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Support more than 50 charities through Miles on a Mission this Giving Tuesday

Nov. 30, 2021
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4 min read
PeaceJam Guatemala September 2019
Support more than 50 charities through Miles on a Mission this Giving Tuesday
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It's easy to get wrapped up in the energy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and forget that one of the major themes of the holiday season is to give. That's why the first Tuesday after the Thanksgiving holiday is dedicated to charity — and today marks this year's Giving Tuesday.

And as we're done in previous years, The Points Guy is once again excited to partner with United Airlines and Miles on a Mission to support a number of worthy causes — through the donation of United miles.

Last year TPG raised 22 million miles for 36 charities in need, and this year we've set our sights even higher. Our goal for this campaign — which runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 28 — is 40 million miles. And to sweeten the deal, United will even add a mileage bonus to every nonprofit that reaches its fundraising goal.

You can review the participating organizations and help us reach our goal by visiting this page.

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

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Miles on a Mission is just one of the many ways that United supports the communities where it lives, works and flies — and where you can do some good too. To date, over 200 million miles have been donated since the organization launched in 2019, and an incredible 26.6 million miles were donated on Giving Tuesday alone last year.

This year will be the biggest year of giving yet, as more than 50 nonprofits are participating in Miles on a Mission. Here are just a few of the organizations you can donate to this year:

  • Fisher House: Fisher House Foundation builds comfort homes — located at military and VA medical centers around the world — that house military and veteran families while their loved one is in the hospital.
  • Shriners Children's: Formerly Shriners Hospital, Shriners Children's provides high quality, patient-centered specialty medical care to children and families, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status.
  • Conservation International: Conservation International empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature and our global diversity for the well-being of humanity and the planet.
  • PeaceJam: An organization close to TPG's heart, PeaceJam is a global youth organization led by 14 Nobel Peace Laureates dedicated to growing and supporting a generation that believes peace is a verb and knows how to get it done.
  • Rainbow Railroad: Another TPG favorite, Rainbow Railroad is a global not-for-profit organization that helps LGBTQ+ people facing persecution in their home countries to find safety through emergency relocation and other forms of assistance.

The best part about donating through Miles on a Mission is that you get to decide which nonprofit you want to support. And it's a great way to use some of the miles you've inevitably collected while we've waited for travel to return.

"This Giving Tuesday marks a special occasion for us to come together to support and uplift those who need it the most this holiday season and beyond," says Suzi Cabo, managing director of global community engagement at United Airlines. "We're proud to offer our MileagePlus members a meaningful way to use their miles for good and provide critically needed air travel to a variety of nonprofits that serve vulnerable communities across the globe."

While this campaign will run through Dec. 28, you can donate your miles today in honor of Giving Tuesday — and kick off the holiday season on the right note.

Click here for the full list of participating nonprofits and to donate your miles today.

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.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
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Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

4XEarn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.