Blackhawk, Mastercard Roll Out Charitable Prepaid Collection

Blackhawk Network, a global branded payments provider, has rolled out its Giving Good Prepaid Mastercard with a release that encompasses five choices that benefit charitable organizations, according to a Tuesday (Dec. 8) announcement. The collection of prepaid cards offers reward choices for B2B recipients, such as customers, sales partners and staffers, while giving to charitable causes, according to the announcement.

“Our Giving Good cards are a powerful way for business leaders to show appreciation to their team, sales partners and customers while fulfilling the increased needs our charity partners are experiencing in 2020,” said Jeff Haughton, senior vice president, Incentives, Corporate Development & Strategy of Blackhawk Network.

The cards will be accepted in brick-and-mortar locations and through eCommerce at over 90 U.S. businesses where Debit Mastercard is accepted, such as dining, retail, entertainment and travel brands. Blackhawk Network will make a charitable contribution that is equal to 3 percent of the card’s first loaded value to the charitable partner on the card, according to the announcement.

The charitable causes include Habitat for Humanity, Feeding America, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Make-A-Wish and Wounded Warrior Project.

Blackhawk Network said that the Giving Good Prepaid Mastercard can assist with streamlining and customizing reward distribution. Cards can be personalized with the names of cardholders and tailored messages. They can be shipped straight to recipients or all together to one place.

In August, the company worked with California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to help allow for expedient delivery of $25 million in necessary spending for healthcare professionals fighting the pandemic. Facebook contributed the $25 million, which was to go toward 50,000 prepaid cards from Blackhawk’s OmniCard portal to assist with transportation, childcare, accommodations and other costs essential healthcare professionals face.

Blackhawk Network announced in October that it had helped dozens of charity and government partners in the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia issue a total of $250 million in assistance via “hundreds of thousands” of prepaid and gift cards over the preceding few months.