Organizations have been notified by Amazon this week that the company is discontinuing their charitable program, AmazonSmile. While they are not ending all of their philanthropic efforts including their affordable housing efforts, they intend to end the AmazonSmile fundraising program by February 2023.
We are writing to let you know that we have made plans to wind down AmazonSmile by February 20, 2023. Until this date, customer purchases made via AmazonSmile will continue to accrue funds for your charity as normal. To help nonprofits like you plan ahead, we will also provide you with a one-time payment equivalent to three months of payments based on what you accrued in 2022 through this program. The timing of this final payment will be approximately 60 to 90 days after February 20, 2023. We hope that this will help minimize the impact that this decision might have.
The impact of this decision by Amazon on nonprofit organizations involved in the program will vary, but we know that in the nonprofit world, every little bit helps. Apart from Amazon’s statement that their impact was often spread too thin to eligible organization, the announcement should encourage nonprofits to consider fundraising strategies not utlized previously including online giving, annual donor appeals, corporate sponsorships, collaborative events, donor relationships, and even utilizing ambassadors for your organization. The creative options are many!
Putting effective fundraising efforts into action can be challenging, but your cause is meaningful and your audience wants to be reached. Be sure to use this opportunity to communicate with your donors that with the loss of AmazonSmile, your organzation needs their help that much more.
