a way to donate to Susan G. Komen®, an organization for the fight against breast cancer.
- Earn 3% cash back on gas and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs for the first $2,500 in combined purchases
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Pay no annual fee
For each new Susan G. Komen Cash Rewards credit card used to make a transaction within — and remains open for at least — the first 90 days of account opening, Komen receives $3 and 0.08% of all retail purchases.
Turn Your Credit Card Rewards Into Charitable Donations
For the majority of cardholders, credit card rewards are the best feature offered by their cards. At the same time, however, nearly a third of cardholders fail to redeem those rewards — leaving millions of dollars in the pockets of card issuers.
Rather than letting those rewards go unused, why not put them toward a cause you care about? Many major credit card issuers allow you to turn your cash back or points into a charitable donation right from the rewards redemption screen. Keep in mind that these reward-based donations usually aren’t tax deductible.
Discover | Chase | American Express
Discover Rewards Donations
With the Discover it® card, members can earn 5% cash back in quarterly rotating bonus categories that include a variety of everyday purchase categories, such as gas or restaurant purchases. Members can earn bonus cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter they activate the bonus. Cardholders also earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
You can then take all that cash back and donate it directly to a worthwhile organization, including popular nonprofits like the American Cancer Society, ASPCA, and Make a Wish Foundation. As an added incentive, Discover will donate an extra $25,000 to the organization that receives the most cardmember donations each year.
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Chase Rewards Donations
Any talk about rewards credit cards tends to mention the Chase Freedom cards and Chase Sapphire Preferred card at some point, and not solely because of the solid earnings rates both provide. The real star of the Chase rewards show for many cardholders is the Chase Ultimate Rewards points program.
While the Ultimate Rewards program is well-lauded for its flexible rewards points and bevy of travel partners, you can use your Ultimate Rewards for more than just a free getaway. You can also donate them to a great cause through the cash back tab of the Ultimate Rewards portal, helping organizations like the ASPCA or World Wildlife Fund.
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Freedom Unlimited® was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel℠
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Additional Disclosure: Non-Monetized. The information related to Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card was collected by CardRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardRates does not receive commission for this product.
American Express Rewards Donations
Whether you want bonus points on gas and groceries or airfare and hotel stays, American Express has a Membership Rewards® points card for you. The American Express Membership Rewards® points program is popular thanks to its wide range of redemption options — including the ability to donate to a great nonprofit through the Members Give℠ portal.
American Express has one of the largest selection of nonprofits to which members can choose to donate their Membership Rewards® points, with organizations in categories from arts and education to health care and disaster relief. If you don’t have points to donate, you can also use the Members Give℠ portal to contribute with a direct donation with any Amex card.
10. The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card really is an everyday card, not only rewarding you bonus points for grocery purchases, but also offering extra points for making 20 or more transactions each billing period.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per $1 on US supermarket purchases, up to $6,000 per year in purchases
- Earn unlimited 1X points per $1 on all other purchases
- Pay no annual fee
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card also comes with a quality signup bonus with a reasonable spending requirement that can get your Membership Rewards® points collection started on the right foot.
11. The Platinum Card® from American Express
Offering a high earnings rate on hotel and airfare purchases, credits for Uber rides, and a host of travel perks, the Platinum Card® from American Express is perfect for anyone who spends most of their time on-the-go.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points per $1 on flights/hotels booked directly with the airline/hotel or American Express Travel
- Receive up to $200 in Uber credits per year
- Receive a $200 airline fee credit each year
While the Platinum Card® from American Express has a hefty $550 annual fee, the bulk of that can be offset simply by using your full Uber and airline fee credits each year.
12. American Express® Gold Card
The American Express® Gold Card is a solid everyday card, offering 4X points per dollar at US restaurants and grocery stores, plus triple points on travel booked through Amex.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per $1 at US restaurants and grocery stores
- Receive 3X points on flights booked directly with the airlines
- Pay $250 annual fee
Cardholders can also earn an annual $100 airline fee credit and up to $120 a year in credit toward select restaurants.
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Choose a Card From a Socially Minded Credit Union
While we often think of charities as the main players working for the common good, they’re not the only ones making a difference—especially at the local level. The not-for-profit credit unions found in towns both big and small across the country frequently contribute to enhancing their communities every day.
Unlike large banks, which are typically owned by boards and investors, credit unions are owned by their members. That setup helps each credit union stay more closely tied to the people it serves. Because members are the owners, profits go back to them through dividends, lower rates and fees, improved services, and more flexible credit standards.
Moreover, while big banks often concentrate on financing large corporations, credit unions are more inclined to support local small businesses or community projects that might be overlooked by larger financial institutions. They also frequently back local nonprofits and community events. So, when you use a credit union credit card, you’re supporting both yourself and your community.
The National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions is a perfect example of how credit unions can have a big impact on the communities they serve. Its hundreds of member credit unions focus on providing services to low-income urban, rural, and reservation-based communities throughout the US that would otherwise struggle to find affordable banking and financial services.
Use Any Credit Card to Donate Directly to Your Favorite Cause
No matter which causes are near and dear to your heart, chances are good there is a nonprofit organization working to promote and execute goals in line with those causes. And you can help these great organizations make a difference simply by choosing the right credit card to make your everyday purchases.
Even if you don’t have a rewards card that donates cash back or points, an affinity card that gives automatically, or a credit union card that supports the community, you can still make a difference with the card already in your wallet. The good news is that nearly any credit card can be used to donate directly to the organization you want to support.
Better yet, you may be able to earn rewards on your donation, depending on your credit card. You can also enjoy the tax benefits of a deductible donation when you give directly to the organization or through an eligible third-party provider.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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