Hey there, amazing shopper! Have you ever wondered if your everyday grocery trips could do more than just fill your pantry? What if every time you swiped your Kroger Plus Card, you were also silently contributing to a cause you deeply care about, without spending an extra dime? Sounds pretty good, right? Well, that's exactly what the Kroger Community Rewards program is all about!
This incredible initiative by Kroger allows you to support your favorite non-profit organizations, schools, or charities simply by doing your regular grocery shopping. It's a win-win: you get your groceries, and your chosen organization gets a percentage of your spending as a donation from Kroger. It costs you nothing extra, doesn't impact your fuel points or other discounts, and genuinely helps make a difference in your community.
Let's dive in and understand how this fantastic program works, step by step!
How Does Kroger Community Rewards Work? A Step-by-Step Guide
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| How Does Kroger Community Rewards Work |
Step 1: Discover the Power of Your Kroger Plus Card (and Get One if You Don't!)
Before you can unlock the magic of Kroger Community Rewards, you need to have a Kroger Plus Card. This is your key to accessing all of Kroger's fantastic savings, personalized coupons, and, of course, the Community Rewards program.
Sub-heading: Already a Kroger Plus Card Holder?
Fantastic! If you already have a Kroger Plus Card and use it regularly, you're ahead of the game. You'll just need to make sure it's linked to a digital account (which most active users already have).
Sub-heading: New to Kroger or Don't Have a Card Yet?
No worries at all! Getting a Kroger Plus Card is super easy and free.
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In-store: Simply visit the customer service desk at any Kroger store (or one of their family of brands, like Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers, etc.) and ask for a Kroger Plus Card. They'll issue one to you on the spot.
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Online: You can also get a virtual card when you create a digital account on the Kroger website. We'll cover that in the next step!
Remember: This card is essential because it tracks your purchases, which is how Kroger knows how much to donate to your chosen organization.
Step 2: Create or Link Your Digital Account
The Kroger Community Rewards program operates through your Kroger digital account. This is where you manage your preferences, view your rewards, and link your Plus Card.
Sub-heading: For Existing Digital Account Users
Tip: A slow, careful read can save re-reading later.
If you already shop online with Kroger, use their app, or get digital coupons, you likely have a digital account.
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Go to the Kroger Community Rewards website: Head over to
www.kroger.com/communityrewards -
Sign In: Use your existing email address and password to log into your digital account.
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Verify Your Plus Card: Once logged in, double-check that your Kroger Plus Card number is linked to your digital account. This is crucial for your purchases to count. If it's not, there will be an option to add it in your account settings, usually under "Community Rewards" or "My Account."
Sub-heading: For New Digital Account Users
If you've never created a digital account with Kroger before, follow these steps:
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Visit the Kroger Website: Go to
www.kroger.com -
Click "Create Account": You'll be prompted to enter your email address and create a password.
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Select Your Preferred Store: Choose the Kroger store where you do most of your shopping.
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Agree to Terms and Conditions: Read through and accept the terms and conditions.
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Verify Your Email: Kroger will send an email to the address you provided. Open this email and click on the verification link to activate your account.
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Link Your Plus Card: Once your account is activated, log in. Navigate to "My Account" and look for the "Community Rewards" section. You'll be able to enter your physical Kroger Plus Card number there. If you don't have a physical card yet, the digital account creation process may generate a virtual one for you.
Pro Tip: If you use your phone number at the register instead of swiping a physical card, this phone number is linked to your Kroger Plus Card. Make sure that phone number is also tied to your digital account!
Step 3: Select Your Preferred Organization
This is where the magic truly happens! You get to choose which deserving non-profit organization receives the rewards from your shopping.
Sub-heading: Navigating to the Selection Page
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Log In: Make sure you are logged into your Kroger digital account on
www.kroger.com/communityrewards -
Find Community Rewards: In your "My Account" section, scroll down or look for the "Community Rewards" section. There will usually be a button or link that says "Enroll" or "Edit Community Rewards Information." Click on it!
Sub-heading: Searching for Your Organization
You'll typically have two ways to find your chosen organization:
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Search by Name: Enter the full name of the non-profit you wish to support (e.g., "Midland County Habitat for Humanity," "East Lansing Public Library," "Hospice Care Plus," or your child's school).
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Search by NPO Number: Many organizations have a specific NPO (Non-Profit Organization) number assigned by Kroger. If your chosen organization has provided you with one, entering this number is a quick and accurate way to find them.
Important: Double-check the organization's name and location to ensure you're selecting the correct one, especially if there are similar names.
Sub-heading: Confirming Your Selection
Once you've found your organization in the search results:
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Select: Click on the organization's name from the list.
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Confirm/Save: Click the "Save" or "Enroll" button to confirm your selection.
