Fresh Funds is an Instacart program that allows providers to fund category-specific stipends, like fresh and frozen produce and household goods. In some cases, Fresh Funds covers everything on Instacart except alcohol. Providers determine what items and fees are eligible. The providers distribute Fresh Funds to recipients who can redeem via a digital code and shop from eligible categories on Instacart. 

Nonprofits, insurance companies, hospital systems, employers, etc. can use Instacart Fresh Funds to bring existing food prescription and nutrition incentive programs online or launch easily scalable health programs.

Fresh Funds requirements

  • Your cart must contain at least 1 Fresh Funds item from approved categories to apply Fresh Fund credits. Items eligible for Fresh Funds have a Fresh Funds tag under the item.
  • You must add a backup credit/debit card in the Pay With section at checkout for the Fresh Funds checkbox to activate. The backup credit/debit card pays for any uncovered charges. Backup payment methods can’t be EBT SNAP or other benefit cards.
  • You can use multiple Fresh Funds of the same value and from the same sponsor together (ex. 2 $50 codes) to maximize benefits, but can’t combine different values (ex. a $30 and $20 code). When you have two codes of different value, only the first code added to the account will apply, the second code may be used on a new order when the first is fully spent. You can see the final order total in the Pay With section at checkout.
  • Minimum order requirements and fees vary by sponsor. Some programs may include promotions that auto apply to cover service or delivery fees. 
  • Some Fresh Funds programs include Instacart+ memberships. These memberships don’t auto-renew.

Using Fresh Funds

Fresh Funds apply to the item and fee categories selected by the sponsor. Most sponsors allow Fresh Funds to cover standard service and delivery fees.

Add a Fresh Funds code from sponsor —

  1. Open the communication (ex. email) from your benefit provider.
  2. Click the link or use the QR code provided by your sponsor. Your unique digital code auto-populates in the form field. 
    • You can’t activate Fresh Funds codes in the credits and promos section of your Instacart account. 
  3. Once activated, you can log into your Instacart account or create a free account—it takes only a few minutes. 

Backup payment method—

Ineligible items and fees will be charged to your backup payment method. You must add a credit or debit card at checkout to use your Fresh Funds, even if the Fresh Funds fully cover your total purchase amount. Your credit or debit card will be used as a backup payment method in the event post-checkout changes cause your total to exceed your available Fresh Funds.

The credit/debit card covers—

  • The authorization hold. Go to Authorization holds, recurring payments, and unknown charges to learn more.
  • Ineligible items, post-order adjustments (including item additions and tips), fees, and any amount that exceeds your Fresh Funds balance charges to your backup payment method. 
  • Substitutions that exceed the value of the original item will also be charged to the backup payment method.

Apply Fresh Funds to an order—

Make sure you have a non-EBT credit/debit card added to your account. You can use EBT SNAP with Fresh Funds, but you must add a non-EBT credit/debit card to the account to successfully use Fresh Funds credits. EBT always deducts first (you can modify the amount), followed by Fresh Funds credits. Go to Updating your payment methods for more information on adding, removing, or updating your payment method. 

  1. Select the Fresh Funds credits box in the Pay With section.  The total Fresh Funds amount applied to the order appears at the bottom of the checkout screen.

Check your balance—

Please note your balance only reflects the first program you use.

On the website

  1. Go to Instacart.com
  2. Click the 3 horizontal lines in the top left-hand corner 
  3. Click Add promo or gift card 
  4. Check your balance under Fresh Funds

In the app

  1. Tap Account at the bottom of your screen
  2. Tap Credits, promos, and gift cards
  3. Check your balance under Fresh Funds

Fresh Funds expire. Please review your organization’s Fresh Funds terms for more information.

Eligible items

Each benefits provider determines Fresh Funds eligibility. Your Fresh Funds cover the preselected food categories, like fresh and frozen produce, plus any fees and/or tips selected by your benefit provider.

Orders with non-Fresh Fund-eligible items and orders that exceed the designated Fresh Funds amount can be purchased with an alternate form of payment. You can add other payment methods, like a gift card, credit card, or debit card, at checkout.

Leaving a Fresh Funds program

Once you leave a Fresh Funds program, you’re separated from the program, but you can choose to rejoin at a later date. You lose access to Fresh Funds credits and other program benefits, including any unused credits in your account.  Instacart stops sharing order information with your Fresh Funds partner after processing your request.

Trying to turn off promotional emails? Here’s how.

How to leave Fresh Funds 

  • You must complete any active order(s) before requesting to leave a Fresh Funds program. 
  • When you’re ready to leave the Fresh Funds program, contact Instacart Customer Experience by selecting the Get help button below. They’ll need the name of your sponsor, your Fresh Funds code, and your email address to process the request.
  • Requests typically process within 30 business days.

Authorization holds

Instacart places a temporary authorization hold on your credit or debit card to account for potential changes to the final total. Authorization hold amounts vary, but are typically calculated as the total value of any ineligible amounts or amounts exceeding your Fresh Funds balance, plus about 15% of the order total. The hold accounts for potential changes in the final total due to added items, items replaced at a different price, and the actual weight of items. You can see the amount of the authorization hold below your order totals at checkout, prior to placing your order.

The hold is released after your order is delivered or canceled. It can then take up to 7 days for the pending charge to drop, depending on your bank.

We will only charge you for the total of the items delivered to you, plus any fees, taxes, and tips. For more information on authorization holds, click here.

Partnering with Fresh Funds

Visit Instacart Health if your organization is interested in partnering with us.

--

Need help with your code?

If your code is invalid, that means the code was already redeemed or deactivated. Please reach out to your benefit provider with your Instacart account email, Fresh Funds code, and a description of the problem for help. Screenshots are also helpful.