Care Card

CARE CARD

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/974,739, filed Sep. 24, 2007, and entitled "CARE CARD," which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to charitable donations and, more particularly, to methods for facilitating charitable donations and charitable distributions. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] To make a charitable donation, donors can give cash, give property, or purchase products. A donor can also use a credit or debit card to make a donation. In some cases, the donation can be specified to be for specific charitable purposes. Recently, on-line donations have been used to make charitable donations.

[0006] Currently, when a charity (or other for-profit organization or governmental entity, hereinafter, "charity") wishes to distribute funds to charity recipients (i.e., donees), it has limited options, especially when it wants to ensure that funds are used properly. It is not ideal to simply hand out cash or checks to donees, since neither has any built-in restrictions on their use. Gift cards are one solution, but may be too limiting as they are typically only usable at one merchant chain, do not restrict the use of the card, do not denote the charity or the charity's efforts. Alternately, a charity might require that a donee provide receipts to verify that charity funds have been used properly. However, this adds administrative complexity, both for the donee and the charity. [0007] Thus there is a demand for improved methods for gathering and distributing charitable funds and ensuring that they are used for their intended purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention pertains to ways to facilitate the collection and distribution of donations. One aspect of the invention involves the creation and administration of charitable donation cards. Another aspect of the invention involves the creation and administration of charitable donation cards and care cards. Still another aspect of the invention involves creation, distribution and administration of drug sample cards. [0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, a charitable donation card (charity donor card) can be sold (or distributed) to purchasers (or individuals) as various retail locations, special events, vending machines, donation kiosks, online (e.g., websites). The charitable donation card has no value on being purchased but serves as a reminder, symbol or receipt of a charitable donation.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the invention, a care card, funded by charitable donations is disclosed. The care card can be pre-funded (or re-loaded), for example, from the sale of charitable donation cards, grants, charitable fundraising, etc. The care card can be highly customized, including custom graphics, text and a custom form factor. [0011] According to another embodiment of the invention, a limited-purpose charity-sponsored (or co-sponsored) debit card, pre-funded (and re-loadable) by charitable donations distributed to donees that satisfy the needs requirements of

the charity is disclosed (the care card). The care card can be funded, for example, from the sale/use of charitable donation cards. The embodiment of both the charitable donation card and the care card care can be highly customized, including custom graphics, text and a custom form factor (including, size, shape, logos, messages, and cost codes). [0012] The limitations of the care card can be set by the issuing charity to meet the specific needs of the charity's mission. Examples of limited purposes are, for example, medical expenses (e.g., drugs, hospital bills, surgery, rehabilitation, medical tests (e.g., mammogram), groceries, computers, housing expenses, child-care, household expenses, and home repair expenses. This is key to safeguarding the use of charitable contributions and satisfying the charity's mission.

[0013] According to still another embodiment of the invention, a donation card can be a drug sample card that can be used to facilitate distribution of a drug. As an example, the drug sample card can include one or more of: sponsor information, drug information; a drug prescription region; or a unique card identifier assigned to the drug sample card. [0014] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a charitable donation card, according to one embodiment of the invention. [0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a care card, according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a care card creation process, according to one embodiment of the invention. [0018] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a charitable donation card/care card administration system according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0019] FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams of a drug sample card according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The invention pertains to ways to facilitate the collection and distribution of donations (which includes amounts contributed by non-profit or for-profit organizations). One aspect of the invention involves the creation and administration of charitable donation cards. Another aspect of the invention involves the creation and administration of limited purpose care cards, which are a means of distributing charitable donations either directly to the end user or through an organization or agency. Still another aspect of the invention involves creation, distribution and administration of drug sample cards.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, a charitable donation card (charity donor card) can be sold (or distributed) to purchasers (or individuals) as various retail locations, special events, vending machines, donation kiosks, online (e.g., websites). The charitable donation card has no value on being purchased but serves as a reminder, symbol or receipt of a charitable donation. In one embodiment, the charitable donation card can also serve as a means to make (and prompt) additional contributions at various retail locations, special events, on-line, and donation kiosks, churches, hospitals, online, etc. through the use of the charitable donation card. The charitable donation card can be highly customized, including custom graphics, text and a custom form factor (including, size, shape, logos, messages, and cost codes). The limitations of the care card can be set by the issuing charity to meet the specific needs of the charity's mission. Examples of limited purposes are, for example, medical expenses (e.g., drugs, hospital bills, surgery, rehabilitation, medical tests (e.g., mammogram), groceries, computers, housing expenses, child-care, household expenses, and home repair expenses. This is key to safeguarding the use of charitable contributions and satisfying the charity's mission.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the invention, a care card, funded by charitable donations is disclosed. The care card can be pre-funded (or re-loaded), for example, from the sale of charitable donation cards, grants, charitable fundraising, etc. The care card can be highly customized, including custom graphics, text and a custom form factor (including, size, shape, logos, messages, and cost codes). [0023] A charitable donation card can be used to facilitate the collection of contributions to a particular charity or fundraising event. The charitable donation card can resemble a store gift card. However, no amount of the purchase price of the charitable donation card is available for purchases. Instead, the purchase price of the card is used to fund a charitable donation, typically for a particular charitable organization, a specific charity event, or towards a particular charity fundraising goal. Rather than a store credit, the purchase of the charitable donation card makes a cash (including credit/ debit transactions) contribution for charitable purposes. The purchaser of the charitable donation card can be considered a donor. In one embodiment of the invention, the charitable donation card can also constitute the donor's receipt for tax purposes. The face value on the card can represent the donor's charitable contribution. The face value of the card, less a processing fee, will go to the charity. The card itself can also serve as is a marketing device to gain awareness for a charitable organization or fund-raising event. [0024] A charity can also make available an accounting of a donor's charitable giving online. The accounting can be from charitable donation cards, online donations, etc. and include information such as time, date, charitable purpose, and amount of charitable donation.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a charitable donation card 100, according to one embodiment of the invention. The charitable donation card lOOcanbea die-cut plastic card. One side of the charitable donation card 100 can be labeled with a charity and/or corporate sponsor name 101 and one or more logos 103. On the reverse side of the charitable donation card 100, an identifying strip 105 and/or an identifying number 107 can be included. The identifying strip 105 can be a magnetic strip, for example, and/or a bar-code. [0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the charitable donation card 100 has a custom form-factor, for example, a shape selected by the sponsoring charitable organization. The custom form-factor is not limited to rectangular shapes and thus may include more complex shapes such as spheres, heart-shapes, cubes, or other shapes as determined by the charity. Any material can be used as well, including plastic, wood or metal enclosures. By way of example, a charity might create a charitable donation card in the shape of a charity event mascot.

