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AmazonSmile is shutting down next month due to limited impact

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Amazon is winding down its charitable-giving arm next month on grounds that its impact is “often spread too thin,” even though it has donated to more than a million organizations over the past decade.

In a note to customers Wednesday, Amazon said the program “AmazonSmile,” which was launched in 2013, would be suspended on Feb. 20. AmazonSmile allowed direct donations equaling a half-percent from each purchase to a charity of the customer’s choice. To help ease the transition, participating charities will receive a one-time donation equaling roughly a quarter of what they received in 2022, the company said.

Since its launch, “the program has not grown to create the impact that we had originally hoped,” the company said, adding that it will still “pursue and invest in other areas where we’ve seen we can make meaningful change” such as affordable housing, education and food-assistance programs.

The program’s closure comes after the e-commerce giant announced plans to cut 18,000 jobs and as numerous other technology companies are laying off workers amid global economic uncertainty. (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.)

Over the years, the program generated tens of millions of dollars and distributed that money to organizations such as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the American Cancer Society.

But it also distributed more than $42,000 to nonprofit entities spreading disinformation about coronavirus vaccines, The Post has reported.

The program’s donations increased steadily between 2013 and 2020, according to tax records. In 2013, the charitable-giving arm disbursed $10,000. Its distributions grew to more than $60 million in 2020.

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James Thomas
James Thomashttps://businessadvise.org
Hello, I am James Thomas blogger and content creator who specializes in personal finance and investing at Business Advise. I have been writing for over 5 years and have built a large following of readers who value practical advice and actionable tips. I'm committed to helping people take control of their financial futures and achieve their goals.

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