Gift Cards
North Carolina A&T State University authorizes the use of the Tango platform for issuing digital—and, in limited cases, physical—gift cards.
All departments must use Tango unless Procurement Services grants an exception.
Key Features of the Tango Partnership
- Recipients can choose from 100+ major retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, Starbucks, and Virtual Visa.
- NC A&T pays only the face value of digital rewards — no fees or markups.
- Tango requires only a first name (can be generic, e.g., “Valued Participant”) and email address, supporting PII and HIPAA compliance.
- Physical Visa cards may be bulk-ordered.
- Cost: approximately $2 per card plus ~$30 UPS shipping.
- Note: Bulk shipments cannot be delivered to P.O. Boxes.
Procedure
Requesting Access to Tango:
Email purchase@ncat.edu with subject line: “Tango Access.”
Include:- Department name
- Research project name or purpose
- Names and email addresses of personnel requiring access
You will receive an invite from noreply@tangocard.com to create your Tango login.
For research involving human subjects, complete and attach the Human Subject Certification Form with your Check Request.
Obtaining a Quote:
Email funding@tangocard.com with:
- Department name, contact, and address
- Tango account number (begins with A followed by eight digits)
- Estimated funding amount
- Project or account identifiers (if applicable)
Quotes are typically provided within two business days.
Funding and Payment Process:
After receiving a quote:
Submit a Check Request in AggieMart, listing Tango as the supplier.Attach:
- Tango quote
- Human Subject Certification Form (if applicable)
- Supporting documentation per the University’s Gift Cards in Lieu of Payments policy
After approval, Tango will fund your departmental account and send a confirmation email.
Issuing Rewards:
- Digital rewards: Sent directly to recipients by email.
- Bulk email delivery: Upload multiple addresses at once.
- Physical cards: Delivered in bulk to NC A&T for internal distribution.
|
Role |
Responsibility |
|
Department / Project Lead |
Ensure compliance with University gift card policies, funding restrictions, and IRB/human subjects requirements. |
|
Procurement Services |
Administer the Tango program, approve access, and monitor compliance. |
|
Research Compliance / IRB |
Review and approve use of gift cards as participant incentives. |
|
Accounts Payable |
Process payments after all required documentation and approvals. |
|
Department Approvers |
Verify business purpose and ensure adherence to University policy. |
Contacts
Procurement Services Contact:
Stephen Pass, Phone: 336-285-2984
Tango Contacts
- Client Success Manager: Deivis Ivanauskas
- Business Development: Nick Balestino, 612-202-5619
- Recipient Support: 877-558-2646 (Mon–Fri, 6:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. PT), cs@tangocard.com
- Funding Team: funding@tangocard.com
- Tango Help Center
Compliance, Statutory Authority, and Recordkeeping
All Tango transactions must comply with the University’s Gift Cards in Lieu of Payments Policy and applicable State of North Carolina laws, including:
- C. General Statute § 143-64.01 et seq. (State Purchasing and Contract Law)
- C. General Statute § 138-6 (Allowances and Gifts to Public Officers and Employees)
Departments must retain recipient logs and transaction records per the University Records Retention and Disposition Schedule and University audit requirements.