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Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question? We’ve got answers to your most frequently asked ones.

General Questions

How do I earn donations for a cause I care about?

It’s simple! With Givebacks, when you shop and dine at participating stores and restaurants, those merchants automatically donate a percentage to the cause of your choice.

To make sure you’re all set up to give, register for a Givebacks account and securely link your credit card. Then, select the cause of your choice.

Once you’ve done that, you’ll start powering donations by simply shopping and dining like you normally do.

On your computer:
● Add the Givebacks Chrome extension
● Activate offers when they pop up
● Shop and pay withy our linked credit card

On your phone:
● Follow the instructions in the Givebacks app to enable the extension on your mobile browser (Safari for iPhone and Chrome for Android)
● Note: You will not earn cash back through a store’s app, so make sure you’re using your mobile browser

In-person:
● Choose ‘Claim Offer’ on the Givebacks website or in the app before shopping
● Make sure to run your card as credit, not debit

What is a Backer?

That’s you! When you sign up for Givebacks, you become a Backer, which is a special community of people who see value in supporting social good with their spending dollars.

What devices and browsers can I use?

You can use Givebacks on any laptop ,desktop, or mobile phone. Currently, Givebacks is not compatible with iPads or other tablets.
Givebacks works with the following browsers:
Desktop: The Givebacks desktop extension is compatible with Google Chrome.

iPhone: On your iPhone, the Givebacks mobile extension works only with the Safari browser.

Android: On Android, the Givebacks mobile extension works only with the Google Chrome browser.

How do I enable the Givebacks extension on my desktop?

The Givebacks extension is compatible with the Google Chrome browser. You can add the extension here.
To pin the extension, select the puzzle icon in the top right of your Chrome browser. Find the Givebacks extension and click the pin icon.
Now, when you shop online at participating stores, you’ll see a pop-up to activate an offer. Simply activate, then shop and money will automatically be donated to your cause.

How do I enable the mobile extension?

The Givebacks mobile extension is compatible with the Safari browser on iPhone and the Google Chrome browser on Android phones.
To enable the extension, make sure you’ve downloaded the Givebacks app for your iPhone or Android.

Once you have the app, sign in and tap‘ Get Extension’ at the top of the screen. The app will walk you through the instructions to enable the extension from there. Note: You’ll need to make sure to enable permissions in your phone settings so Givebacks can alert you when there’s an offer to activate.

How does Givebacks make money?

When you shop and dine at participating brands, those brands automatically donate to the cause of your choice. We collect a fee from these merchants, who choose to spend their marketing dollars to delight customers like you, instead of annoying you with more ads. Win-win.

Does it cost anything to shop with Givebacks?

Nope! You only pay for your purchase, and the brands you visit automatically donate to your cause of choice, at no cost to you.

What kind of causes can I choose?

You can choose from over 1 million nonprofit organizations that are registered and in good standing with the IRS. In addition to 501(c)3 organizations, you can also select 501(c)4, 501(c)6 and 501(c)8 organizations.

How do I select a cause?

From the Causes page, you can browse featured nonprofits, trending nonprofits, and nonprofits near you You can also use the Search function to find a cause you’re looking for. Once you’ve selected a cause, it will receive donations automatically when you make qualifying purchases.

Can I change my cause?

Yes, you can change your cause at any time.

How much money will my cause earn?

It all depends on how much you shop and dine! Every time you make a qualifying purchase at a participating merchant, your cause will earn up to a 5% donation, at no cost to you.

How does my cause receive donations?

Nonprofits that are registered with Givebacks receive their donations in their Givebacks wallet. If your cause is not registered with Givebacks yet, we’ll reach out to ask them to sign up so they can receive donations. An organization has 8 calendar quarters to register with Givebacks. During that time, we will track their donations.
If your cause doesn’t register by the end of that period or becomes ineligible, we’ll email you and ask you to select a new cause within 30 days. When you pick a new cause within the 30-day period, we’ll apply the donations from your previous Givebacks purchases to your new cause. If you don’t select a new cause within 30 days, we’ll apply the donations from your previous Givebacks purchases to other causes.

Do I need to keep my receipts?

It’s a good idea to keep your receipts. If for any reason a donation does not show up within 3-5 business days of your purchase, reach out to our support team who will ask for your receipts so they can investigate.

