Partners accept HandUp gift cards and exchange them for it’s value (typically $25) in retail items, retail/restaurant gift cards, or even bill pay. What you give in exchange for handup gift cards will depend on your organization’s bandwidth and ability to make purchases or spend money within the organization. Recipients are not only now able to take care of basics needs, but now have the chance to get connected to the other resources your organization has to offer.
Common items to offer in exchange for the gift card
The most common item to give in exchange is retail or restaurant gift cards such as Goodwill, Old Navy, Safeway, Walgreens, Subway, and various fast food chains. So for example if someone comes in with a handup card and says they’d like to be able to get some clothes, you can take the handup card and exchange it for a Goodwill card. (see Suggested Fulfillment Methods on best practices for purchasing retail cards)
If you have bandwidth and flexibility to spend money within your organization budget, you can offer other options like paying a bill online or by check, or making an online purchase such as items on amazon. When making purchases online be sure to keep in mind, sales tax & shipping, and to not exceed to the value of the HandUp gift card.
How funding works
In the very beginning your organization will have to invest some money upfront into purchasing the retail gift cards, or allowing the spending. Once HandUp gift cards begin getting redeemed, the money from each HandUp Gift Cards is transferred over to your organization. Overtime your upfront investment will be paid back and the money that comes in from HandUp gift cards can be used to continue purchasing more store/restaurant gift cards.
When you accept a HandUp gift card, you have to login to the HandUp system and be sure to enter it in on the site, this ensures that the card is accounted for and your organization gets the money. After the HandUp Card is redeemed you should dispose of it.
See How To Redeem Gift Cards for more detailed information on exact process of entering the gift card on the site.
After the card is redeemed
Now that the card is entered in the system, and you have given them their desired item in exchange. You can now proceed to ask them what other services they may be interested in that your organization can provide. This is the key benefit of handup gift cards, the person in need can take care of immediate needs like food, hygiene, clothing and then also get connected to the various services your organization has to offer.
We have had people get connected to denture programs, rental assistance programs, housing workshops etc, because HandUp gift cards got them into the doors of organizations like yours.
HandUp gift cards are a way to build trust with clients by providing them with an immediate YES!
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