Amazon ends Amazon Smile charity program, will make 1 time donation
AmazonSmile is coming to an end.
Online retailer Amazon announced it was ending the charitable giving program first launched in 2013. The program allows customers to donate a percentage of purchases to eligible organization, providing some $449 million to non-profits in the last decade.
“However, “with so many eligible organizations – more than 1 million globally” the program’s ability to “have an impact was often spread too thin,” Amazon said.
AmazonSmile will officially shut down Feb. 20. To help with the transition, Amazon will be making a one-time donation equivalent to three months of what they earned in 2022 through the program and will be able to accrue additional donation before its official shutdown. Once AmazonSmile is done, charities will still be able to seek support from Amazon customer by creating their own wish lists, the company said.
The change includes Amazon focusing on other charitable efforts, including the Housing Equity Fund, Amazon Future Engineer program, Community Delivery Program, Amazon Disaster Relief and grassroots community programs.