Why wasn’t my donation processed?

If it’s been 3-5 days and a donation from a purchase you made has still not been processed, there are a few potential reasons.

‍Your offer was not claimed
‍If you do not claim or activate an offer before making a purchase, a donation will not be made.

‍Eligibility restrictions
‍Sometimes a merchant has criteria the purchase must meet to be eligible. This is often around the category of goods purchased or whether discounted or sale items are included. You can see these details before you activate an offer.

‍The offer has expiredI
If it takes you more than 10-15 minutes to complete a purchase, the offer may expire and need to be re-activated.

‍The offer is no longer valid
‍If you claimed an offer a long time before using it, there’s a chance it will no longer be valid. It’s a good idea to double-check offers in the Givebacks app or on our website before using them. Most Local Offers expire within 45 days after being claimed.

‍The offer was not valid for your method of shopping
‍We have several types of offers: online, in-store offer, and dining. It's important to note which method an offer is valid for when claiming it.

‍You already used the offer
‍If you have already redeemed an offer, it needs to be reclaimed to be used again.

Does Givebacks sell my data?

No. We do not sell or share data with third parties outside of the partner networks, payment network, and other third parties contracted to perform the services and deliver the functions within the Givebacks app.

How do I add a credit card?

From your Wallet, select ‘Add card’ and enter your card details. Then, make sure to use this card when you shop and run it as credit not debit to ensure your cause receives donations. You can add, edit, or remove cards at any time.

What type of credit cards can I use?

Givebacks works with most American Express, Mastercard, or Visa credit cards. Exceptions include Macy’s American Express cards, corporate and purchasing cards, Health Savings Account cards, Flexible Spending Account cards, government-administered prepaid cards (including EBT cards), insurance prepaid cards, and Visa Buxx. Diners Club and Discover cards are not eligible at this time.

Can I use a credit card issued outside of the
United States for in-store purchases?

No. Only cards issued in the United States and Canada are eligible. Any Canadian credit cards must be enrolled in the Givebacks in-store program to be eligible.

Can I use my debit card?

We recommended using an eligible American Express, Mastercard, or Visa credit card. If you use your debit card, do not enter your PIN at checkout. Instead, select credit instead of debit when your card is swiped or inserted, which means you will sign a receipt instead of entering your PIN at the point of sale. If you use your PIN for debit, Givebacks will not get your transaction information and donations will not be made.

Can I use my store credit card for in-store shopping?

Unfortunately, no. Givebacks in-store donations are granted when American Express, Mastercard, and Visa report your linked purchase to us. Most store cards, even if they have a major credit card logo, are processed through the store’s bank and not the major credit card networks. This prevents us from being able to process donations for these transactions.

Does Givebacks store my credit card information?

No. Givebacks takes your privacy and security seriously and we do receive or store your bank account, payment card, or online payment service credentials on any systems that we operate.

We use a PCI-compliant process called tokenization, which removes the data from an organization's internal systems entirely and exchanges it for a randomly generated non sensitive placeholder (a token). For more information on how Givebacks handles your private information, please see our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

How many people can I invite?

There’s no limit! The more friends, family, and coworkers you invite, the more money is donated to important causes. You can see a list of the people you’ve referred in your profile.

How can I refer someone to Givebacks?

It’s easy to invite friends to join the Backer community!
In your profile, you’ll find your personal referral link, which you can share via email or text. The link will invite the person you refer to sign up to support your cause. They can also select a different cause of their choice. When they sign up and make a qualifying purchase within 90 days, the cause they selected will get a $5 bonus.

How long does it take for donations to process?

After you shop or dine at a participating business, you’ll get an email notifying you that a donation has been made. This can take up to 3-5 days after your purchase.

General Questions

How do I get started using Givebacks for my nonprofit?

