Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Program Card?

A Program Card is either a loyalty card (which is not a payment card) that identifies your transactions as being part of the program OR it can be a credit card that you register for the program, which when used at participating merchants, will identify your transactions as being part of the program, thereby producing rebates from those merchants. Using your Program Card ensures that your cash purchases produce rebated donations from merchants for the schools or nonprofits that you designate.

How can I register one of my own credit cards for this program?

You may register a credit card that you already have in your possession, by going to our card registration page on this website. This will enable use of your existing credit card to produce rebates from participating merchants.

Is it safe to register one of my own credit cards for this program?

Yes. When you register your card and your personal information at this website, your information is being captured and stored using secure socket layer (SSL) encryption (the same standards used by financial institutions and online retail stores). And we go to great lengths to prevent unauthorized access to any information you share with us. Please read our privacy pledge. As stated in our privacy pledge, we will not share, rent, or sell any personal information you share with us.

I spend cash or write checks a lot. Can I still participate?

Yes. Most other programs that offer Bonus Rewards limit you by requiring that you use a registered credit card. In this program you may choose to use our loyalty program card, which works with any form of payment.

Sign up for our loyalty Program Card (which is not for payment) and swipe it whenever you pay by cash, check, debit or credit card and you will earn cash donations for your designated school(s) and nonprofit organization(s).

How does my Program Card work?

Use either type of Program Card at any participating merchant, whereby you or the cashier swipes your card through the payment terminal at the time of purchase. If you are using a loyalty Program Card (which is not used for payment, but for recording your transactions), this will cause the terminal to return a decline for payment message while it records your transaction (and this is normal). If you have a registered credit card as your Program Card, your approved payments for purchases will automatically produce rebates from participating merchants.

How do cash donations occur?

A qualifying transactionA Qualifying Transaction is any transaction at a participating COMMUNITYsmart™ merchant that qualifies under a set of rebate rules adopted by each merchant. Rebate rules are based on any one or more of the following merchant approved conditions:

at a participating merchant produces a rebate from that merchant that funds a cash donation to your chosen school(s) or nonprofit organization(s). This is done automatically through our system and by agreement with the merchant, which posts its rebate offer on our online merchant directory, which you may wish to review from time to time.

What is a Participating Merchant?

These are merchants who have become part of the program by agreeing to fund cash donations to your chosen schools and nonprofits as a direct result of your purchases at their participating locations. Look for the program (like the one at the top of this page) on the door and at checkout. These merchants are giving back to your local schools and nonprofit organizations in your community because they appreciate your loyalty and repeat business, and like you, they care about strengthening our community through their donations.

Where can I use my Program Cards?

Please refer to our online directory of participating merchants, who have agreed to fund cash donations on your qualifying purchases.

How can I get a Program Card?

Simply complete the online Program Card order form or securely register any of your credit cards on here on our website.

How do I keep track of my donations my purchases are generating for my designated school(s) and nonprofit organization(s).

The program keeps track for you, and all information is securely stored and available to you twenty-four hours a day from this website. You may view your purchases activity and related donations by signing in to your personal account from the home page of this website at anytime. Instructions for accessing your account are available from the Help Me Sign In link on the home page.

When I use my loyalty Program Card (the one which is not used for payment), the terminal at checkout says "Decline for Payment" or some related message. Why?

This happens because the loyalty Program Card is not a payment card. Declining for payment is normal because the program uses the payment card terminals to record your purchase. When the decline for payment occurs, your transaction is safely recorded as being part of the program, regardless of which form of payment you choose to make (cash, check, debit or credit card) for your transaction.

If I use my card for approximately $850 worth of the normal spending I do each month for groceries, merchandise, gas and restaurants, how much will be donated to the school or nonprofit organization of my choice as a result?

Typcially, you may count on about $35 in monthly donations based on the average spending and rebate model. The exact amount will vary depending on the specific offers from the participating merchants you frequent.

How can this program give back so much? What is the catch?

First, the success of the program depends on the loyal repeat business of people like you, who choose to shop with merchants that support the community. Through your loyal, repeat patronage, you are helping your merchants to be profitable. Loyal repeat business, and your word-of-mouth advertising increases that merchant's customer base, so purchase frequency and total sales increase.

Second, the program, through its patent pending, electronic processing system has automated the processes associated with collecting and distributing donations. This means no paper or scrip, and minimal administrative costs.

How do I enroll my child's school or my favorite nonprofit organization in this program? How can I find out more? The fund raising programs that our school uses now certainly do not produce this size of a contribution, and they require so much effort or door-to-door selling.

Simply print the one page enrollment form and have an authorized representative from your nonprofit or school sign and fax it back to us. Or contact us for assistance.