AmazonSmile was the tech giant's charity program, but it closed due to limited impact, the company claimed (2024)

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AmazonSmile was the tech giant's charity program, but it closed due to limited impact, the company claimed? ›

AmazonSmile was the tech giant's charity program, but it closed due to limited impact, the company claimed. Amazon closed its charity program AmazonSmile in February 2023. The company said it would continue investing in other impact initiatives like affordable housing. Customers who shopped saw .

Since its launch, Amazon has donated more than $377 million through the Amazon Smile program. But according to Amazon, “its ability to have an impact was often spread too thin.” That's why they've decided to close Amazon Smile on February 20, 2023.

With so many eligible organizations—more than 1 million globally—our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin. We are writing to let you know that we plan to wind down AmazonSmile by February 20, 2023.

About a million 501(c)(3) public charitable organizations, including the World Wildlife Fund, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital participated in AmazonSmile.

While Amazon has announced the end of AmazonSmile, they will continue to support their Charity Lists feature. If you haven't set up a Charity List, now's a great time to do so. By creating a list of items your charity needs, Amazon shoppers can browse and donate requested items directly to your cause.

Cons for Consumers Explained

One-at-a-time donations: On AmazonSmile, you cannot donate to more than one charity at a time. Many of us support more than one charity and would like to donate to all of them.

So yesterday I took special notice when Amazon announced that on February 20, 2023 they'll shutter the 10-year-old AmazonSmile program which has raised over $400 million for charities. AmazonSmile will cease operations in February.

Can I change my charity? Yes, you can change your charity any time. Your AmazonSmile purchases after the change count towards your newly selected charity. To change your charity, sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser and simply select “Change your Charity” in “Your Account.”

AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon with the same products, prices, and shopping features as Amazon.com. The difference is that when you shop on AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible products to the charitable organization of your choice.

Through the program, which has been in operation since 2013, Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to a charity of the shopper's choice. The program has donated over $400 million to U.S. charities and more than $449 million globally, according to Amazon.

How do I remove Amazon smile from charity? ›

You can only choose a different charity, not delete it. Just continue to go through amazon.com NOT amazonsmile.com.

The donation amounts generated by your purchases are combined with the donation amounts from all other customers that selected the same organization, and each quarter the AmazonSmile Foundation makes donations to registered charitable organizations by electronic funds transfer.

At smile.amazon.com you can choose a charity. That charity then gets a donation based on how much you spend while shopping. Through Amazon Smile, 0.5% of a shoppers total purchase is donated to a designated nonprofit. That means I would have to spend $1000 to generate a $5 donation.

In particular, the company could have modified AmazonSmile to give consumers less autonomy over the charity their purchase would support. As noted above, Amazon decided to shut down the program because it felt its charitable donations were spread too thin.

After almost a decade, Amazon announced that it will shut down its philanthropic website AmazonSmile by February 20, 2023. AmazonSmile - a website separate from but owned by Amazon.com - allowed online shoppers to direct a small portion of their eligible purchases to a charitable organization.

AmazonSmile wasn't the only program of its kind out there. The best, most sustainable alternative to AmazonSmile is to partner with a different online shopping fundraiser platform, like ShopRaise. ShopRaise allows supporters to contribute to their favorite nonprofits by making everyday purchases.

According to an official press release, Amazon discontinued the Smile program because the company felt like its philanthropic impact was spread too thin. Instead, the business planned to focus on other, more targeted charitable initiatives, such as aiding in disaster relief and building affordable housing.

Amazon permanently shut down the AmazonSmile customer donation program on Feb. 20, 2023.

When you shop at AmazonSmile, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.