Birthdays & holidays
A meaningful option for the person who already has plenty of things.
Meaningful gifts. Personal choices.
What are charity
What are charity
gift cards?
A charity gift card is a gift of giving. You choose an amount, and the recipient uses the card to direct charitable support to a nonprofit they care about.
Digital and physical cards. One thoughtful way to give.
You give. They choose.
Support the causes that matter to them.
Purpose for every occasion
Why give a charity gift card?
You don’t have to guess someone’s favorite cause. You give them the opportunity to support it—and a reason to feel good about receiving a gift.
Thank-yous
Recognize someone’s kindness with a gift that passes it along.
Families & celebrations
Start a conversation about causes, community, and what giving means.
Teams & clients
Make appreciation personal while giving recipients a choice.
The gift becomes support
How do you use a charity gift card?
With Charity On Top, your recipient uses the card online to choose a nonprofit. The card supports charitable giving; it is not used for store purchases or exchanged for cash.
- 01 / RECEIVE
Keep your card handy.
Whether your gift arrives digitally or as a physical card, you’ll need its card number to redeem it.
- 02 / CHOOSE
Find your cause.
Visit Charity On Top’s redemption page and search for an eligible nonprofit by name, location, or EIN.
- 03 / REDEEM
Put your gift to work.
Follow the prompts to enter your card number and confirm your charity selection.
A history of meaningful giving
The history of
/ THE BEGINNINGS
/ AGI TAKES ROOT
/ CHARITY ON TOP
The history of
charitable gift cards.
Charitable gifting has roots that reach back decades. Alternative Gifts International helped pioneer gifts that support a cause while honoring someone special. Charity On Top carries that spirit forward by letting recipients choose where their gift makes a difference. In 2026, Alternative Gifts International and Charity On Top joined forces to keep meaningful giving growing. Today, Alternative Gifts International is a program of Charity On Top Foundation.
A different kind of gift.
In Pasadena, California, Harriet Prichard organized an alternative gift market to teach children a meaningful way to give. Instead of conventional presents, shoppers supported people in need. Cards told friends and family about the charitable gifts made in their honor.
An idea becomes a mission.
As the markets grew, Alternative Gift Markets, Inc.—known as Alternative Gifts International—incorporated as a nonprofit in July 1986. AGI continued connecting gift-giving with humanitarian and environmental projects.
Giving puts choice on top.
Charity On Top launched in October 2016, bringing a personal choice to charitable gifting: the giver chooses the amount, and the recipient chooses the cause. In October 2026, we celebrated ten years of making generosity part of everyday gifting.
50 years of gifting.
A combined $50 million in giving.* A shared legacy of turning thoughtful gifts into charitable support.
A combined $50 million in giving.* A shared legacy of turning thoughtful gifts into charitable support.
*Reflects Alternative Gifts International and Charity On Top’s combined history of charitable gifting and giving totals.
Explore AGI’s published history and the story behind Charity On Top.
Meet Charity On Top
Who is Charity On Top?
We’re a nonprofit foundation built by people who understand how hard charities work to fund their missions.
Founded by Marchelle Sellers and Kathy Selders, Charity On Top launched in October 2016 to make charitable gifting easy, personal, and joyful. Our digital and physical gift cards let the giver choose the amount and the recipient choose the cause.
From birthdays and family celebrations to employee appreciation and client gifts, we help turn thoughtful gestures into charitable support.
Charity On Top Foundation, Inc. is a California nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. EIN 81-1198370.
Get to know our founders and mission →
Award-winning giving
Recognition from the people who know gifting.
The Incentive Marketing Association recognized Tango Card with Charity On Top with its 2022 Excellence Award for Social Responsibility.
The award honored their partnership expanding charitable donation choices within Tango Card’s rewards catalog.
Read IMA’s award announcement →
INCENTIVE MARKETING ASSOCIATION
IMA
2022
2022
Excellence Award
Social Responsibility
Tango Card with Charity On Top
Two ways to give
How to buy a
Digital gift cards
A meaningful gift,
Physical gift cards
A little something
How to buy a
Charity On Top gift card.
Visit our Shoppe, choose a digital or physical card, select your design, and choose your gift amount. Review the current price and delivery options, then complete your order.
A meaningful gift,
without the envelope.
Send your kindness electronically. A digital card makes it easy to give from a distance, celebrate a milestone, or thank someone wherever they are.
Shop digital cards →A little something
they can hold.
Give a card in person or tuck it into a greeting card. A physical gift card adds a tangible touch to birthdays, celebrations, and thoughtful thank-yous.
Shop physical cards →Both links open the Charity On Top Shoppe, where you can choose your format and review current prices and delivery options.
Already received a card?
Your gift.
Your gift.
Your cause.
Turn your Charity On Top gift card into support for a nonprofit you care about. Keep your card number handy and redeem on the official Charity On Top website.
Redeem your gift card →Here’s where to start
- Open Charity On Top’s redemption page.
- Search for your charity by name, location, or EIN.
- Follow the prompts to enter your card number and confirm your selection.
Need help? Contact the Charity On Top team.
Good questions
A few things to know
Who chooses the charity?
The recipient chooses an eligible nonprofit through Charity On Top’s redemption website. You choose the gift amount; they choose where to direct the support.
Do Charity On Top gift cards expire?
No. Charity On Top gift cards do not expire.
Does the recipient need an account?
An account is not required for standard gift card redemption.
What fees apply?
Fees and the amount distributed to charity can vary by purchase channel and product. Review the current purchase terms before ordering. Charity On Top explains its distribution fees in its official FAQ.
Who receives the charitable donation receipt?
For cards purchased directly from Charity On Top, Charity On Top issues the donation receipt to the purchaser. Redeeming a gift card does not give the recipient a second charitable deduction. Deductibility depends on applicable tax rules and your circumstances.
Can I personalize cards for my company or event?
Charity On Top offers customized cards and bulk orders. Explore corporate gifting for current options and pricing.
Who publishes this guide?
This guide is published by Charity On Top Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit charitable gift card provider. It explains charitable gift cards and Charity On Top’s offerings.
Make your next gift mean more.
Give them the joy of choosing a cause they love.