The Harcourts Foundation Teams Up with LocalCard to Turn ‘Lost’ Gift Card Money into Meaningful Change

The Harcourts Foundation is thrilled to announce a new partnership with LocalCard, the platform that’s finally fixing the frustration of traditional gift cards.

By teaming up, we’re turning those annoying, unspent partial balances into direct support for local communities.

Let’s be honest: we’ve all been there. You receive a gift card, buy something nice, and end up with a random $4.30 left on the card. It sits in a drawer, gathering dust, until it expires. It feels wasteful because, well, it is.

LocalCard changes the game. As a "Better Gift Card Platform," they offer complete transparency and control over every cent.

Their cards are delivered as digital Visa Debit Cards—meaning no plastic waste—and can be used in-store or online. But the real magic happens when the shopping is done. instead of that leftover money disappearing into the ether,

LocalCard prompts the user to donate the remaining partial balance to the Harcourts Foundation.

Pauline Smith, Head of the Harcourts Foundation, sees this as a perfect alignment of values.

"We’re always looking for authentic ways to support our communities, and let’s face it, we’ve all been guilty of letting gift card balances slide," says Smith.

"Partnering with LocalCard means those small, forgotten amounts can actually do some serious good. It’s a simple, transparent way to help us continue our work, and it aligns perfectly with our values of doing the right thing and putting people first. Every cent counts when you’re trying to make a difference."

This partnership provides a new avenue of support for the Foundation, which serves as the charitable arm of Harcourts. Since its inception in 2008, the Foundation has celebrated the incredible milestone of raising over $10 million.

Guided by core values that include acting with courage and embracing fun and laughter, the Foundation is committed to providing support that helps, grows, and enriches communities.

For the Harcourts network, businesses and partners looking for a smarter way to gift, LocalCard offers a solution that eliminates wastage and ensures funds are used exactly as intended—either by the recipient or by a worthy cause. It’s a win-win that turns a common consumer annoyance into a powerful tool for community enrichment.