Since October 2013 AmazonSmile generates money for donations via simple buying activity performed on AmazonSmile similar to normal Amazon shopping. From the l purchasing cost of the stuff, you buy (that is eligible for donation); AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% to a charitable organization of your choice without any additional fees. Plus the items you buy are of same prices in which they are available on amaopn.com
So Why Shop On AmazonSmile?
After knowing about AmazonSmile you should think about why you should shop on AmazonSmile rather than amazon. The answer is simple. AmazonSmile is a Shopping Platform which raises donations for over 1 million of charitable organizations from customer’s subtotal amount of shopping without charging any extra fee. So if you shop from AmazonSmile you will get all stuff that is available on amazon at normal prices that are on Amazon but you will benefit the charity organization that you want to support with 0.5% of your purchasing cost without any extra charges. The more you buy the more your charity organization gets. Although 0.5%is not a big amount you are not alone in this fundraising, there are many other people who prefer AmazonSmile over Amazon.
How to Shop from AmazonSmile
If you are going to use AmazonSmile for the first time then we will show you how to do so in some simple steps:
- Browse to smile.amazon.com from your phone, pc, tablet, Mac, or any device. For your convince add smile.amazon.com to your bookmarks.
- Then sign in or sign up if you do not have an amazon account. After signing in you will have to select a charity organization of your choice. The charity organization you will choose will display below the search bar. You can also change your charity organization if you want to.
- At last, just go ahead shopping. For each item you buy that is eligible for donation will result in a donation. Eligibility of items will be shown in the items details page.
Using AmazonSmile on Prime Day
Every year Amazon offers a 48 hours Prime Day sale which is amazon’s biggest shopping event exclusively for Prime members. Prime members get tons of exclusive Amazon discount codes and are able to purchase stuff at very cheap prices. Last year prime day started on July 15 but this year it is rumored to be delayed till September due to pandemic.
On Prime Days buyers are in a rush to buy everything that is in a decent discount. So they buy more and more stuff due to the sale which indeed increases their purchasing cost which in return will increase the amount of charity generated through their purchase. Plus folks just fall on sales on Prime days which means millions of people shop during them so in this more and more charity can be generated for over 1 million organizations. This indeed can happen only if people shop via AmazonSmile rather than amazon on Prime Days. Charitable organizations and even amazon encourage people to shop via AmazonSmile during Prime Days to generate more and more donations.
Registration of Charitable Organization
If you run a Charitable Organization and are the official representatives of it and want to generate funds for it then you should register your organization at AmazonSmile. Your Organization must be public charitable organizations that are registered and in good standing with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) in order to be eligible to participate. It must also be located in one of the 50 U.S. states or the District of Columbia. Organizations that engage in, support, encourage or promote intolerance, hate, terrorism, violence, money laundering, or other illegal activities are not eligible to participate. Amazon relies on the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control and the Southern Poverty Law Center to determine which organizations fall into these groups. Your charitable organization must also adhere to the AmazonSmile Participation Agreement to maintain eligibility.
So if your organization falls on these conditions then you should follow these steps to register your organization at AmazonSmile:
- Browse to org.amazon.com and click register now.
- Search for your charitable organization by name or EIN number and then select the organization you represent. Be sure to select correct organizations as many organizations have similar names.
- Then create an organization administrator account and accept the AmazonSmile Participation Agreement on behalf of your organization.
- After that verify your email address
- Then submit your organization’s bank account information.
- Upload a copy of a voided check or bank statement to verify your organization’s bank account information.
When registered urge your supporters to shop via AmazonSmile and select your organization to donate
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is AmazonSmile?
AmazonSmile is a shopping platform similar to amazon but it generates donations for charitable organizations which is 0.5% of the cost of eligible items for donation purchased.
Q2. How to shop at AmazonSmile?
To shop at AmazonSmile you have to browse to smile.amazon.com then sign in if you have an account or sign up if you don’t have.
Q3. Which products are eligible for charity on AmazonSmile?
There are millions of products that are eligible for charity. The products which are eligible for charity will be marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their details page.
Q4. Can I use my existing amazon.com account on AmazonSmile?
Yes, you can use your amzon.com account at AmazonSmile.
Q5. How to select Charity organization to support at AmazonSmile?
You will be asked to select a charity organization on your first visit to AmazonSmile. For the rest, AmazonSmile will remember your organization and will donate to that organization.
Q6. What charities can I choose from?
You can choose from over 1 million eligible 501(c)(3) public charitable organizations.
Q7. Can I change my charity?
Yes you can through browsing AmazonSmile and simply selecting “Change your Charity” in “Your Account.”
Q8. If I represent a charitable organization, how can I learn more about registering my organization on AmazonSmile?
Go to org.amazon.com to learn how to register your organization to receive donations.
Q9. What if my selected charity does not register to participate in the AmazonSmile program or becomes ineligible?
If your selected charity does not register to participate, becomes ineligible, or requests to be removed from the program, you will have a chance to select a different charity to receive the accrued donations that have not yet been disbursed to your charity. If you do not select a different charity, the accrued donations will be distributed to other organizations receiving donations.
Q10. How much of my purchase does Amazon donate?
The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. The purchase price is the amount paid for the item minus any rebates
And excluding shipping & handling, gift-wrapping fees, taxes, or service charges.
Q11. Does Buyer receive a tax deduction for amounts donated from purchases on AmazonSmile?
No, because Donations are made by the AmazonSmile Foundation and are not tax-deductible by you.