[0027] The charitable donation card 100 can also include a connection 109 for a key chain, lanyard, or clip. The connection 109 can, for example, be an opening or hole in the

charitable donation card 100. The charitable donation card 100 can include a magnetic strip, a UPC symbol or barcode, or an embedded computer chip in any of its configurations. [0028] Additional contributions made with the donation card by the donor can be maintained by an administrator for such cards. Donors can access an accounting of the donor's contributions via the charity's website. [0029] The charitable donation card, in one embodiment, can be customized to include the individual favorite charities, and an accounting of the contributions is available through the administrator's website for tax purposes. A donor could also use the card to allocate future donations to other charities. [0030] According to still another embodiment of the invention, the charitable donation card 100 can contain an electronic chip 111 that adds additional functionality. For instance, the electronic chip 111 can be wirelessly programmed with whatever information the charity or user wishes to associate with the charitable donation card 100. The programmed information can be machine readable. The programmed information can provide a total of the contribution by the donor (or a group) and/or a total of a general charitable goal being sought by the charity. In one embodiment, the charitable donation card 100 can be a multi-purpose card that not only provide charitable donations but also communicates with a building access system to allow access to a particular building. In another embodiment, the electronic chip 111 could be coupled to a display (not shown) which indicates a fundraising goal, matching contributions or show total charity donations for the card holder or group of card holders, or other information. Such a display can also display a time, date or countdown (for a donation or a charity goal). [0031] The look of each charitable donation card can be customized by the charity and/or associated charity sponsors (i.e., corporate sponsors). For example, if a retail store is co-sponsoring the card, the logos 103 can include both the retail store logo and a charity logo. In addition, the charitable donation card 100 can include additional text 113. The text 113 can, for example, explain the specific purpose of the charitable donation being made. The text can, for example, disclose relevant information for tax purposes (e.g., the charity registration or identification number.) Alternately, the card 100 can include instructions or information on the face or on any surface. The additional text 113 can, for example, include a donation amount on the card, charity contact information or a web address, etc.

[0032] In one embodiment of the invention, the charitable donation card 100, or its packaging (not shown), can contain a charity identification code (e.g., a bar code) that indicates what charity (s)/sponsor(s) will receive the funds. If the charity/sponsor has a number of different cards for various fundraising efforts, the charity identification code can indicate various charity sub-accounts. In another embodiment, the charitable donation card can contain multiple identification codes and the donor can make the selection of the codes depending on the particular charity, charitable purpose, or charitable event to receive the donation. The packaging can also include a token item for the donor that shows the donor's support and a thank you note from the charity. The charitable donation card 100 can also be packaged with a token item (e.g., gift) to the donor. In the case of the inclusion of a gift to the donor, the charitable donation card reflects the amount of the charitable contribution, not the total purchase price. For example, a pin can be included in the packaging. The selling price for the package could be $25, with the charity card 100 indicating a value of $20 because of the reduction in value for the fair market value of the pin. The donor would get the pin along with credit for a charitable contribution of $20. [0033] Alternatively, the packaging can also include a gift item for the donor to gift to another person and also a charitable donation card that shows the donor's support on behalf of the gift recipient for the charity. In such case, as an example, the individual can purchase an item for a gift (value $20) that includes a charity card for $5, with the total purchase price for the package being $25.

