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Want to bank some bonus United MileagePlus miles? Chase and United Airlines are teaming up to offer rewards for donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of America. Through August 31, 2026, you can earn 5 United MileagePlus miles per dollar donated using an eligible United co-branded credit card.

Here's a look at the donation promotion and the cards you can use to bank some bonus United miles.

For a limited time, you can earn bonus United MileagePlus miles on donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America or affiliated Make-A-Wish chapters. Cash donations through mobile payment services like PayPal, Venmo, EventBrite, GiveButter, Square, and SignUp Genius also qualify.

Eligible cardholders will earn 5X MileagePlus miles per $1 donated, and there's no limit to how many bonus miles you can earn. Note that purchases must post to your account by August 31, 2026, to qualify, and it can take up to eight weeks to receive your miles.

Information on the Chase, United, and Make-A-Wish donation campaign
Screenshot of Make-A-Wish

Related: Do United MileagePlus Miles Expire?

Eligible United credit cards

There are four co-branded United credit cards currently open to new applicants that you can use to make donations. You might also hold some legacy United cards that qualify.

The eligible cards are:

United business cards are not listed as eligible cards in the terms and conditions, so you'll want to stick with personal cards for your donations.

United℠ Explorer Card
United℠ Explorer Card
Welcome Bonus Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Apply Now
Annual Fee

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150Rates & Fees

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

  • Earn at least 9X total miles on eligible United flights (excluding Basic Economy and other base fares)*
  • 3X miles on all other eligible United purchases
  • 2X miles on dining and direct hotel stays
  • 1X on all other purchases
The earning for spending on eligible United flights breaks down as follows:
  • 6x miles on the primary cardmember’s fare from United as a MileagePlus member
  • 3x miles on United purchases with the United℠ Explorer Card
United Quest℠ Card
United Quest℠ Card
Welcome Bonus Earn up to 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points – 60,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open, and an additional 10,000 miles after you add an authorized user account in the first 3 months from account opening
Apply Now
Annual Fee

$350Rates & Fees

Credit Score

Good, Excellent

  • Earn at least 10X total miles on eligible United flights (excluding Basic Economy and other base fares)*
  • 5X miles on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels and Resorts
  • 4X miles on eligible United purchases
  • 2X miles on all other travel, select streaming services and dining
  • 1X on all other purchases
The earning for spending on eligible United flights breaks down as follows:
  • 6X miles on the primary cardmember’s fare from United as a MileagePlus member
  • 4X miles on entire United purchases with the United Quest℠ Card
United Club℠ Card
United Club℠ Card
Welcome Bonus Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Apply Now
Annual Fee

$695Rates & Fees

Credit Score

Excellent

  • Earn at least 11X total miles on eligible United flights (excluding Basic Economy and other base fares)*
  • 5X miles on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels and Resorts
  • 5X miles on eligible United purchases
  • 2X miles on dining and all other travel
  • 1X on all other purchases
The earning for spending on eligible United flights breaks down as follows:
  • 6X miles on the primary cardmember’s fare from United as a MileagePlus member
  • 5X miles on entire United purchases with the United Club℠ Card

Terms and conditions

There are a few terms you'll want to note with this promotion to ensure you earn the bonus miles.

  • Donate by August 31, 2026, to earn bonus United MileagePlus miles.
  • Donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America or affiliated Make-A-Wish chapters.
  • Cash donations through mobile payment services like PayPal, Venmo, EventBrite, GiveButter, Square, and SignUp Genius also qualify.
  • After donating, the miles will post to your account within eight weeks.
  • There's no limit to the number of bonus miles you can earn.
  • Bonus award miles don't count toward United MileagePlus Premier status.

Our Take

Chase and United Airlines are giving you a chance to earn MileagePlus miles by donating to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Unlike past promotions, there's no limit to the number of bonus miles you can earn, so this is a promotion worth considering. You'll need to act fast — the last day to donate and earn a bonus is August 31, 2026.

For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees), and United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees)

Tip of The Day
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