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Maximize your PayPal bonus with a charity donation to boost vaccination rates around the world

Ashley Onadele
Articles
Ashley Onadele is a writer for sponsored content at TPG and an avid family traveler. She has traveled to over a dozen countries and counting.
Dec. 17, 2021
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4 min read
Vials With the Covid-19 Vaccine and Syringes are Displayed On a Tray at the Corona Vaccination Center
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Being able to earn bonus points and miles while helping to move the needle of progress towards important causes is a win-win situation — especially at a time when you may be looking to earn (rather than redeem) your rewards. You can do just that by supporting (Red), an organization founded in 2006 that has generated over $700 million for the Global Fund to fight AIDS and has recently shifted its attention to the coronavirus pandemic.

Code (Red) is the group’s newest campaign, created to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates around the world and provide life-saving personal protective equipment to those that need it the most. You can help further their mission by donating through the charity’s dedicated PayPal page.

Related: How you can donate your points and miles to charity

While (Red) touts the ability to donate your credit card rewards toward these efforts, there are two better options for those who have wrapped up their holiday purchases, allowing you to earn up to 10 points per dollar on your donation. However, today is the last day to activate one such offer — so read on for more details.

Earn bonus points on your donation

Now through the end of the year, holders of the Chase Freedom (no longer available for new applicants), Chase Freedom Flex and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card can earn bonus points for purchases made through PayPal, including charitable donations.

Cardholders of both the Freedom Flex and legacy Freedom earn 5% cash back (or 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent when you also have an Ultimate Rewards-earning credit card) on rotating quarterly expenses after activation on the first $1,500 spent. This quarter’s bonus includes PayPal purchases made through Dec. 31, though your deadline for activating this bonus was earlier this week.

If you prefer to earn Marriott points through your donation, Bonvoy Brilliant cardholders can earn up to 10 points per dollar — up to a total of 50,000 points — when you pay with PayPal through Dec. 31. This offer must also be activated, and today (Friday, Dec. 17) is your last chance to do so through this link.

Related: PayPal bonus bonanza: Amex and Chase go head-to-head in offering up to 10x this holiday season

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Based on TPG’s valuations, earning 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar is a 10% return on your donation, whereas 10 Marriott points per dollar is like getting 8% back — all while supporting a great cause.

How to donate

Once you’ve activated those offers, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the dedicated page on PayPal.
  2. Click on "Donate Now."
  3. Choose (or enter) your donation amount, then click "Donate Now."
  4. Log in to your PayPal account.
  5. Select (or add) your Freedom, Freedom Flex or Bonvoy Brilliant card.
  6. Click "Donate Now."

You should then immediately see a confirmation page indicating that your donation was successful.

(Screenshot from PayPal)

Another way to support Code (Red)

If you’ve already maxed out one (or both) of these offers for bonus points, you can also support this important campaign by purchasing (Red) products from Amazon. These range from simple tea sets and water bottles to Beats headphones and even iPhones.

Check out the full lineup of items at this page.

Read more: Best credit cards for Amazon purchases

Bottom line

Through PayPal’s Giving Fund, Code (Red) is raising funds to expand worldwide COVID-19 vaccinations and sending PPE to those who need it most. You can make the most of your donation to the cause through the end of the year by using a card that earns bonus points when making online purchases through PayPal.

Earn 5 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar (or 5% cash back) on the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex, or earn 10 Marriott points per dollar with the Bonvoy Brilliant card — if you activate the bonus through this link by Friday, Dec. 17.

But hurry — these bonus offers end on Dec. 31, giving you just two more weeks to help a great cause and take home extra points at the same time.

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.