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Verification: To ensure you're correctly enrolled, your selected organization's name should now appear in the "Community Rewards" section of your account details. You might also see a message on your future Kroger receipts indicating that you are supporting a specific organization. It can take 7-10 days for your purchases to start counting towards the rewards.
Step 4: Shop and Swipe (or Use Your Alternate ID)!
Tip: Reflect on what you just read.
This is the easiest part – just keep doing what you do best: grocery shopping at Kroger!
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Sub-heading: How Your Purchases Count
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Swipe Your Card: Every time you shop at Kroger or its family of stores, make sure you swipe your registered Kroger Plus Card at checkout.
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Use Your Alternate ID: If you prefer not to carry your physical card, simply provide the phone number linked to your Kroger Plus Card to the cashier. This acts as your Alternate ID and ensures your purchases are tracked.
What Counts: Most eligible purchases count towards the program. Generally, this includes groceries and general merchandise. What Doesn't Count: There are typically some exclusions, such as alcohol, tobacco products, fuel purchases, pharmacy prescriptions, gift cards, and certain services. However, these exclusions are usually standard for reward programs.
Step 5: Understanding How Donations Are Made
Kroger tracks the eligible spending of all participants linked to an organization.
Sub-heading: Quarterly Donations
Kroger calculates and distributes donations on a quarterly basis. The amount an organization receives is based on a percentage of the total eligible spending by all customers linked to that organization, relative to the overall spending across all participating organizations.
Sub-heading: No Cost to You!
This is key: The donations come directly from Kroger's charitable giving fund. Your personal spending or prices are not affected in any way. You still earn your personal fuel points and other rewards just as you normally would. It's a fantastic way for Kroger to give back to the communities it serves.
Sub-heading: Monitoring Your Impact
While you won't see specific dollar amounts from each purchase, you can often view the total amount you've personally contributed to your selected organization over the last quarter by logging into your Kroger digital account and checking the "Community Rewards" section. This can be very motivating!
Step 6: Annual Re-enrollment (Important!)
Here's a crucial detail: Kroger Community Rewards typically requires annual re-enrollment. This usually happens around August 1st each year.
QuickTip: Scan quickly, then go deeper where needed.
Sub-heading: Why Re-enrollment is Necessary
This annual process ensures that your selected organization is still active and that you still wish to support them. Kroger will usually send out reminders via email, so make sure your email address on file is up-to-date.
Sub-heading: How to Re-enroll
The re-enrollment process is essentially the same as the initial linking process (Step 3). Simply log into your Kroger digital account, navigate to "Community Rewards," and confirm or re-select your organization. It's a quick step that ensures your continued support.
By following these steps, you can easily become a part of the Kroger Community Rewards program and help make a tangible difference for organizations that matter to you, all while doing your regular grocery shopping!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to check if my Kroger Plus Card is linked to an organization?
You can check this by logging into your Kroger digital account at
How to change the organization I support through Kroger Community Rewards?
Log into your Kroger digital account, go to "My Account," and then to "Community Rewards." There will be an option to "Edit" or "Change Organization." You can then search for and select a new non-profit.
How to find the NPO number for an organization?
Many organizations promoting their participation in Kroger Community Rewards will provide their NPO number on their website or in their communications. You can also search for them by name on the Kroger Community Rewards portal.
QuickTip: Don’t just scroll — process what you see.
How to ensure my purchases count towards Community Rewards?
Always swipe your registered Kroger Plus Card or provide the phone number associated with your card at checkout. Without this, Kroger cannot track your eligible spending for the program.
How to sign up for Kroger Community Rewards if I don't have a Kroger Plus Card?
First, obtain a Kroger Plus Card from any Kroger customer service desk. Then, create a Kroger digital account online at
How to know how much I have earned for my chosen organization?
You can view the total amount you've contributed to your selected organization during the last quarter by logging into your Kroger digital account and checking the "Community Rewards" section.
How to re-enroll my Kroger Plus Card for Community Rewards?
Re-enrollment typically occurs annually, often in August. Log into your Kroger digital account, go to "My Account," then "Community Rewards," and follow the prompts to confirm or re-select your desired organization.
How to troubleshoot issues with linking my card or enrolling?
If you encounter problems, first verify your Kroger Plus Card number and ensure it's active. Check that your digital account is properly linked to your card. If issues persist, contact Kroger's Customer Service or website support (usually via phone number 1-800-KROGERS or an online help portal).
How to get a Kroger Plus Card number if I only use my phone number at checkout?
If you only use your phone number, you can typically call Kroger's Customer Service (1-800-KROGERS) to obtain your physical Kroger Plus Card number, which you might need for online linking if your account isn't already set up with it.
How to learn more about the specific exclusions for Community Rewards purchases?
While general exclusions like alcohol and tobacco are common, for a detailed list of what is and isn't included in eligible purchases, it's best to refer to the official Kroger Community Rewards FAQs on the Kroger website (
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