[OMS_MANAGERS] Did you know that Amazon through their customers help support Non-profit Organizations! Donate to any organization of your choice

Thu Feb 11 10:45:12 PST 2021

This is great information, thank you!

On Thu, Feb 11, 2021 at 9:58 AM W Darin Rutledge, Executive Director <
darin at downtownklamathfalls.org> wrote:

> Kendall’s idea is awesome. We have several stores locally that run the
> “round ups” regularly, and they can actually generate some real $.
>
>
>
> I generally agree with the consensus on Amazon Smile. We set it up last
> year and promoted it exactly once. And every once in a while, we get a cool
> $5 or $10 check! 😊 Here’s what we said about it:
>
>
>
> [image: Text Description automatically generated]
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>
> *From: *OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> on behalf of
> Lizzy Caston <lizzy at albertamainst.org>
> *Reply-To: *Oregon Main Street program managers <
> oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Date: *Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 7:25 PM
> *To: *Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Subject: *Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Did you know that Amazon through their
> customers help support Non-profit Organizations! Donate to any organization
> of your choice
>
>
>
> What a great idea, Kendall! We haven't tried this at Alberta Main Street,
> and with Covid have flipped to not ask our businesses (especially
> restaurants) to fundraise for us, rather we fundraise for their needs right
> now. But I could see this in the future for sure.
>
> One thing I've been having success with is community giving on specific
> programs or projects that that community is really into - Graffiti and
> Trash removal for example and we take a certain percentage to
> coordinate the program and for our general operations; another is an art
> "giving tree" where people can take and leave art for free on a tree that's
> in a planter. That one is incredibly popular for giving. People love to
> give to things that are tangible and that they can see, understand and are
> specific.
>
> But for general community donations we are completely re-examining our
> current model and looking at proven best practices. If it's helpful, I can
> share reccs and advice from our fundraising company who is helping us
> restructure this important main street fundraising component.
>
> Loving the discussion and mutual support here!
>
> Lizzy
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 10, 2021 at 4:37 PM Kendall Bell <kendallbell945 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> This is an interesting conversation.  I feel Lizzy makes some very good
> points.
>
>
>
> I have wondered if you could get a decent return finding a couple of
> willing restaurants, coffee shops or retailers that might take on a “Would
> you like to round up your purchase to support your Downtown Association?”
> campaign for a month or so?  Even if you found three businesses that could
> generate 30 “round ups” each, per day, you might bring in approximately $50
> a day.  (90 transactions averaging $0.50= $45)
>
> It could be an entry on their point of sale system, or just a box that the
> change goes into??   Has anyone had success with something like this?
>
> Kendall
>
> Klamath Falls
>
>
>
>
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>
>
> On Feb 10, 2021, at 3:21 PM, A Sight for Sport Eyes via OMS_MANAGERS <
> oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov> wrote:
>
>
>
> With a different non-profit I’m part of, we get a few hundred a year from
> it. But we just have our members add Smile  to their accounts. We don’t use
> this as a tool to do any outside fundraising.  It is just part of our new
> member packet so we don’t have to advertise or promote it, It doesn’t
> detracting from our public fundraising as it is just our volunteer members
> that we ask to do it.  I agree that it discourages shop local for Main
> Streets when that is what it should be focused on.
>
>
>
> Shannen
>
> A Sight for Sport Eyes
>
> 1553 11th St.
>
> West Linn, OR 97068
>
> 503-699-4160
>
> 888-223-2669
>
> Fax: 888-240-6551
>
> www.sporteyes.com
>
>
>
> *From:* OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> *On Behalf
> Of *Lizzy Caston
> *Sent:* Wednesday, February 10, 2021 1:32 PM
> *To:* Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Subject:* Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Did you know that Amazon through their
> customers help support Non-profit Organizations! Donate to any organization
> of your choice
>
>
>
> I don't mean to be the contrarian of the group - and every Main Street is
> different so this might work great for some. However, I've had three
> professional fundraising companies advise not to use Amazon Smile for our
> main street. Here's why and just something for other main streets to weigh
> and consider on what's best for them before diving in:
>
> 1. 1/2 of one penny as payment might not be worth the additional staff
> time, marketing efforts, admin work and that takes away from larger
> fundraising, community engagement efforts. And less than 2500 nonprofits in
> the US make over $1000 a year with it, not including staff time to promote,
> manage it, etc.
> 2. Donations are not tax deductible to those shopping with it. (see below
> articles)
> 3. It diverts larger community donations - people think they are already
> "supporting" your main street with AmazonSmiles so are not apt to donate a
> larger amount directly
> 4. It dilutes main street direct donor relationship building, donor
> nurturing, appreciation away from the Main Street and onto an impersonal,
> large, multinational corporation. As we know in direct fundraising,
> relationships are everything.
> 5. Very competitive with other AmazonSmiles charities. There's a lot of
> charities playing this game, and the competition is fierce.
