Should I Bother Using AmazonSmile at All?
If you want to support a non-profit organization without donating money, you can devote your time to volunteering or spreading the word about their work. Or you can shop on Amazon to support your favorite charity.
What to expect?
Amazon launched the AmazonSmile program in 2013 and has since donated “over $ 155 million to hundreds of thousands of charities,” the company says.
By comparison, Amazon generated $ 70 billion in revenue in Q3 2019 alone. It’s ridiculous to compare the amount a company donated to charities over six years with the amount generated from sales over one three-month period. But even if you look at profits rather than revenues, Amazon makes billions of dollars every year.
Does this mismatch mean that this is just a giveaway facade and that you should avoid AmazonSmile?
Not really, although it shouldn’t be your favorite place for charitable giving.
Amazon gives support to charities for half a percent of the cost of “eligible products” and donates to a participating charity of your choice. The company announced this week that it has fulfilled Amazon product wishlists for various organizations, and will also contribute $ 1 million in cash and in kind this holiday season to organizations that support homeless people.
“It’s a great option because it’s free,” said Ashley Post, Communications Manager at Charity Navigator , of AmazonSmile purchases. “It’s foolish to leave this money on the table,” since Amazon makes a contribution based on the amount of your purchase, ”she explained.
True, this is a penny for a dollar, Post admitted. “It should never replace an actual donation,” she said. While some organizations have made great strides in raising money through AmazonSmile, the Post said these tend to be the larger “home” names. If you choose a regional or local charity, they may not feel much of an impact from participating.
But that doesn’t mean you have to avoid AmazonSmile in exchange for direct contributions. You can use them together if you are already planning to shop on Amazon. Use it for holiday shopping, Post advised, but save a little to donate directly to a charity close to your heart. When it comes to charitable giving, money is critical as it provides the maximum flexibility for an organization to meet its current needs.
As always, you should research the missions of the organization and how they are using their funds by checking directories like Charity Navigator or Guidestar before submitting.