Doctor of Credit (H/T) has reported yesterday that Chase has added a new redemption option for the Sapphire Cards. You can now redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points towards charitable donations. This additional option is part of Chase’s new Pay Yourself Back Feature, which lets you redeem UR points towards groceries and other common expenses.
Plus, none of Chase’s other redemption options are going away for Sapphire cardholders. Cardholders can still redeem UR points towards travel via partners or the Chase Travel Portal. Or they can use the Pay Yourself Back Feature to redeem towards common expenses or straight cash.
What’s Going On?
Chase is now letting Sapphire cardholders redeem UR points for charitable donations. Sapphire Reserve cardholders can redeem at a rate of 1.5 cents per point (CPP). And Sapphire Preferred cardholders can redeem at a rate of 1.25 CPP.
Furthermore, cardholders can now donate to the following charitable organizations:
- American Red Cross
- Equal Justice Initiative
- Feeding America
- Habitat for Humanity
- International Medical Corps
- Leadership Conference Education Fund
- NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fun
- National Urban League
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund
- United Negro College Fund
- United Way
- World Central Kitchen
However, the only caveat with donations is that cardholders must donate directly to the organization of their choice. Local chapters might not be eligible for Chase’s program.
Analysis
Chase’s new charitable redemption option appears to have nothing to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather, it is a vehicle for Sapphire cardholders to donate to a charity from Chase’s list. Some of them pertain to African Americans, which is appropriate given the recent news.
Plus, cardholders will receive a tax write off if they donate directly to the charity. Donating points is akin to donating money according to Chase.
Discover has a similar option with their cash back. However, Discover It cardholders receive a 10% cash bonus when they redeem cash back towards charitable organizations.
Final Draw
The acronym “CSR” does not only refer to the Sapphire Reserve or customer service representatives. In the world of business, it also refers to corporate social responsibility (H/T to The Balance). Corporate Social Responsibility is when a business incorporates social and environmental concerns into their operations. Chase has done this by adding such a charitable redemption option for their Sapphire cards.
Furthermore, I hope that Chase adds this option to their Freedom and Ink card families in the future. I predict that Chase will do a three-month test run of their redemption option on the Sapphire Cards. And if everything works out, they will expand it to the entirety of their core credit cards.
I am impressed that Chase has added a list of charities to donate points to. This is another way that Chase is helping not only their Sapphire cardholders, but a plethora of others too.
