The Kroger Community Rewards program is an absolutely fantastic way to support your favorite local non-profit organizations simply by doing something you probably already do every week: grocery shopping! Imagine, every time you buy milk, bread, or even that fancy cheese, a small percentage of your purchase goes directly to a cause you care about, without costing you an extra rupee. It's a win-win, and getting started is much easier than you might think.
So, are you ready to turn your everyday shopping into meaningful donations? Let's dive in and get you set up!
Step 1: Get Your Kroger Plus Card (If You Don't Have One)
This is the absolute foundation of the Kroger Community Rewards program. If you're a regular Kroger shopper, chances are you already have a Kroger Plus Card. It's that magical card you swipe at checkout to get discounts, earn fuel points, and now, contribute to charity!
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| How Do Kroger Community Rewards Work |
What if I don't have a Kroger Plus Card?
No worries at all! There are a couple of easy ways to get one:
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In-Store: Head to the customer service desk at any Kroger family of stores (Kroger, Fred Meyer, Ralphs, King Soopers, etc.). They can issue you a physical Kroger Plus Card right there on the spot.
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Online: You can also obtain a virtual Kroger Plus Card when you create a digital account on the Kroger website. We'll cover this in the next step!
Remember: This card is essential because it tracks your purchases, allowing Kroger to allocate the rewards to your chosen organization.
Step 2: Create or Link Your Digital Account
Once you have your Kroger Plus Card, the next crucial step is to link it to a digital account on Kroger's website. This is where you'll manage your rewards, select your organization, and track your contributions.
Sub-heading: For New Digital Account Users
If you've never created an online account with Kroger before, follow these steps:
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Visit the Kroger Community Rewards Portal: Go to
www.krogercommunityrewards.com -
Click "Create an Account": Look for this option, usually in the top right corner or prominently displayed on the page.
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Enter Your Details: You'll be prompted to enter your email address and create a secure password. Make sure to choose a password you'll remember!
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Select Your Preferred Store: This helps Kroger tailor your online experience and offers.
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Agree to Terms and Conditions: Read through them and check the box.
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Verify Your Email: Kroger will send a confirmation email to the address you provided. Open this email and click on the link within it to activate your account. This is a vital step!
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Link Your Kroger Plus Card: Once your account is activated, log in. You'll need to enter your Kroger Plus Card number (the 11, 12, or 13-digit number on the back of your physical card, usually starting with a '4', or your 10-digit Alternate ID if you use your phone number at checkout). Click "Save" or "Link Card."
QuickTip: Take a pause every few paragraphs.
Sub-heading: For Existing Digital Account Users
If you already have a Kroger digital account (perhaps for viewing weekly ads or managing digital coupons), the process is even simpler:
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Visit the Kroger Community Rewards Portal: Go to
www.krogercommunityrewards.com -
Click "Sign In": Enter your existing email address and password.
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Navigate to "My Account": Once logged in, look for a "My Account" link, usually near the top of the page.
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Find "Community Rewards": Scroll down within your "My Account" section. You should see a section specifically for "Community Rewards." Click on "Enroll" or "Edit Community Rewards information."
It's important that your Kroger Plus Card is associated with this digital account for your purchases to count towards Community Rewards.
Step 3: Select Your Preferred Organization
This is where the magic truly begins! You get to choose which deserving non-profit will benefit from your shopping.
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Search for Your Organization: On the Community Rewards page within your account, you'll find a search bar. You can search by:
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Organization Name: Type in the full name of the charity, school, church, or other non-profit you wish to support.
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NPO Number: Many organizations have a specific Non-Profit Organization (NPO) number assigned by Kroger. If your chosen organization has provided this to you, entering it is the quickest way to find them.
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Confirm Your Selection: A list of matching organizations will appear. Carefully select the correct organization from the list and click "Confirm" or "Save."
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Verification: To ensure you're successfully linked, check the "Community Rewards" section of your account page. Your chosen organization's name should now be displayed there. You'll also typically see a message at the bottom of your Kroger receipts indicating that Kroger is donating to your selected organization, though this might take 7-10 business days to appear.
Pro-tip: Many non-profits actively promote their Kroger Community Rewards NPO number, so check their websites or newsletters!
Step 4: Shop and Swipe (or Use Your Alternate ID!)
This is the easiest step of all! Once you've completed the previous steps, all you need to do is continue shopping at Kroger family stores as you normally would.
