On Feb. 20, Amazon will put an end to AmazonSmile, a program run by the retailer since 2013 that allowed users to donate a percentage of their purchases to a given charity.
More than 1 million nonprofits globally who were part of the eligible list will no longer receive this passive income from the retail giant.
Are you shedding a tear for the end of AmazonSmile as a source of income for your nonprofit? Turn that frown upside down because there are plenty of other options out there. Here's a list of alternatives to consider:
1. Target Circle
Target’s customer loyalty program, Target Circle, allows customers to vote for a nonprofit of their choice using a points system based on store visits. To begin earning points from your donors, nonprofits should apply to be a part of Target’s giving program here.
Encourage your donors to vote for your cause frequently—Target awards gifts to organizations based on the percentage of votes received each month.
2. Double the Donation
Double the Donation provides matching gift tools to nonprofit organizations.
Many companies offer charitable match opportunities to their employees—but not all donors are aware of it. By partnering with Double the Donation, nonprofits can add integrations to their donation forms to help donors determine whether their gift is eligible for a match, increasing your nonprofit’s revenue.
3. Microsoft Rewards
Give with Bing, part of Microsoft Rewards, allows donors to donate to a nonprofit just by using Bing as their search engine. To participate, your organization must be registered in the Benevity Causes database. Then, use these resources from Give with Bing’s toolkit to educate donors and craft messages for social, email and your website.
4. Social Media Fundraisers
Both Facebook and Instagram offer opportunities for individuals to raise money on behalf of their favorite nonprofits. In fact, 18% of donors have given through Facebook Fundraising.
Take advantage of this by encouraging donors to participate in fundraisers and host their own. Nonprofits can create a landing page that provides tips for success and answers frequently asked questions. Check out how North Texas Food Bank is doing this on their Facebook Fundraisers page.
5. Amazon's Alexa
The days of fundraising through Amazon aren’t totally over. You can still encourage your donors to donate via Alexa by saying, “Alexa, donate to Susan G. Komen.” Before you get started promoting, sign up to be eligible for Amazon Pay here.
In addition to these five opportunities, there are plenty of browser extensions, apps and other tools donors can use to easily donate to the nonprofit of their choosing, including:
Success is all about educating your donors on the opportunities available to them and providing the resources they might need to get started.
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