| Charity credit cards are an easy way for people to | | | | Make A Wish foundation. |
| donate cash back rewards to charities. Some of | | | | Bank of America offers a Humane Society of the |
| these cards will make a fixed amount donation | | | | United States credit card that donates 25 cents for |
| (usually $10 or $20) when you first open your | | | | every $100 in purchases you make to the Humane |
| account, and some will match some of your own | | | | Society of the U.S. And you get a free tee-shirt |
| donations. It can be a good way to consistently | | | | when you open your account. |
| support the causes that are dearest to your heart. | | | | As with any credit card, you should weigh the |
| They work just like other rewards cards, except | | | | potential benefits of a card against your particular |
| that the rewards go to the charity with which the | | | | type of spending. For example, if you tend to carry |
| card is associated. | | | | large balances from month to month, you're probably |
| They are generally competitive with any other type | | | | paying a high interest rate. You may be better off |
| of credit card, in that they may offer low | | | | changing to a card with the lowest interest rate you |
| introductory APR, balance transfers, and interest | | | | can get, and then taking that money you would have |
| rates comparable to those on other cards. The | | | | spent on interest and donating it to your favorite |
| added perk is that they make you feel good for | | | | charity instead. |
| using your card. Here are a few examples of charity | | | | Maximizing the benefits to the charity and to yourself |
| cards. | | | | basically means using your card for as many |
| The Kiva organization offers micro-financing loans to | | | | purchases as you can pay off in full every month. |
| entrepreneurs in developing countries. You sign up | | | | This way you maximize the amount donated to the |
| with Kiva, learn about the upstart businesses that | | | | charity and give yourself the gift of not having to |
| need funding, then Kiva handles the transactions that | | | | pay interest charges. |
| help specific projects. | | | | Particularly for those with hectic lifestyles who keep |
| The Make-A-Wish Credit Card is affiliated with the | | | | meaning to sit down and write out a check to their |
| Make A Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to | | | | favorite charities, having a charity credit card instead |
| children with life threatening medical problems. Every | | | | may be a good way to do some good without going |
| time you spend a dollar, a donation is made to the | | | | to a lot of trouble. |