How to Ensure Your Purchases Count:
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Swipe Your Kroger Plus Card: Every single time you make a purchase, remember to swipe your physical Kroger Plus Card at checkout.
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Use Your Alternate ID: If you prefer not to carry the physical card, you can enter the phone number associated with your Kroger Plus Card account at the keypad during checkout. This is often referred to as your "Alternate ID."
That's it! There are no special buttons to press, no extra forms to fill out at the register. Just shop, swipe, and let Kroger do the rest.
Step 5: Understand How Donations Are Calculated and Paid Out
Tip: Read at your natural pace.
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It's natural to wonder how your shopping translates into donations. Here's a breakdown:
Calculation Method:
Kroger donates a percentage of eligible purchases to your chosen organization. This isn't a fixed percentage for each individual shopper. Instead, Kroger allocates a certain amount of money (e.g., $4 million annually, distributed quarterly) to the Community Rewards program. This pool of money is then divided among participating organizations based on their share of the total spending by all linked shoppers. The more shoppers linked to an organization, and the more those shoppers spend, the larger the "slice of the pie" that organization receives.
Donation Cycle:
Kroger typically pays out donations to organizations on a quarterly basis. This means your organization will receive a check or direct deposit from Kroger four times a year.
Tracking Your Impact:
While you won't see a running tally of your exact contribution to the penny, you can often view the total amount earned by your selected organization during the last quarter by logging into your Kroger digital account, navigating to "My Account," and then the "Community Rewards" section.
Important Considerations and Annual Re-Enrollment
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No Cost to You: This is crucial! The donations come directly from Kroger's charitable budget, not from your grocery bill. Your prices remain the same, and you still earn all your fuel points and discounts.
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Annual Re-Enrollment: This is a very important point! You must re-enroll your Kroger Plus Card with your chosen organization once a year, typically in August. Kroger does this to ensure that organizations are still active and that customers still wish to support them. If you don't re-enroll, your purchases will stop counting for your organization. Kroger usually sends out email reminders, but it's a good idea to set a personal reminder as well.
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Eligible Purchases: Most everyday grocery purchases qualify. However, certain items like alcohol, tobacco, gift cards (third-party or Kroger's own), fuel purchases, and prescriptions typically do not count towards Community Rewards.
By following these simple steps and keeping the annual re-enrollment in mind, you can effortlessly contribute to causes you believe in, making a real difference with every trip to Kroger!
10 Related FAQ Questions: How to...
QuickTip: Scan quickly, then go deeper where needed.
Here are some common questions about the Kroger Community Rewards program:
How to check if my Kroger Plus Card is linked to an organization?
Log in to your Kroger digital account at
How to change the organization I support through Kroger Community Rewards?
Log in to your Kroger digital account, go to "My Account," then "Community Rewards." You should see an option to "Edit" or "Change Organization." Follow the prompts to select a new non-profit.
How to find my organization's NPO number for Kroger Community Rewards?
Often, the organization itself will promote its NPO number on their website, in newsletters, or on social media. If you can't find it, you can usually search for them by name directly on the Kroger Community Rewards portal.
How to ensure my purchases count if I use my phone number at checkout?
Ensure the phone number you use at the register is linked to your Kroger Plus Card and your digital account. This phone number acts as your "Alternate ID" and allows your purchases to be tracked.
How to see how much my organization has earned from my shopping?
QuickTip: Check if a section answers your question.
You can view the total amount earned by your selected organization during the last quarter by signing into your digital account, going to "My Account," and then checking the "Community Rewards" section. Individual contributions aren't typically displayed.
How to re-enroll my Kroger Plus Card for Community Rewards?
This must be done annually, usually in August. Log in to your Kroger digital account, go to "My Account," then "Community Rewards," and follow the prompts to re-select or confirm your chosen organization.
How to get a Kroger Plus Card if I don't have one?
You can obtain a physical card at the customer service desk of any Kroger family store, or you can get a virtual card when you create a digital account online at
How to contact Kroger customer service for Community Rewards issues?
If you encounter problems, you can contact Kroger's Digital Customer Service. The number is often 1-866-221-4141, or you can look for contact information on the Kroger website under "Help" or "Contact Us."
How to tell if an organization is eligible for Kroger Community Rewards?
Generally, eligible organizations are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Non-profits need to apply and be approved by Kroger to participate in the program.
How to learn more about Kroger's overall community giving initiatives?
You can visit the "Community" section of The Kroger Co.'s official website (
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