[0034] Alternative designs for a charitable donation card are disclosed in U.S. Design Pat. Application No. 29/295,252, filed Sep. 24, 2007, entitled "CARD," and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0035] According to another embodiment of the invention, the charitable donation card can have a removable casing that can be replaced, giving the ability to update or customize the look of the charitable donation card.

[0036] A charitable donation card 100 can be used in a number of different ways. For example, the charitable donation card 100 can be used to raise awareness and funds for a charity's general purposes. Alternately, a charitable donation card 100 can designate that funds collected will be contributed to support a specific fundraising event. For example, a charitable donation card 100 can say "Support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer." The charitable donation card 100 can also be used to raise money for a specific person or specific expenses, for example to fund an operation for a particular person, or the charitable donation card 100 can indicate that funds collected will be contributed to support a particular fundraising goal. For example, a school could sell the cards to raise money for new uniforms for the girl's swim team. Alternately, a charitable donation card 100 can indicate that the funds will be used to pay for expenses (e.g., medical expenses or any other type of expenses determined by the charity) for a class of persons that meets the needs requirements of the charity.

[0037] A charity and/or one ormore corporate sponsors can align to raise money for the charity or a specific benefit goal or event. In this case, the charitable donation card 100 can indicate the co-sponsorship by displaying corporate graphics along with the charitable organization graphics. The charitable donation card 100 can also indicate if the retailer plans to match any percentage of the face value of the card. For example, if a corporate sponsor and a charity put together a one-day cancer awareness day, with the corporate sponsor promising to match 10% of all contributions made that day, a $30 gift card would indicate that the corporate sponsor will also contribute $3 to the cause.

[0038] To create a charitable donation card, a charity or sponsor can contact the charitable donation card creation company by telephone or online. A design team at the charitable donation card creation company then works with the charity to design the cards to specifications, and the order would be processed and the cards shipped. To safeguard the tax contribution in the event of theft of the cards, the donor/ IRS can contact the charitable donation card creation company to ensure that card ID numbers are activated (which results upon sale) or that the card was not otherwise reported as stolen by the charity/sponsor.

[0039] The charitable donation card can be sold or distributed in a wide variety of venues, including, retail stores, on-line, at fundraising events, churches, hospitals, schools, restaurants, vending machine, workplace, online, and the

charitable donation box. For additional information on a charitable donation box see U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/874,827, filed Oct. 18, 2007, entitled "METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING CHARITABLE DONATIONS," and is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a care card 200 according to one embodiment of the invention. A care card 200 can be created for use by charity recipients (i.e., donees). The details of the care card 200 can be described on the card. [0041] A care card 200 is a debit card funded by charitable donations. The care card 200 can, for example, be issued by a bank or other financial institution. The uses to which a care card 200 are designated by the sponsoring charity/organization and can be administrated by a third party. [0042] The care card 200 can appear similar to a common debit card. However, there are important differences, noted below including (1) charity sponsored, (2) restrict use for designated expenses, (3) for charitable purposes, and (4) support charitable mission. The care card 200 can, in one embodiment, be considered a limited-purpose charity sponsored debit card. The care card 200 shown includes a charity name 201 and charity logo 203 on the face of the card. Alternately, charity name 201 and charity logo 203 can be replaced or augmented by the names and logos of one or more corporate sponsors. A donee name 205 or other identifying information is also included on the face of the card. The reverse of the card (not shown) can include a magnetic strip and/or informational text, such as usage limitations for the care card 200 and/or contact information the charity or its corporate sponsors, for example.

[0043] A charity can establish a program to provide specific expenses that can be paid for with the care card 200. The charity can use a care card 200 program for general or specific goals, with the allowable expenses varied in accordance with those goals. Examples of limited purposes for charity-sponsored debit cards include: groceries, housing expenses, building materials, child-care, or medical expenses. A care card 200 can have whatever limitations the charity decides to enact, thus other limitations on the use of the care card 200 are possible (e.g., nontransferable, not convertible to cash, reloadable or one-time use, signature requirement). [0044] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a care card creation process 300, according to one embodiment of the invention. The care card creation process 300 can be used to create, for example, the care card 200 described above in FIG. 2, using funds generated by the sale of, for example, the charitable donation card 100 described above in FIG. 1. [0045] The care card creation process 300 begins with receiving 301 a request to create a care card, for example by contacting the charity-sponsored debit card creation company by telephone or online. The care card administrative details are then obtained 303. The care card can, for example, include necessary information needed to fund and administer care cards created by the care card creation process 300. [0046] Next, the design details for the care card are obtained 305, for example by working with a design team at the charity-sponsored debit card creation company to design the care cards to the charity's specifications, including the option to create custom shapes and custom graphics. The obtaining 305 can include obtaining design details for the creation of charitable donation cards that can be sold to fund care cards (or other charitable purposes of the charity).