Gift Gards

Gift cards can be a convenient way to show appreciation or reward participation, but their use must follow specific guidelines to ensure compliance. Below are the rules and conditions for purchasing and distributing gift cards using student group funds.

1. Maximum Value: Each gift card must not exceed $50.

2. Prepaid Cards Not Allowed: Prepaid cards like Visa, Mastercard, or similar general-purpose cards are not permitted. Only specific retailer or service gift cards are allowed.

3. Recipient Information: You must collect the contact information of each recipient and include it with the GrantEd reimbursement request for the gift card purchase.

Acceptable Uses for Gift Cards

Gift cards can only be issued for certain approved purposes. The following are acceptable scenarios:

• “Thank you” or honoraria gift cards for non-students: You may give gift cards as a token of appreciation to non-students (e.g., guest speakers, volunteers, etc.).

• Gift cards for surveys, raffles, or prizes: These can be distributed to students and non-students as part of incentives for participation in surveys, raffles, or other prize-based activities.

Unacceptable Uses for Gift Cards

There are specific cases where gift cards are not allowed:

• “Thank you” gift cards for students: Student groups are not allowed to give gift cards as a form of appreciation or thank-you gesture to other students.

• Gift cards for meal subsidies (e.g., Zoom meeting meals): Gift cards intended to cover meal costs during virtual meetings or similar situations are not permitted.

All gift cards must adhere to the three core conditions listed above and fall within the “Acceptable” category.