Does Kroger donate gift cards?

Yes. Gift cards are one of the four types of support you can request through communitygifts.com, along with cash donations, sponsorships and in-kind food or product.

How far ahead should we apply to Kroger?

Kroger asks for requests a minimum of four weeks before the event or deadline. Foundation grants are processed quarterly, with 2026 deadlines of April 3, June 26, September 18 and December 4.

Can schools, churches or sports teams get help from Kroger?

Kroger considers donation requests from registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Its guidelines also describe Community Rewards as a fundraising option for schools, churches, youth sports and other local nonprofit organizations.

Can an individual ask Kroger for a donation?

No. Individuals are first on the list of things Kroger's guidelines say it does not donate to.

How long does Kroger take to reply?

Kroger's request site says to allow up to 4 weeks for a response.

Kroger donation request

Kroger takes donation and grant requests from 501(c)(3) nonprofits through one online system at communitygifts.com. The same system handles cash donations, sponsorships, gift cards, food or product, and grants from Kroger's two foundations, with hunger relief as the main focus. Schools, churches, teams and other local groups can also raise money through Kroger Community Rewards, which pays out based on what linked customers spend.

Checked against The Kroger Co.'s own pages on October 5, 2026 by With Help From. Not affiliated with The Kroger Co..

Status: Accepts requests
What it gives: Cash donations, sponsorships (cash support for programmatic or commercial objectives), gift cards, and in-kind food or product donations. (Request a Donation (Kroger charitable giving))
Grants. The Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation lists work such as transportation for food banks and partner agencies, mobile pantries, SNAP enrollment, school breakfast after the bell, services for homeless people seeking permanent housing, and nutrition education and access to healthier food. (The Kroger Co. Foundation and The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation grants)
Donations to enrolled organizations linked to customers' Shopper's Cards. The general Community Rewards page describes annual donations based on linked spending. The Central Division form instead describes discretionary grants, anticipated quarterly payments, and consideration of customer nominations. (Kroger Community Rewards)
Who decides: Unclear
Apply ahead: Submit the request a minimum of four weeks before the event or deadline.

Apply on thekrogerco.versaic.com

Request a Donation (Kroger charitable giving)

Cash donations, sponsorships (cash support for programmatic or commercial objectives), gift cards, and in-kind food or product donations.

Who can apply: 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organizations; Kroger verifies 501(c)(3) status through the Guidestar Charity Check
Requests for one of these areas of focus: hunger relief, sustainability, disaster relief, health and nutrition, diversity and inclusion, education and youth development
Not eligible: Individuals
Travel expenses
Political campaigns
Sectarian or religious organizations for projects that serve only its own members or supporters
Organizations that discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, mental or physical ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity and/or expression
How to apply: Read Kroger's Charitable Giving Guidelines, linked from the request site.
Go to www.communitygifts.com, which opens Kroger's request system (run on Benevity's Versaic platform). Click 'Create an account' if you are new, or log in.
Submit an online request for one of the areas of focus and choose the type of support: cash donation, sponsorship, gift card or product.
Log in to your account at any time to see the status of the request.
Lead time: Submit the request a minimum of four weeks before the event or deadline.
Deadlines: Requests may be submitted at any time during the year.
Response: Kroger's request site says to allow up to 4 weeks for a response. Kroger may fund a different amount than requested, and eligible organizations are not guaranteed funding.
Official page: thekrogerco.versaic.com/login

The Kroger Co. Foundation and The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation grants

Grants. The Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation lists work such as transportation for food banks and partner agencies, mobile pantries, SNAP enrollment, school breakfast after the bell, services for homeless people seeking permanent housing, and nutrition education and access to healthier food.

Who can apply: 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organizations (the same guidelines as other Kroger donation requests)
Nonprofits and community organizations aligned with the mission to create communities free of hunger and waste (Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation)
Not eligible: Individuals
Travel expenses
Political campaigns
Sectarian or religious organizations for projects that serve only its own members or supporters
Organizations that discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, age, mental or physical ability, sexual orientation, and gender identity and/or expression
How to apply: Use the same request system at www.communitygifts.com; both the Kroger Co. Foundation report and the Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation site send grant applicants there.
Choose 'Cash Donation' as the type of support; Kroger's guidelines say this type includes foundation grants for philanthropic support without any commercial incentive.
Submit before the next quarterly deadline.
Lead time: Submit the request a minimum of four weeks before the event or deadline; foundation applications also follow the quarterly deadlines.
Deadlines: Foundation grants are processed quarterly. 2026 application deadlines: April 3, June 26, September 18 and December 4, 2026.
Response: Applications are reviewed quarterly. The request site asks applicants to allow up to 4 weeks for a response.
Official page: thekrogerco.versaic.com/login

Kroger Community Rewards

Donations to enrolled organizations linked to customers' Shopper's Cards. The general Community Rewards page describes annual donations based on linked spending. The Central Division form instead describes discretionary grants, anticipated quarterly payments, and consideration of customer nominations.

Who can apply: Local 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, schools (K-12) and churches (Kroger Charitable Giving Guidelines)
Kroger's request site describes it as open to eligible nonprofit organizations of all sizes, including community schools, teams, churches and animal shelters
The Central Division enrollment form requires an IRS determination letter showing 501(c)(3) status and that the organization is not a private foundation, and a headquarters inside that division's area
How to apply: Open the Community Rewards page on kroger.com and select a store in the same area as your organization.
For the Central Division (central Indiana, central Illinois, Rolla and Troy, Missouri, and Defiance, Ohio), email the completed application, the IRS determination letter and the signed terms and conditions to CECommunityRewards@kroger.com.
Once enrolled, ask supporters to link their Kroger Shopper's Card to your organization in their kroger.com account.
Response: Central Division form: if the application is complete, a confirmation email with the organization's Community Rewards number is sent within 10 working days.
Official page: kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards

Write the request

Before you open the form, write down what the donation is for, the date, how many people it reaches and how you will thank Kroger. If Kroger asks for a letter, adapt the donation request template or a youth sports sponsorship letter. After a yes, send a sponsor thank-you letter.

Questions

Does Kroger donate gift cards?: Yes. Gift cards are one of the four types of support you can request through communitygifts.com, along with cash donations, sponsorships and in-kind food or product.
How far ahead should we apply to Kroger?: Kroger asks for requests a minimum of four weeks before the event or deadline. Foundation grants are processed quarterly, with 2026 deadlines of April 3, June 26, September 18 and December 4.
Can schools, churches or sports teams get help from Kroger?: Kroger considers donation requests from registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Its guidelines also describe Community Rewards as a fundraising option for schools, churches, youth sports and other local nonprofit organizations.
Can an individual ask Kroger for a donation?: No. Individuals are first on the list of things Kroger's guidelines say it does not donate to.
How long does Kroger take to reply?: Kroger's request site says to allow up to 4 weeks for a response.

Sources

Community - The Kroger Co. (The Kroger Co.)
Login - Kroger Proposal Management System (The Kroger Co. (request portal hosted by Benevity/Versaic))
The Kroger Family of Companies Charitable Giving Guidelines (The Kroger Co.)
Kroger Community Rewards (The Kroger Co.)
Kroger Community Rewards: Step by Step Enrollment for Organizations, Central Division (The Kroger Co.)
How We Give - The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation (The Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation)
The Kroger Co. Foundation Report 2025 (The Kroger Co. Foundation)

Other grocery stores companies

All 32 companies that donate

Ask local businesses too

Independent businesses near you have no national form: the owner decides. Post what you need so businesses on With Help From can find you, or read how to ask local businesses for donations.