Salvation Army Gets Creative

Check this out -- the Salvation Army is moving into the 21st century:

This season, five bell-ringers in El Paso County, Colo., will be the first to accept debit and credit cards along with spare change and bills. Salvation Army officials say the kettle tradition needs to be tweaked as consumers increasingly carry only plastic.

I was talking to a leader of a local charity the other day and he was telling me that they were seeing more and more people who could/would not give with cash or check -- they pay everything either online or with a credit/debit card. He and his organization were looking at ways to address this growing trend.

Personally, I'm enough from the old school that I use checks for most of my giving, though I do use credit cards sometimes as well. Any of you exclusively use either online or credit cards to give to charity?

Comments

[Mark B.]

I almost never use checks any more. I might write 5 a year at most.

I also NEVER carry cash, I use my debit card for everything. Therefore, in recent years I have put much less money in the kettles because I don't have any bills or change to put in. I would certainly be more likely to contribute if I could swipe my card.

Next thing you know, the bums on the street corners will start accepting credit/debit :-) LOL.

[Kristen]

I also hardly ever carry cash. I only use a check to give in the offering plate at church. Most of the rest of my giving is done online (sponsoring people for walks, etc) so that is all done on my credit card. I think it is great that charities are looking for ways new ways to keep the giving coming. Now if they could convince the credit card companies to give them a break on the fees to then everyone wins!

[Money Minder]

We have the bulk of our donations done through payroll deductions. We also use credit cards throughout the year to support school fundraisers and friends and family looking for pledges of support. No cash though.

[Bill]

Looking through my check book, all I see is tithing checks to my Church. Pretty much everything else is done online through card. I do not carry cash so I understand the Salvation Army's reasoning.

[Kevin M]

I use a credit card for everything, so charitable donations are the same way. I honestly can't believe it's taken them this long to realize the trend to plastic. (Not to mention the donee has a better record than trying to get a canceled check from the bank.)

[Noah]

Until the Salvation Army gets out of the dark ages with their views on gay rights, I cannot give them a dime.