Hey there! Have you heard of Amazon Smile but aren‘t quite sure how it works? As a fellow shopper, I put this guide together to teach you all about how Amazon Smile Prime can help you give back while buying the products you love.
A Quick Intro to How Amazon Smile Works
In short, Amazon Smile is an easy way for us shoppers to support charities through our normal Amazon purchases. Here’s an overview:
- Shop on smile.amazon.com like usual (all Prime benefits included!)
- Select a charity to support from over 1 million options
- 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases will be donated at no extra cost
- Amazon pays all fees – 100% of donations reach your chosen cause
It takes zero effort to activate, but provides huge help to worthy organizations. Keep reading for all the details on how we as customers can use Amazon Smile Prime to make a difference!
What Are the Pros of Amazon Smile for Shoppers?
As customers, we get some nice perks by participating in Amazon Smile:
- It’s totally free to use – no signup costs, monthly fees or extra charges
- We still earn rewards from Amazon credit cards and programs
- We get full access to Prime shipping and entertainment benefits
- It only takes seconds to set up – just choose a charity!
- We can track our impact in the Smile Dashboard
- It works seamlessly – same Amazon experience we‘re used to
Plus, it‘s rewarding to know our purchases make a tangible social impact!
What Are the Cons of Amazon Smile for Shoppers?
The downsides of using Amazon Smile are minor compared to the benefits:
- Limited to Amazon purchases – can’t donate from other retailers
- Just 0.5% donation rate – smaller than some other programs
- Forget to use smile.amazon.com – donations won‘t activate on regular Amazon
- Some items are ineligible for donations
- Can‘t donate to individuals – only registered 501(c)(3) charities
But overall, the pros far outweigh the cons thanks to the seamless integration with Amazon shopping.
How Much of an Impact Do Our Purchases Make?
Collectively, us shoppers have made a massive impact! Here are some stats:
- Over 1 million charities participating
- $308 million in total donations since 2013 launch
- 150 million Amazon Smile purchases made
- $215 million to US charities, $93 million international
And donations are accelerating – 2021 saw the most contributions yet at $148 million! Our purchases add up to make an enormous difference.
While each of us contributes just a fraction through our orders, together we shoppers drive significant resources to worthy causes.
How Can We Maximize Our Donations?
As customers, we can use smart shopping strategies to maximize our Amazon Smile contributions:
- Automatically redirect to smile.amazon.com in your browser
- Use the Amazon app? Update your settings to activate AmazonSmile
- Shop intentionally for big ticket eligible items when possible
- Buy recurring essentials like household goods through Smile
- Skip discounted/coupon items that are ineligible
- Share on social media to spread awareness of Amazon Smile
If we’re strategic shoppers, our everyday purchases add up faster, benefiting our charities sooner.
How Does Amazon Smile Compare to Other Charitable Programs?
How does Amazon Smile stack up against other similar charitable initiatives?
Amazon Smile
- Donates 0.5% of eligible purchases
- No cost to participate
- Access to Prime benefits
Walmart Round Up
- Rounds purchase up to donate difference
- No monthly fees
- Donation averages just $1.50-$2 per year
eScrip
- Earns up to 16% back for charity
- Must activate registered cards
- Not integrated with major retailers
Kroger Community Rewards
- Up to 4% of purchases to charity
- Only works at Kroger family stores
- Must re-enroll program each year
Amazon Smile stands out for its high charity reach (over 1 million eligible), zero cost structure, and integration with a retail giant. We get an unrivaled giving experience!
Answering Shopper Questions About Amazon Smile
We shoppers tend to share some common questions when learning about Amazon Smile. Here are helpful answers:
Are my Smile contributions tax deductible? Unfortunately not. Only direct donations outside of purchases can be deducted. But think of it as a bonus donation on stuff you’d buy anyway!
Can I choose any charity? Yes, as long as it‘s 501(c)(3) non-profit that’s registered with Amazon Smile (over 1 million options).
How are donations sent to charities? Funds are electronically transferred quarterly. Charities can view statements in the Amazon Pay platform.
Is this whole thing a scam? Nope, it‘s legitimate! Amazon covers the admin costs. The AmazonSmile Foundation legally handles donating the funds.
What if I shop both sites? Purchases only count when you go through specifically smile.amazon.com. So be sure to access that URL!
Tips to Make the Most of Amazon Smile
To really maximize the experience, keep these tips in mind:
- Add the Amazon Smile bookmark to your browser toolbar for 1-click access
- Install the Amazon Assistant extension to redirect you to Smile
- Shop Smile through the app by going to Settings > AmazonSmile
- Choose Amazon Smile as your charity when using employer donation matching
- Follow Amazon Smile on Facebook for program updates
- Keep an eye on your personal donation impact in the Smile Dashboard
With small moves like these, we can build the habit of Smile shopping and donate more.
The Bottom Line – We All Win With Amazon Smile
Looking at the big picture, Amazon Smile is a win-win-win:
We as shoppers get to give back at no cost while enjoying Amazon’s amazing service.
Charities receive billions in no-strings-attached donations to support their missions.
Amazon builds goodwill and gets tax deductions on donations.
So by coming together as customers and participating, we can make the world a little bit better using Amazon Smile – a model program for charitable giving.
Thanks for taking the time to learn how Amazon Smile works. I hope this guide gets you excited to integrate Smile into your shopping and make an even bigger impact! You‘ve got this.
