Amazon stops “Smile”-ing: Turn incremental gifts into local impact with this easy (and better) alternative

An email from Amazon went out to AmazonSmile users about the discontinuation of their charity-donation program in February 2023, citing that “with so many eligible organizations—more than 1 million globally—our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin.”

While we applaud Amazon’s efforts to maximize their philanthropic efforts, the dollars the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation receives from your AmazonSmile purchases will be missed.

The appeal of a program like AmazonSmile is its relative ease. You pick your favorite charity, go shopping, and voila, your work is done — set it and forget it. Behind the scenes charities like us would receive quarterly checks. Win, win!

If the idea of consistent, pain-free charitable donations works with your philanthropic style, consider setting up a recurring gift account with us. Your gift of $5, $10, $25, or more*, deducted every month (or week or quarter…) through a credit card or bank draft, accrues over the year becoming an impressive and impactful gift to the Library Foundation.

In the long run this relationship is better for you and your chosen charity; instead of a corporation like Amazon getting the recognition and tax incentives for the gift, the accolades and advantages come directly to you. Your gift is tax-deductible, plus your dollars stay in the community, supporting your local library system.

Setting up your monthly donation is as easy as 1-2-3:

  1. Determine your monthly amount and your preferred cycle (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.)
  2. Sign up online. Be sure to select the “Recurring donation” button at the top of the page.
  3. Input your information and click “Give securely.” Then smile! You’re officially a sustaining member of the Library.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Director of Individual Giving Teleia White at twhite@cmlibrary.org or by phone at 704.416.0803.

*If your recurring gift equals at least $1,000 over the course of a year (i.e. $84 per month), you automatically become a member of our giving society Carnegie Circle. Learn more about Carnegie Circle here.

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