> 6. Very low rate of return. The numbers didn't add up to make this a good
> deal for our main street - it benefits Amazon more than us, it's a low
> conversion rate, and at the end it's just such a tiny amount of money.
> (please tell me if your mainstreet sees otherwise!). Example calculation:
> Let's say our mailing list is 20,000 people. A high conversion rate would
> be 1% taking action on Amazon. So 200 members of our mailing list might
> spend an average of $100 on amazonsmile for us. So of the $20k sales that
> benefits Amazon, our main street would only receive $100.
> 7. Could harm our ability to receive funding /sponsorships for buy local
> and other local small business programs. Not sure, but perhaps a funder
> sees we are doing AmazonSmiles and thinks, great, they have Amazon, they
> aren't promoting local and they don't need us.
> 8. The need to promote local shopping, local businesses as the ethos for
> our community. Promoting and funneling sales to Amazon instead of say, our
> main street's retailers, our local sponsors such as the locally owned
> hardware and outdoor camping store goes against our emphasis on supporting
> main street and local businesses and our shop local campaigns. It would be
> a bad message, marketing, PR for us to funnel business away from our local
> main street and other local businesses.
>
> Like I said, every main street is different. No judgement on those using
> it, but before Main Streets commit, please weight the actual cost/benefit,
> and other issues.
>
> Here's some articles from nonprofit experts critical of AmazonSmiles:
>
> This article weighs the pros and cons, and has a really good breakdown of
> the actual $ amounts charities received from Amazon Smile
> https://connectforimpact.com/amazonsmile/
>
> This article looks at both the benefits, but also the risk of negative ROI
> and it is pretty comprehensive:
>  https://johnkenyon.org/why-amazonsmile-doesnt-turn-my-frown-upside-down/
>
> This nonprofit funding expert is not a fan:
>
> https://medium.com/@digitalculturenyc/why-nonprofits-need-to-stop-falling-for-the-amazon-smile-scam-f68d389c801c
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Feb 10, 2021 at 12:58 PM Dallas Downtown Association <
> m.fisher.dda at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Did you know that when shopping online at Amazon you can choose the
> non-profit organization that you want to help fund. To do this now: Enter "
> smile.amazon.com
> <http://smile.amazon.com/?fbclid=IwAR3E9y0Ment9tKUDd9oHMCzAf3gEtNXB54wy2YSWB2fHxk2zqY6ghikeQoY>"
> in your browser address bar, Choose which organization you would like to
> help fund in the drop down box in the left upper hand corner, Shop & place
> your order and Amazon donates to the organization of your choice.
>
> Go to smile.amazon.com
> <https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsmile.amazon.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2QAcVdSlbZ6U4FGnrno3ZDrDfk6P9S2K0KUYj8nOfHpofwHLzY6nT9wH8&h=AT1z2nQtUrvPUMBtqUW-PGyF8PPeMS77psbL5wVlY6pXzKGq8dy8_ZpEz8WpPYR-JurJM7jpvkvW7DF7U40gVESjoWjRSL14LrkXx03_ZD7RvcjPYCNRWdOvtyLUY8_KjR4TImK-EZv85kHdERHO&__tn__=-UK-R&c%5b0%5d=AT254vFZ3tBIjVQs6jxeYRj6RGU-L43wKtYEm-kaejinDZEOLOfuSRFCOtLeNF06bygd69gu0c97hwBKB1cmBW7GO2Ec0q1FrrUfgQBq6sNlzO-U9WeNYGI7MFTQrg> if
> you want to support Dallas Downtown Association.
>
> Now available in the Amazon Shopping app Learn more
> <https://smile.amazon.com/b/ref=sma_se_smaf_llm_lm?_encoding=UTF8&node=15576745011>
>
>
>
> *Dallas Downtown Association *Change
> <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/change/ref=smi_se_uspo_change_cycsc> Location:
> Dallas, OR
>
> *Mission: *To Encourage And Inspire Restoration, Economic Vitality, The
> Arts And Community Spirit In The Historic (Dallas) Downtown District.
>
> About AmazonSmile
> <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_se_uspo_laas_aas> Generated
> by you as of February 08, 2021 *$0.00*
>
> *All others*
>
>
>
> US charities have received $217,644,976.48 as of November 2020 Your
> AmazonSmile impact
> <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/dashboard/ref=smi_se_uspo_lyi_dshb>.
>
>
>
> To support charity, always shop at smile.amazon.com Try these 2 easy ways
> to start with a smile. Learn about AmazonSmile
> <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/chpf/about/ref=smi_se_dshb_aas_saas?ie=UTF8&ref_=nav_cs_smile_6bcf8c32076843839cc2339237272a26>
>
> Bookmark AmazonSmile now by pressing Control B on your keyboard.
>
> 1. Create a bookmark Drag this box to your bookmarks or favorites bar to
> create a shortcut to smile.amazon.com on your desktop computer or mobile
> web browser.
>
> 2. Install the Amazon Assistant Get easy access to Product Comparisons,
> Deal of the Day, and time-saving shortcuts, which all link to
> smile.amazon.com. <http://smile.amazon.com/> Learn more
> <https://smile.amazon.com/gp/BIT/theamazonapp/ref=smi_se_dshb_icr_blp?ie=UTF8&bitCampaignCode=v1_us_d141001_s110&bitMode=smile>
>
>
>
>
>
> *Melanie Fisher, *Executive Director
>
> *Dallas Downtown Association*
>
> *Office:* 971-701-1880*  | Direct: *971-707-2335
>
> PO Box 903 | Dallas, OR. 97338
>
>
>
> Email <M.Fisher.dda at gmailcom> | Website
> <https://www.dallasdowntownassociation.org/> | Facebook
> <https://www.facebook.com/Dallasdowntownassociation.org> | Instagram
> <https://www.instagram.com/dallasdowntownassociation/>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
*Melanie Fisher, *Executive Director
*Dallas Downtown Association*
*Office:* 971-701-1880*  | Direct: *971-707-2335
PO Box 903 | Dallas, OR. 97338

Email <M.Fisher.dda at gmail.com> | Website
<https://www.dallasdowntownassociation.org/> | Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/Dallasdowntownassociation.org> | Instagram
<https://www.instagram.com/dallasdowntownassociation/>
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