When a Simple Giving Option Disappears
In January 2023, Amazon announced it was shutting down AmazonSmile—the program that had quietly funneled donations to nonprofits since 2013. Supporters who’d linked their purchases to favorite charities suddenly faced a question: Where do we give now?
For small nonprofits, especially grassroots organizations, the loss hit harder than headlines suggested. Amazon had donated roughly $500 million to charities across the decade, but with over one million eligible organizations competing for it, the average nonprofit received less than $230 per year. Still—for a 501(c)(3) running on a lean budget, passive income from supporter purchases adds up.
The good news: AmazonSmile wasn’t the only way to give while shopping. And some alternatives actually pay better.
Why AmazonSmile Fell Short
On paper, AmazonSmile sounded perfect. Supporters shop on Amazon. Amazon donates 0.5% of purchases to the charity of their choice. No extra cost. No friction.
But the program had real limits. Nonprofits couldn’t view participation data, making it impossible to thank supporters individually. Donations came from Amazon purchases only. And with the commission so thin and spread across so many organizations, few nonprofits saw meaningful funding.
In February 2023, Amazon said the program “has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped.” They moved on to larger philanthropic initiatives. Participating nonprofits received a one-time consolation donation—roughly three months of 2022 earnings—and were left to find new revenue streams.
What Still Works: Three Alternatives Worth Knowing
ShopRaise: The Most Direct Replacement
ShopRaise was built for this moment. It works like AmazonSmile—supporters shop online, nonprofits earn a cut—but better. Donors can shop at 2,500+ retailers including Amazon, Target, and hundreds of gift card brands. And here’s the real difference: nonprofits earn up to 10% per purchase, not 0.5%.
ShopRaise also provides real-time dashboards so organizations can track who’s giving, how much, and from where. That data matters. It’s the difference between passive income and genuine supporter relationships.
iGive: The Veteran Platform
iGive has been around since 1997—long before AmazonSmile existed. It works as a portal to 700+ online retailers, letting shoppers donate while they browse. The commission rates range from 0.8% to 26%, depending on the retailer—dramatically better than Amazon’s flat 0.5%.
Since its founding, iGive members have raised over $3.5 million for charities across the U.S. and Canada. It’s not flashy or trendy, but it’s reliable, and it’s proven to work at scale.
eBay for Charity: Scale That Surprises
eBay for Charity might not come to mind first, but 2024 showed its real power. The platform raised over $192.5 million for nonprofits worldwide last year—an 18% increase from the year before. Since 2003, eBay for Charity has raised more than $1.3 billion across 225,000+ charities.
Sellers can donate up to 100% of sale proceeds. Buyers can add a donation at checkout. It’s a two-sided model that works because both buyers and sellers feel their gifts matter.
The Real Lesson
AmazonSmile’s shutdown taught a hard lesson: passive giving programs are only reliable if they’re built by organizations that prioritize nonprofits, not quarterly earnings calls. The best alternatives share something in common—they provide data, they pay fairly, and they’ve sustained themselves over years, not months.
For supporters who want to give without thinking about it, these platforms make it possible. For nonprofits like I Want To Mow Your Lawn, every dollar from these programs translates to more volunteers equipped to help older adults, veterans, and neighbors who need free lawn care relief.
The passive giving landscape has shifted. But it hasn’t disappeared. It’s just smaller, more intentional, and—ironically—more generous than before.
How to Get Started
- If you support a nonprofit: Ask them if they’re enrolled in ShopRaise, iGive, or eBay for Charity. If not, point them toward these platforms. They’re free to join.
- If you represent a nonprofit: Set up accounts on at least two of these platforms. Multiple revenue streams beat relying on any single program.
- If you want to give while helping others directly: Consider volunteering instead of (or in addition to) shopping. I Want To Mow Your Lawn connects volunteers across all 50 states with older adults and veterans who need free yard care. Or challenge yourself with the MOW app—play online or download from the App Store—and earn recognition for your service.
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