Frequently Asked Questions
Our FAQ covers everything you need to know about how VeteranCrowd works for members, merchants, and Veteran Service Organizations. For questions not listed here, contact us at support@veterancrowd.com
For Members, Military & Family
Is VeteranCrowd legit?
Yes. VeteranCrowd Rewards, Inc. is a veteran-founded and veteran-operated company. Cash back runs on Visa payment rails and is funded by participating merchants. You can reach our team at 804-496-1719 or support@veterancrowd.com.
Is my card data safe?
Your linked card is tokenized by Visa, so VeteranCrowd never sees or stores your card number. Data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and merchants never see your military status.
Why is there a 30–45 day settlement window?
Cash back posts automatically when you shop. It becomes available after a 30–45 day settlement window so returns and chargebacks can clear. Then you can withdraw it to your bank or donate it to a VSO.
What is VeteranCrowd?
VeteranCrowd Rewards is a free program that gives service members, veterans, and their families automatic cash back from businesses that support the military community. VeteranCrowd Rewards is veteran-owned and operated.
Who is eligible?
Active duty, Guard and Reserve members, veterans, and spouses and children sponsored by an existing VeteranCrowd member.
How does family sponsorship work?
An existing VeteranCrowd member sponsors their spouse or child. During signup, choose "Family member" and enter your sponsor's email. They confirm, and you start earning on your own linked card.
How do I confirm my military status?
Veterans are confirmed through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Active duty, Guard and Reserve confirm with a .mil email. You only do this once.
Do I need a new card?
No. You link the Visa card you already carry. There is no separate physical card or special ID required, and nothing changes about how you pay.
How do I get cash back?
Link your existing Visa card to your VeteranCrowd account. When you shop at participating merchants with that card, cash back is applied automatically. No coupons, no ID checks, no codes.
Can I link more than one Visa card?
Yes. You can register multiple Visa cards in your VeteranCrowd wallet.
How will I know when I earn cash back?
You get a text message when you earn cash back. You can also log in to your account and view your reward history.
Is there a cost to join?
No. VeteranCrowd is free for the military community. Participating merchants fund the cash back.
Where can I find participating merchants?
Browse the Merchant Directory. Merchants are listed with their cash back offer and whether they work in-store, online, or both.
How does RoundUp work?
RoundUp rounds your cash back to the nearest dollar and donates the difference to a veteran service organization you choose. You can also donate part or all of your cash back to a 501(c)(3) charity of your choice, automatically.
Is VeteranCrowd for profit?
Yes, VeteranCrowd operates as a for-profit organization. However, our primary focus is on improving the outcomes of the military community and veteran service organizations.
For Merchants and Partners
What is VeteranCrowd for merchants?
VeteranCrowd is a cash back rewards program for verified Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, Veterans, and their families. You fund a cash back offer. When a verified member pays with their linked Visa card at your business, they get cash back automatically. There are no coupon codes and no ID checks at the register.
How is cash back different from a military discount?
With a discount, you lower the price at checkout and report less revenue. With VeteranCrowd, the customer pays full price and the cash back is funded separately afterward. Your sales stay at full price, there are no codes to leak online, and only verified members earn the reward.
Do we need to change our POS, website, or checkout?
No. VeteranCrowd works through the Visa payment network, so you install nothing and add no plugins. You don’t need new hardware, staff training, or checkout changes.
Does it work in-store and online?
Yes. Any purchase a member makes with a linked Visa card at your business is recognized, whether in-store or online.
How do you know the customer is really military?
Members verify their status once when they join. Veterans are verified through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve members are verified through their .mil email address. Family members are sponsored by a verified member. Only verified members earn cash back.
Who sets the cash back rate?
You do. You choose the percentage that fits your business and can limit offers to certain days, such as “Military Mondays.”
What does it cost?
Joining is free. You pay only when a verified member makes a qualifying purchase: the cash back you’ve offered, plus a fee. There are no setup fees or monthly subscriptions.
How are we billed?
You receive a monthly invoice, in arrears, for the cash back earned and the fee. Payment is handled through Stripe.
What happens if a customer returns an item?
Cash back goes through a 30–45 day settlement hold before members can withdraw it, which allows for returns and chargebacks.
Do we see who our VeteranCrowd customers are?
You see transaction-level results for purchases made by members at your business (dates, amounts, and cash back) in your merchant dashboard. To protect member privacy, we don’t share members’ names or contact details.
What do we need to sign up?
A signed merchant agreement, your Visa Merchant ID(s), and your offer settings. Most merchants go live within days.
Which cards are eligible?
U.S.-issued Visa consumer and business credit cards and signature-based debit cards, used at U.S. locations. Prepaid cards, gift cards, and PIN-based debit transactions are not included.
Are any business types excluded?
Yes. Some categories can’t take part under Visa’s program rules, including alcohol, tobacco, firearms, gambling, financial services, and healthcare and pharmacy. The full list is in our Terms and Conditions.
Can a member donate their cash back?
Yes. Members can donate some or all of their cash back to veteran service organizations, so your offer can support veteran causes as well.
How do we get started?
Fill out the form on the Merchants page or email support@veterancrowd.com.
For Veteran Service Organizations
What is the VeteranCrowd Beneficiary Partner Program?
Beneficiary Partners are veteran service organizations and veteran-focused nonprofits that receive donations from VeteranCrowd members. Members earn cash back when they shop with their linked Visa card and can give some or all of it to your organization.
What does it cost our organization?
Nothing. There are no fees, no platform costs, no integration work, and no technology to manage. VeteranCrowd handles onboarding, your beneficiary profile, merchant relationships, and fund settlement.
How do donations reach us?
Members who choose your organization as their beneficiary can donate some or all of the cash back they earn. VeteranCrowd collects these donations and pays them out to your organization.
When are donations available?
Cash back goes through a 30–45 day settlement hold to allow for returns and chargebacks. Donations made from that cash back follow the same timeline.
How do our members sign up?
We give you a unique referral link and a co-branded landing page with your logo. Members click the link, create a free account, verify their military status once, and link a Visa card they already have. Your organization is set as their beneficiary automatically.
Who can join as a member?
Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve, Veterans, and eligible family members. Membership is always free.
Does this compete with our existing fundraising?
No. It runs alongside your events, grants, and donor campaigns. Members generate donations by shopping the way they already do.
What do we need to do?
Tell your members about it. We provide ready-to-use materials (email templates, social posts, and talking points) for your newsletter, website, social media, and events.
What information do we see about our members?
You see aggregate results, such as how many members signed up through your link and the total donations you received. We do not share members’ individual purchases or card details with you.
Will we get reporting?
Yes. Every donation is tracked in VeteranCrowd’s ledger, so you can see what you received and when.
How long does it take to get started?
After a short agreement is signed, a partnership can go live in as little as four weeks.
Is there a long-term commitment?
No. You can end the partnership at any time with no penalties. Members who signed up through your link keep their VeteranCrowd accounts.
Which organizations already participate?
Current Beneficiary Partners include Operation Healing Forces, Military Bowl Foundation, VMI Keydet Scholarship, The George C. Marshall Foundation, Tech For Troops, and VetsInTech.