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Saving the world while shopping?

Submitted by tmeronek on Thu, 11/01/2007 - 1:54am.
The Bite:
Priceless. Donation-linked credit cards work kind of like frequent flyer programs, only each time you make a purchase, you donate money to a charity or offset carbons. So while there are some things that money can't buy, a greener planet ain't one of them.
The Benefits: 
  • Extra rewards. You're going to buy stuff anyway. Might as well earn carbon offsets or monetary donations while you're at it; they're small (usually around 1% of spending), but they add up.
  • Similar services. Some cards offer personal rewards as well as giving to charities or CO2 offsetters, and all are affiliated with major card companies like Visa.
  • Less worry about whether or not your rewards points are gonna expire, since the points go straight to the good cause.
Personally Speaking: 
Several of us have Working Assets credit cards, which have enabled way too much charitable giving lately.
Wanna Try: 
  • Working Assets Visa - each time you make a purchase, Working Asset's splits 10 cents between a variety of nonprofits, such as Planned Parenthood and the Union of Concerned Scientists, plus you earn personal rewards.
  • Earth Rewards MasterCard - up to 1% of your spending goes to GE-AES carbon offsetting programs; you can also choose to get some cash back.
  • Salmon Nation Visa - issued by an eco-friendly bank, a small percentage of your spending goes to saving Northwest salmon.
  • World Wildlife Fund Visa - 1% of each sale goes to wildlife conservation efforts.
  • DIY Bite: If you have a credit card issued by a bank, check its website to see if you can earn rewards for good causes.
Related Tips: 
The E-statements Tip
Amanda Leesburg

Related Blog Post: Plastic or Plastic?

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