Wise Giving Wednesday: Should You Round Up for Charity at Checkout?

Before you round up for charity at checkout, take a moment to know where your spare change is going.

The Growing Role of Checkout Giving

Checkout options to “round up” your purchase to the nearest dollar to support a specific cause or charity have become commonplace. With the holidays on the horizon, checkout giving opportunities will increase as people shop at retail stores for the hottest toys, clothes, and gadgets for friends and family.

According to our Give.org 2026 Donor Trust Report: Trends in Donor Trust and Perspectives, 23% of survey participants reported donating at the checkout counter during 2025.

According to Engage for Good’s 2025 America’s Checkout Champions report, 92 point-of-sale campaigns raised over $275 million in the U.S. during 2024. The biennial benchmark identifies a few of the top campaigns at Taco Bell, PetSmart, Petco, and Walmart, which collectively raised over $190 million. The report also highlights new checkout strategies, such as app-based giving and tap-to-donate tools.

Checkout contribution options can be convenient for donors, charities, and businesses alike. Below are a few tips for donors considering a charitable gift as they ‘tap’ or ‘swipe’ to pay. We also offer a few considerations for retailers offering checkout donations.

What to Know Before You Donate at Checkout

For donors, a little research can make the experience more comfortable and offer a deeper connection to the charity receiving the donation:

• Look for the charity’s name. Make sure the retailer clearly indicates the specific charity that donations will benefit, and check that the information at checkout matches the information on the charity’s official website. At a smaller, local business, asking a store staff member may help get clarification. Keep in mind that if the “round-up” campaign just references a cause, such as breast cancer, hunger relief, or local schools, it may be more difficult to know how your donation will be used.

• Research the charity first. Don’t assume the charity has been vetted, even if it’s just your “spare change.” While a round-up donation may not seem like a lot, it can add up with each visit. Visit the charity’s website, review its annual reports, and visit Give.org to see if the charity is a BBB Accredited Charity (i.e., meets all 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability).

• Don’t feel pressured to give. A request for donations at the point of sale can feel pressured when a store clerk or other customers are in close proximity. If a store clerk asks if you’d like to support a cause by adding a dollar to your purchase, if unsure you can express interest while politely declining and indicate that you’d like to get more information first.

Tips for Retailers Offering Checkout Donations

If you’re a retailer considering offering checkout counter donations, there are a few things to consider:

• Put agreements in writing. Make sure you receive the charity’s consent to use its name or logo, and that the agreement specifies how and when donations will be sent to the organization.

• Make disclosures clear and accurate. Transparency is key. Not only do customers appreciate or expect clarity, but if you want customers to continue to “round up” for your cause, having clear information will encourage them to give again next time.

• Research potential charity partners. Before engaging in a point-of-sale donation option, visit Give.org to find out if the potential charity partner meets the BBB Charity Standards.

How Checkout Giving Relates to Cause-Related Marketing

Many of these tips for checkout giving also broadly apply to cause-related marketing when consumer goods or services indicate a portion of sales will benefit a particular charity.

For more information on cause-related marketing, please see this post or this Wise Giving Guide article.

Recent Reports

We are always working with charities to publish or update reports for donors. Visit Give.org to check out any charity before giving. Our recently evaluated charities include:

• Barth Syndrome Foundation
• Music Orchard
• Center for Health and Hope

Finally, remember to let us know by going to give.org/charity-inquiry if you are interested in seeing a report on a charity not on the list and we will do our best to produce one.