Givebacks is an ideal way for your nonprofit to reach more donors and create an effortless new donation stream.
To get started, first log in or sign up for an account.
Once your account is set up, enter theEIN for your nonprofit. Choose your organization from the list and click the ‘Verify YourCause’ button. If you can’t find your nonprofit, follow the link on thatpage to contact our team.
Next, you’ll be taken to Stripe to set up your account for donation payouts. You want to make sure the person setting this up is an authorized signer on your organization’s bank account. Enter your mobile number and email address and then verify with the code Stipe sends you.
Next, fill out the required information, including your nonprofit’s legal business name, EIN, and mission. You’ll then be asked for your legal representative's information (the treasurer or president of your organization). Finally, you’ll be asked to add your banking details.
After that information is added, it can take up to 48 hrs for Stripe to verify your organization. Once verified, you’ll be set up to receive payouts whenever a Backer makes a qualifying purchase!

What kinds of nonprofits participate in Givebacks?

Nonprofit organizations that are registered and in good standing with the IRS can register to receive donations through Givebacks. Over 1 million nonprofit organizations are currently available for Backers to choose from. In addition to 501(c)3 organizations, we welcome 501(c)4, 501(c)6 and 501(c)8 organizations.

Who uses Givebacks?

The people who use Givebacks are a special community who see value in supporting social good with their spending dollars. Your Backers are socially-minded consumers who have decided to support your nonprofit through their everyday purchases.

How does Givebacks make money?

When a Backer (aka consumer) shops at a participating merchant, that merchant automatically donates to the nonprofit the Backer has selected. We collect a fee from these merchants, who choose to spend their marketing dollars to delight customers by supporting their favorite causes, instead of annoying them with more ads. Win-win.

Where do donations come from?

Givebacks makes this win-win model possible by donating to your nonprofit from our share of revenue. We do this because our vision is to create an inclusive giving ecosystem that helps people move more money to the causes they care about.

How does my organization receive payouts?

To receive a pay out, follow these steps:
1. First, login to your account.
2. From the Payouts tab, click the ‘Transfer Funds’ button.
3. Choose the entire balance or enter a specific amount, then click the ‘Transfer Funds’ button at the bottom.

Funds will appear in the bank account tied to your Stripe account within 3-5 business days.

How do I see my nonprofit’s Backers?

You can see the people who back your non profit in two places: your Dashboard and your Backer Tracker.
From your account, select the Dashboard tab. Then, choose a date range using the dropdown in the upper right. You’ll be able to see these metrics: Total Supporting Backers, Backers Active, Desktop Extension installs, Mobile Extension installs, Cards Linked, and the percentage of Backers who have made a Purchase.
You’ll also see a section with information about your Most Recent Backers.
On the right, you’ll see a button labeled Research Your Backers, which will take you to your Backer Tracker. You can also access your Backer Tracker by selecting the tab on the left. The Backer Tracker has similar information to the Dashboard and also includes a searchable Backer Directory with more information about your Backers. To export your Backer Directory, simply click the download button.

Is my organization’s data protected?

Yes. We do not sell or share data with third parties outside of the partner networks, payment network, and other third parties contracted to perform the services and deliver the functions within the Givebacks app.

How can I edit information about my nonprofit?

From your account, select the Cause Management
tab. Here you can edit or update any information or images.

What do my Backers see about my nonprofit?

From your account, select the Dashboard tab, then select ‘Enhance Your Public Profile’ on the left. Next, select the ‘Preview Your Cause Page’ button at the top. You can also access this via the Cause Management tab.
When you select the ‘Preview Your Cause Page’
button, a new browser tab will open and show you what your Backers see.

What metrics can I see on my Dashboard?

To access your Dashboard, go to your account, then select the Dashboard tab. Here you’ll be able to see information about your Backers, your Donation Goal, and your Performance, which includes Earned YTD, Lifetime Earnings, and Global Earnings.

How do I promote my cause?

From your account, select the Promotions Center tab. You’ll see two shareable links: Your Cause Page
and Invite to Join, as well as buttons for sharing them.
You’ll also find our Resource Library with downloadable promotional materials you can use to promote your organization.

How do I invite Backers to support my nonprofit?

From your account, select the Promotions Center tab. There, you’ll see two links: Your Cause Page
and Invite to Join, as well as buttons for sharing these links.
The first link takes people directly to your nonprofit page. This is where they can learn about your organization, see photos, and view details like the amount raised.
The Invite to Join link takes backers directly to a page where they can choose ‘Select this Cause’ to back your organization.

Still have a question? We’re here to help.

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