Amazon Announces End of AmazonSmile Program

The following is a recent statement sent out by Amazon:

“In 2013, we launched AmazonSmile to make it easier for customers to support their favorite charities. However, after almost a decade, the program has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped. With so many eligible organizations – more than 1 million globally – our ability to have an impact was often spread too thin.

“We are writing to let you know that we plan to wind down AmazonSmile by February 20, 2023. We will continue to pursue and invest in other areas where we’ve seen we can make meaningful change – from building affordable housing to providing access to computer science education for students in underserved communities to using our logistics infrastructure and technology to assist broad communities impacted by natural disasters.

“To help charities that have been a part of the AmazonSmile program with this transition, we will be providing them with a one-time donation equivalent to three months of what they earned in 2022 through the program, and they will also be able to accrue additional donations until the program officially closes in February. Once AmazonSmile closes, charities will still be able to seek support from Amazon customers by creating their own wish lists.”

The AMA Foundation has taken part in the AmazonSmile program for several years now, and we are so thankful for everyone who has shopped online and selected us as their charity of choice for funds to be donated to. In 2022 alone, we received more than $2,500 from this program, which we used to continue promoting and supporting model aviation and our members.

Although we respect Amazon’s decision to end this program, we are left with a small gap in our annual fundraising. Without these funds, we will be able to provide fewer funds to AMA’s many programs that, in turn, help members and clubs. This is why we would love for you to consider signing up to become an AMA Foundation Torchbearer.

Choosing to give monthly to our cause will help us recover those lost donations and enable us to do even more for our hobby. If we get 22 people to become Torchbearers and pledge $10 a month, we will recover these donations for 2023 and still raise a little more! As an added incentive, those who become new Torchbearers now through the end of February will receive a welcome kit with two bonus gifts: an AMA Foundation fleece blanket (which is perfect for this winter’s cold weather) and an AMA Foundation lunchbox!