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Wildcard Advantage Program

Wildcard Advantage Program logo in black

About the Program

The Wildcard Advantage Program is a free program available to members of the Northwestern community that have a Wildcard ID, offering discounts when making purchases from local and diverse businesses not affiliated with Northwestern. These discount offers are subject to change without notice. If you have any questions regarding a specific discount, contact the business or organization directly for more information.

This program is managed by Northwestern's Procurement and Payment Services (PPS) department. 

Find a Participating Business

A comprehensive list of all Wildcard Advantage Program businesses can be found on the PPS' website.

View All Discounts

Information for Businesses

Businesses located in Evanston and businesses that serve the Chicago Streeterville campus are invited to join. Businesses participating in the free Wildcard Advantage Program provide special discounts and offers for Northwestern-issued Wildcard ID cardholders. Benefits of the Wildcard Advantage Program include:

  • Local businesses receive increased exposure to Wildcard ID holders.
  • Discounts will be listed on the Wildcard Advantage Program web page, which will include a link to the business' website.
  • Complimentary window sticker to publicize the business' participation in the program.

Apply

Interested businesses can apply for participation by submitting the Wildcard Advantage Program Application (link opens in new tab). Once submitted, the application is reviewed by PPS to determine eligibility and compliance with provisions of program policy. If the application is approved, PPS will authorize the business's discount information to be displayed on the Wildcard Advantage Program web page. Businesses are responsible for providing all information for the individual listings, are responsible for informing PPS of any listing changes, and responsible for informing PPS if the business closes. PPS will review the program and business' information on an annual basis.

Once accepted, businesses are given complimentary window stickers with the Wildcard Advantage Program logo that they are instructed to display clearly and prominently so members of the Northwestern community know they participate in the program.

Please note: any new applicants, including online businesses, must have a local storefront in close proximity to either the Evanston or Chicago campus, in the Streeterville neighborhood and including the Medill Chicago Newsroom at 303 East Upper Wacker Drive.

Additional expectations are as follows:

  • The discount must be specified in the listing.
  • All staff must have knowledge of the Wildcard Advantage Program and all discounts offered. 
  • A unique discount code, NUWC2025, must be used to track spend.
  • Businesses agree to a one-year commitment. Participation must be renewed each year.
  • Businesses are required to report the usage of this discount on a quarterly basis to wildcardadv@northwestern.edu.
  • View the Northwestern-issued ID card of any Northwestern cardholder using the discount at time of payment or offer. Discounts apply to anyone that possesses a valid Northwestern-issued Wildcard.
  • Businesses are responsible for keeping the business page current and informing PPS of any changes to the business page.

Disclaimers

  • PPS reserves the right to deny applications.
  • The Wildcard Advantage Program is for the personal use of valid Northwestern-issued ID cardholder. The University is not responsible for transactions and/or disputes resulting from the use of its website and does not promote or endorse any specific business listed.
  • There is no binding legal agreement or participation fee.
  • Northwestern does not subsidize discounts offered by participating Wildcard Advantage Program businesses. 
  • A business's participation in the Wildcard Advantage Program does not constitute or create a contract or an agent relationship between the business and Northwestern. Participation in the program is separate and distinct from Preferred Vendor contracts established by Northwestern's Procurement and Payment Services for business use.
  • Businesses participating in the Wildcard Advantage Program are not granted rights to Northwestern University's name, logos, trademarks, songs, mottos, or mascots and are prohibited from their unauthorized use, as determined by the Trademark Licensing Office. Businesses may, however, use the Wildcard Advantage Program logo in their marketing efforts. To obtain design files for the program logo, please contact wildcardadv@northwestern.edu.
  • Northwestern is not responsible for transactions and/or disputes resulting from the use of this program and does not promote or endorse any goods or services these businesses may provide. Inclusion of a product or service in the program is not a guarantee by Northwestern of the quality or performance of a product or service.

Contact Wildcard Advantage

The Wildcard Advantage Program is part of Northwestern University's Procurement and Payment Services department. For information specific to the Wildcard Advantage Program, please email wildcardadv@northwestern.edu or call Peter Braithwaite, Director of Procurement Diversity and Community Engagement at 847-467-6333.