Every Kindness is a Gift
Gift cards for essentials
Introduction
Gift Card Bank is a nonprofit program that specializes in the distribution of gift cards, and our mission is to improve well-being and build financial stability by supporting people through their time of need. We believe in the dignity of choice.
Through the generosity of Dollar Tree, we are able to offer grants of Dollar Tree gift cards to nonprofits and schools. The purpose of these gift card grants is to increase access to essentials like food, school supplies, paper products, cleaning products, and hygiene items for our neighbors in need. Please review additional eligibility criteria below.
Eligibility
We encourage organizations and schools to apply for a gift card grant if they meet ALL FOUR of the eligibility criteria listed below.
Organizations that are tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or Title I schools
Organizations that:
- address food and essentials insecurity;
- promote family stability, economic well-being, or youth development;
- provide wraparound services or job skills training; or
- invest in the safety, connectivity, or resiliency of communities.
Organizations serving one of the following cities:
- Atlanta, GA
- Charlotte, NC
- Detroit, MI
- Los Angeles, CA
- Miami, FL
In the case of natural disasters, organizations providing relief efforts in any of these states are eligible: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin.
- Organizations/schools that have not already applied for and received a Dollar Tree gift card grant during the 2025 calendar year. Organizations are eligible to receive only one grant of Dollar Tree gift cards per calendar year. Please apply only once.
Selection Process
Gift Card Bank will review all applications for eligibility. On the last Thursday of each month, all eligible applications will be entered into a random selection process. Selected organizations will be notified by email the following day. If your organization is not selected, your application will automatically be rolled over to the next month's process. Please only apply once during the 2025 calendar year. Duplicate applications will be discarded.
Gift cards will be granted to organizations and schools, but are ultimately intended to be distributed to individuals and families. We ask grantees to distribute gift cards according to the distribution process described in their individual application, and no later than January 31, 2026. Gift cards must be distributed by January 31, 2026 to be eligible for future gift card grants.
Please email team@giftcardbank.org if there are changes to your distribution plan/timeline.
Activating Your Gift Cards
If you are selected to receive a gift card grant, you will be notified by email and provided shipping information. In order to prevent theft, the cards will NOT be active when you receive them. When you receive the cards, it is critical that you contact us to activate them BEFORE handing them out. Failure to do so can result in significant issues downstream, including clients stuck at the register unable to pay for their items.
To activate your cards:
- Email team@giftcardbank.org to let us know you have received your cards. Please include your order number.
- Wait to distribute the cards until you hear from us that we have activated them. Please allow one week to hear back from us.
- Once you hear back from us that we’ve activated the cards, you are welcome to distribute them.
When you receive your shipping email, please forward it to anyone who may accept delivery of the cards to ensure that all relevant personnel are looking out for them and understand the activation instructions.
Redemption Rates
Gift Card Bank keeps track of redemption rates on the gift cards we donate. The purpose of this is to ensure we are being good stewards of Dollar Tree's generosity. We will share the redemption rate of your gift card grant with you and work with you to problem solve if it happens to be low.
Our primary goal is always to work with you to get these cards into the hands of people who need them. Our data shows that when individuals and families receive the gift cards, they use them quickly. We are excited to work with you to help our neighbors in need!
Final Report
All grantees will be required to submit a brief final report, which will be due by February 28, 2026. This is a simple form with only a few questions to verify distribution and collect any feedback or testimonials you might have. You may complete your final report anytime after distribution and definitely before February 28, 2026. Click the button below to access and submit your final report.
Thank Yous and Acknowledgments
Thank you notes to Gift Card Bank can be sent to team@giftcardbank.org. We love to read them, and we'll pass them on to our contacts at Dollar Tree, too!
Questions
Please closely review the above information and the FAQ section. Additional questions can be directed to team@giftcardbank.org. This email is closely monitored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gift cards will me shipped via USPS. You will receive an email once the gift cards have shipped.
No, a signature will not be required. However, if the shipment is being delivered to a business address, the business will need to be open for someone to accept the package. If being delivered to a residential address, the package will be left on your doorstep. Note that USPS is unable to deliver to PO Boxes.
Once you have the cards in hand, please email team@giftcardbank.org. We will let you know once the cards are activated and ready to distribute. Please allow one week for us to respond.
This can become a major issue! Please email us at team@giftcardbank.org and do not distribute any further cards until we resolve the situation. Additionally, if possible, please instruct the people you distributed cards to that they should refrain from attempting to use them until we give the green light that they are activated.
The gift cards will not expire, but they must be completely distributed by January 31, 2026.
Gift cards can be redeemed at any Dollar Tree store. The cards will not work for online purchases.
Yes! The gift cards should be treated as a cash donation.
Yes. If you share an EIN, please make sure you articulate the unique chapter/location name in each application.
Maybe. If your organization is not eligible for a gift card grant, you will be notified. Each month, we will randomly select grantees from the pool of eligible applicants. If your organization is not selected this month, but is eligible, you will automatically be rolled over to next month's selection process. This process will be repeated each month through the final selection on December 19, 2025.
Please direct all questions to team@giftcardbank.org. We will respond within 24-48 hours. Because we serve more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations through gift card grants, we are unable to take phone calls, but we very closely manage this email address.
Still have questions?
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