Methods and systems for processing unrestricted stored-value instruments

1. A method for processing a stored-value instrument, the method comprising:

authenticating at an instrument-authority system an unrestricted value associated with the stored-value instrument in response to an authentication request received from a merchant point-of-sale terminal;

receiving at the instrument-authority system an allocation request for a restricted allocation of at least a portion of the authenticated value associated with the stored-value instrument;

allocating the authenticated value associated with the stored-value instrument in accordance with the allocation request, wherein allocating the authenticated value comprises assigning at least a portion of the authenticated value for purchases at a specified merchant;

receiving at the instrument-authority system from a point-of-sale terminal at a location of the specified merchant transaction information identifying the stored-value instrument and a debit amount, wherein the debit amount is greater than the authenticated value of the stored-value instrument assigned for purchases at the specified merchant;

transmitting an offer to the point-of-sale terminal at the location of the specified merchant to reallocate portions of the authenticated value for purchases at the specified merchant;

receiving at the instrument-authority system from the point-of-sale terminal at the location of the specified merchant an acceptance of the offer;

reallocating the authenticated value associated with the stored value instrument in accordance with the offer; and

reducing the authenticated value of the stored-value instrument assigned for purchases at the specified merchant in accordance with the reallocated authentication value.

2. The method recited in claim 1 wherein allocating the authenticated value comprises assigning at least a portion of the authenticated value for a donation.

3. The method recited in claim 2 wherein the donation qualifies for a tax deduction.

4. The method recited in claim 3 further comprising transmitting a receipt for an amount of the donation to a holder of the stored-value instrument.

5. The method recited in claim 1 further comprising:

receiving at the instrument-authority system from a point-of-sale terminal at a location of the specified merchant transaction information identifying the stored-value instrument and a debit amount; and

reducing the authenticated value of the stored-value instrument assigned for purchases at the specified merchant by the debit amount.

6. The method recited in claim 1 wherein the allocation request specifies a plurality of portions of the authenticated value to be allocated differently.

7. A system for processing a stored-value instrument, the system comprising:

a communications system;

a storage device;

a processor in communication with the communications system and the storage device; and

a memory coupled with the processor, the memory comprising a computer-readable storage medium having a computer-readable program embodied therein for directing operation of the system, the computer-readable program including:

instructions for authenticating with the processor an unrestricted value associated with the stored-value instrument in response to an authentication request received with the communications system from a merchant point-of-sale terminal;

instructions for receiving with the communications system an allocation request for a restricted allocation of at least a portion of the authenticated value associated with the stored-value instrument;

instructions for allocating with the processor the authenticated value associated with the stored-value instrument in accordance with the allocation request, wherein the instruction for allocating the authenticated value comprise instructions for assigning with the processor at least a portion of the authenticated value for purchases at a specified merchant;

instructions for receiving with the communications system from a point-of-sale terminal at a location of the specified merchant transaction information identifying the stored-value instrument and a debit amount, wherein the debit amount is greater than the authenticated value of the stored-value instrument;

instructions for transmitting with the communications system to the point-of-sale terminal at the location of the specified merchant an offer to reallocate portions of the authenticated value for purchases at the specified merchant;

instructions for receiving with the communications system from the point-of-sale terminal at the location of the specified merchant an acceptance of the offer;

instructions for reallocating with the processor the authenticated value associated with the stored value instrument in accordance with the offer; and

instructions for reducing with the processor the authenticated value of the stored-value instrument assigned for purchases at the specified merchant in accordance with the reallocated authentication value.

8. The system recited in claim 7 wherein the instructions for allocating the authenticated value comprise instructions for assigning at least a portion of the authenticated value for a donation.

9. The system recited in claim 8 wherein the computer-readable program farther comprises instructions for transmitting with the communications system a receipt for an amount of the donation.

10. The system recited in claim 7 wherein the computer-readable program farther includes:

instructions for receiving with the communications system from a point-of-sale terminal at a location of the specified merchant transaction information identifying the stored-value instrument and a debit amount; and

instructions for reducing with the processor the authenticated value of the stored-value instrument assigned for purchases at the specified merchant by the debit amount.